Mazda MX-30 Electric 2022 review
Test Drive

Mazda MX-30 Electric 2022 review

Mazda has a great history with engines and motors.

In the 1960s, the company first introduced the R100 rotary engine; in the 80s, the 626 was one of the first diesel-powered family cars available; In the 90s, the Eunos 800 had a Miller Cycle engine (remember that), while lately we're still trying to get ahead of the supercharged compression-ignition gasoline engine technology known as SkyActiv-X.

We now have the MX-30 Electric - Hiroshima brand's first electric vehicle (EV) - but why did it take so long for it to jump on the EV bandwagon? Given Mazda's history as a pioneer in engines, motors, and so on, this is a bit of a surprise.

More shocking, however, is the price and range of the new product, which means that the situation with the MX-30 Electric is complicated…

Mazda MX-30 2022: E35 Astina
Safety Rating
engine's type-
fuel typeElectric guitar
Fuel efficiency—L / 100km
Landing5 Places
Price from$65,490

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10


At first glance... no.

There is only one electric version of the MX-30 available at the moment, the E35 Astina, and it starts from - wait - from $65,490 plus road costs. That's nearly $25,000 more than the visually identical MX-30 G25 M Mild Hybrid petrol version at nearly the same level of equipment.

We'll explain why a bit later, but what you need to know is that the MX-30 Electric has one of the smallest lithium-ion batteries available in any electric vehicle today, with a capacity of just 35.5kWh. This means that only 224 km of run without recharging.

It looks like self-sabotage on Mazda's part when the 2021 Hyundai Kona EV Elite starts at $62,000, boasts a 64kWh battery and offers an official range of 484km. Other big-battery alternatives at this price point include the world's best-selling electric car, the Tesla Model 3, the Kia Niro EV, and the Nissan Leaf e+.

At the moment, only one version of the MX-30 Electric is available - the E35 Astina.

But for the MX-30 Electric, the game isn't over because Mazda hopes you share the car's unique philosophy by offering a so-called "right-size" approach to electric cars. This mainly includes sustainability in terms of battery size, resources used for production, and overall energy consumption over the life of the vehicle… or in other words, the impact of an electric vehicle on natural resources. If you're going green, these factors probably matter a lot to you...

Then here's how the MX-30 Electric is used. Mazda's range is focused primarily on Europe, where distances are shorter, charging stations are larger, government support is stronger and incentives for EV users are better than in Australia. However, even here, most urban consumers this car is aimed at can commute for many days without exceeding 200 km, while solar power helps make electricity cheaper for those with panels facing our hot sun.

So the company can only call it a "metro" EV - although obviously Mazda has no other choice, right?

At least the E35 Astina doesn't need any equipment compared to competing electric SUVs.

Among the usual array of luxury, functionality and multimedia features, you'll find adaptive cruise control with full stop/go, glossy 18-inch alloy wheels, a 360-degree monitor, a power sunroof, heated and power front seats. a heated steering wheel and leather synthetic upholstery dubbed "Vintage Brown Maztex". Rejoice owners of the 80s 929s!

No competing electric vehicle this side of the aging BMW i3 offers such a unique design and package.

Car fans of the 2020s will appreciate an 8.8-inch widescreen color display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, digital radio, sat-nav, and even a 220-volt household outlet (perhaps for a hair dryer?). , while a stylish head-up display is displayed on the windshield to display speed and GPS information.

Add to that a full suite of driver-assistance safety features for a five-star crash test rating - see below for details - and the MX-30 E35 has just about everything.

What is missing? How about a wireless smartphone charger and no power tailgate (motion sensor active or not)? Climate control is single zone only. And no spare tire, just a puncture repair kit.

However, no competing electric vehicle this side of the aging BMW i3 offers such unique styling and packaging.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10


It's hard to find anything boring about the way this car looks.

The design of the MX-30 is controversial. Many like the SUV's coupe-like silhouette, rear-hinged forward-opening rear doors (dubbed Freestyle in Mazda parlance), and a sleeker, five-point grille.

It's hard to find anything boring about the way this car looks.

The doors are meant to be reminiscent of the 8s RX-2000 sports car, and Mazda's history of luxury two-door coupes is made famous by classics like the Cosmo and Luce; you can even associate the MX-30 with its dyslexic namesake, the 3s MX-30/Eunos 1990X. Another Mazda with an interesting engine - it had a 1.8-liter V6.

However, some critics liken the overall styling effect to oddities, with elements from the Toyota FJ Cruiser and Pontiac Aztec. These are not elegant alignments. When it comes to beauty, you're much more secure with the CX-30.

