Mazda MX-30 Review 2024

Mazda MX-30 At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
Stylish and very eco-friendly, there's a lot to like about the Mazda MX-30. A small battery range won't suit everyone, but if you need a second car for nipping around town, this baby SUV could be worth a look.

+Cool and quirky electric SUV. Range-extender model broadens the appeal. Stylish and well-equipped cabin.

-EV's small battery means you'll be lucky to see 100 miles between charges. MX-30 R-EV is an unrefined answer to range anxiety. Rear-hinged doors hinder practicality.

New prices start from £28,645, brokers can source from £24,963

The Mazda MX-30 is a slightly quirky alternative to the Hyundai Kona and Vauxhall Mokka. It's available with pure-electric power, as well as a new plug-in hybrid model. Read our full 2023 Mazda MX-30 review to find out everything that's weird and wonderful about this small SUV.

The Mazda MX-30 first arrived in 2021 as an electric car with a small battery and the ability to travel just 124 miles between charges. This might explain why it's only sold in limited numbers so far - although Mazda claims that you don't actually need an electric car with a long range.

It could have fitted a bigger battery pack, but doing so would have been wasteful when most buyers are looking at the MX-30 as a second car for the school run.

If you do want a Mazda MX-30 that can travel further afield, the Mazda MX-30 R-EV offers a slightly different take on the plug-in hybrid approach.

It can travel up to 53 miles under electric power. After that, a small rotary petrol engine kicks in to act as a generator. Unlike more conventional rivals, there isn't a direct link between the engine and the MX-30's wheels - it's there solely to charge the battery.

So what's the Mazda MX-30 like to drive? Well, the regular electric MX-30 is pretty good. It feels light and agile (more so than rivals with heavy battery packs under the floor). The steering is impressive, while its compact turning circle helps around town. Is it sporty enough to justify its 'MX' moniker? Not really, but few buyers will care.

The Mazda MX-30 R-EV takes a little more getting used to. It's fine when the battery's fully charged and you're bimbling about under electric power, but once the petrol engine kicks in, it's pretty unrefined. If you want an EV that can travel hundreds of miles between charges, we'd be looking at the Kia Niro EV instead.

Unusual powertrains aside, the Mazda MX-30's biggest party trick is its 'freestyle' doors. The rear doors are rear-mounted, meaning there's no B-pillar to get in the way when you're jumping in and out of the MX-30.

But this actually makes access to the rear pretty tricky - you'll end up sliding the front seat forward, just like you would in a three-door car.

That aside, the Mazda MX-30's sustainable interior is pretty lovely. There's a slightly odd mix of materials, but it feels well-finished and is apparently kind to the planet. The infotainment is easy to use, while even the most affordable Mazda MX-30 models are well equipped as standard.

Would we buy a Mazda MX-30? Well, objectively, there are lots of excellent electric SUVs on the market - and the MX-30 probably isn't one of them. However, we admire Mazda's slightly left-field approach and, as a used purchase, it starts to make a little more sense. If you don't need to travel far, we'd certainly consider an MX-30 over a used Vauxhall Corsa Electric or an ageing Nissan Leaf.

Ask Honest John

Should I buy a new or used electric car?

"I am too confused to make the right decision in buying my first electric car either new or used. I hardly do 5,000 miles a year. I average 400 miles a month, all within city. I do motorway maximum 40 one-way miles, very rare, once a month. My preference is an SUV type but I don’t mind buying a used Hyundai Ionic as well. If I buy new then I would like to keep for 10 years at least. These are the cars I'm considering in order of preference. 1) Mazda MX-30 (my concern is, is it worth buying because of a small battery?) 2) MG ZS EV (not sure about its durability and customer service if anything goes wrong) 3) Hyundai Kona (looks small SUV but not sure) 4) Hyundai ionic (If I buy used one I'm not sure about a used battery) Shall I buy new or used one? When I calculated the difference in price between used and new one it's £5,000-£6,000! Or do you suggest I wait for 2023 to see if prices drop? "
There's a temptation when buying your first electric car to buy one with the biggest battery (and therefore longest range) possible. If you rarely ever travel more than 40 miles in one go then resist this - a bigger battery is a) expensive and b) heavy; so you're wasting money and lugging around a heavy battery that you don't need. With that in mind, it sounds like the Mazda MX-30 could be a good choice. It's a very desirable small SUV with a modern cabin, well suited to urban driving thanks to its relatively small 35.5kWh battery pack. High demand means used prices are expensive but you could at least skip the waiting list by seeking out an as-new pre-registered model.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Mazda MX-30 cost?

Buy new from £24,963(list price from £31,250)