Both the exterior and interior exude a quality, upmarket look and feel.

It's probably safe to assume that the BMW i3 heavily inspired the design and presentation of the MX-30 inside and out. The decision to go for a crossover/SUV rather than a small car like the Germans probably makes sense too, given the former's relentless popularity and the latter's dwindling fortunes.

However you feel about the car's exterior, it's hard to argue with the fact that both the exterior and interior exude a quality, upmarket appearance. Knowing Mazda's drive to enter the market, the MX-30 can be seen as an aesthetic triumph (but not a variation of the TR7).

How practical is the interior space? 5/10


Not really.

The platform is shared with the CX-30, so the MX-30 is a subcompact crossover with a shorter length and shorter wheelbase than even the Mazda3 hatch. The result is a limited amount of space inside. In fact, you could call Mazda's first electric car a tale of two cars.

From a front seat perspective, it's typical Mazda in design and layout, but it builds on what the brand has been doing in recent years with a palpable boost in quality and detail. Top marks for the appearance and execution of finishes and materials that give the car a prestigious look.

In front you are greeted with a lot of space even for tall people. They can stretch out in the comfortable and enveloping front seats that offer a wide range of support. The layered lower center console – even with its floating design – creates a sense of space and style.

The MX-30's driving position is top-notch, with excellent balance between the steering wheel, instrument lines of sight, switchgear/control access, and pedal reach. Everything is very typical, modern Mazda, with an emphasis on quality and convenience for the most part. There's plenty of ventilation, plenty of storage space, and there's nothing strange or intimidating here - and that's not always the case with electric vehicles.

From a front seat perspective, this is typical Mazda in terms of design and layout.

Owners of the Mazda3/CX-30 will recognize the company's latest infotainment system, based on a (claimed) ergonomic rotary controller and a tall, non-touchscreen display that helps keep your eyes on the road; and the sleek instrument panel and standard head-up display are beautifully presented, all in keeping with the brand's style. From a historical point of view, the same can be said about the cork finish, which takes us back to the distant past of the company.

So far, so good.

However, we're not entirely convinced by the new touchscreen electronic climate control system, which looks upmarket but takes up a lot of dashboard space, isn't as intuitive as the physical buttons, and forces the driver to look away from the road. to see where they're digging into the lower recesses of the center console. We believe that this is where the march of progress meets the call of fashion.

More annoying is the new electronic shifter, a thick but short T-piece that requires a strong lateral push to get it in from reverse to park. It doesn't always happen the first time, and being an illogical move, it's all too easy to think you've chosen Park but actually left it in Reverse since both are in the same horizontal plane. This can lead to problems, so it's good that rear cross-traffic alert comes as standard. This is where rethinking is required. 

Equally disturbing is the MX-30's terrible side and rear visibility, and not just from a driver's perspective. The A-pillars are too wide, creating large blind spots, backed up by a shallow rear window, a sloping roofline, and tailgate rear hinges that put the A-pillars where you might not expect them to be from a peripheral viewpoint.

We're not entirely happy with the new touchscreen electronic climate control system.

Which brings us to the rear half of the Mazda EV.

These Freestyle doors make entry and exit delightfully theatrical as the fixed B-pillar (or "B") is removed, though Mazda says that when the doors are closed, the doors provide ample structural strength. Either way, the resulting gaping gap when fully opened - along with the taller body - means most people can just walk into the back seats as if they were leaving Studio 54 for the next party.

Note, however, that not only can you not open the rear doors without opening the front doors first (uncomfortable from the outside and with a lot of effort trying from the inside), but if you close the front doors first, there is a risk of damaging their door skins. when the rears crash into them when closing. Oops.

Remember how spacious the front end is? The back seat is tight. There is no escape from this. There's not a lot of knee room - although you can slide the driver's seat forward with handy electric buttons behind the back of the driver's seat, but even then you'll still have to compromise with the passengers in front.

Everything is beautifully designed, with interesting colors and textures.

And while you'll find a center armrest with cupholders, as well as grab bars at the top and coat hooks, there's no backlighting, directional vents, or USB outlets.

At the very least, it's all beautifully crafted, with interesting colors and textures, which briefly takes your mind off how cramped and constricted the MX-30 is for an off-roader. And you're looking out of the porthole windows, which can make it all seem a little claustrophobic to some.

However, this is not inconvenient; the back and cushion are comfortable enough, with enough head, knee and legroom for passengers up to 180cm tall, while three little passengers can squeeze in without too much discomfort. But if you're using the MX-30 as a family car, it's best to bring regular travelers in the back seat for a test drive before making a decision.

Mazda's cargo capacity is meager, being wide but shallow at only 311 liters; like almost every SUV on the planet, the rear seatbacks fold out and fold down to reveal a long, flat floor. This increases boot capacity to a more useful 1670 liters.

Finally, it's a pity that there isn't a proper place to store the AC charging cable. It remains to fall behind. And while we're talking about towing things, Mazda doesn't provide any information about the MX-30's towing capacity. And that means we won't...

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10


Under the hood of the MX-30 is a water-cooled, inverter-driven e-Skyactiv AC synchronous electric motor that drives the front wheels through a single-speed automatic transmission. The derailleur is a mechanism for shifting gears by wire.

The electric motor delivers a conservative 107kW of power at 4500rpm and 11,000rpm and 271Nm of torque from 0rpm to 3243rpm, which is on the smaller end of the EV scale and actually lower than the regular mild hybrid petrol version.

Under the hood of the MX-30 is a water-cooled e-Skyactiv AC synchronous motor with an inverter.

As a result, forget about keeping up with the Tesla Model 3, as Mazda needs an ample but not uncommon 9.7 seconds to hit 100 km/h from standstill. In contrast, the 140kW Kona Electric will do it in less than 8 seconds.

In addition, the MX-30's top speed is limited to 140 km/h. But don't worry because Mazda says it's all done in the name of optimizing efficiency...




Energy consumption and power reserve 7/10


Under the floor of the MX-30 is a battery that is oddly smaller than most of its direct competitors.

It offers 35.5 kWh - which is almost half the 62 to 64 kWh batteries used in the Leaf+, Kona Electric and the new Kia Niro EV, which cost about the same. 

Mazda says it chose the "right size" battery, not a big one, to reduce weight (for an electric car, the curb weight of 1670kg is actually quite impressive) and costs throughout the car's life cycle, making the MX-30 faster. reload.

As we said earlier, this is a philosophical thing.  

This means you can expect a range of up to 224km (according to the ADR/02 figure), while the more realistic WLTP figure is 200km compared to the Kona Electric's 484km (WLTP). That's a huge difference, and if you plan to regularly ride the MX-30 for long distances, this could be the deciding factor. 

Under the floor of the MX-30 is a battery that is oddly smaller than most of its direct competitors.

On the other hand, it only takes about 20 hours to charge from 80 to 9 percent using a household outlet, 3 hours if you invest about $3000 in a wall box, or just 36 minutes when connected to a DC fast charger. These are faster times than most.

Officially, the MX-30e consumes 18.5 kWh/100 km… which, in simple terms, is average for an electric car of this size and size. As with all electric vehicles, using the air conditioner or being clumsy can drastically increase consumption.

The standard heated seats and steering wheel help keep the charge going as they don't draw power from the EV's battery, which is a bonus.

While Mazda won't actually supply you with a Wallbox for home or work, the company says there are plenty of third-party suppliers that can provide one for you, so factor that into your MX-30 purchase price.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10


Tested in late 2020, the MX-30 received a five-star ANCAP crash test rating.

Safety gear includes Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Pedestrian and Bicyclist Detection, Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Warning and Assistance, Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Forward Alert, Blind Spot Monitoring, adaptive cruise control with Stop/Go and speed limiter, automatic high beams, traffic sign recognition, tire pressure warnings, driver attention monitor and front and rear parking sensors.

Tested in late 2020, the MX-30 received a five-star ANCAP crash test rating.

You will also find 10 airbags (dual front, knee and driver's side, side and curtain airbags), stability and traction control systems, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and emergency braking system, 360-degree surround view camera, two points ISOFIX child seat anchorages in the rear seat and three child seat anchorage points behind the backrest.

Please note that the AEB and FCW systems operate at speeds between 4 and 160 km/h.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10


The MX-30 follows other Mazda models by offering a five-year unlimited mileage warranty as well as five years of roadside assistance.

However, the battery is covered by an eight-year or 160,000 km warranty. Both are typical of the industry at this time, not exceptional.

The MX-30 follows other Mazda models by offering a five-year unlimited mileage warranty.

Scheduled service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000 km, whichever comes first, which is about the same as most other electric vehicles.

Mazda says the MX-30 Electric will cost $1273.79 to service over five years under the Service Select plan; averaging about $255 a year—which is now cheaper than many electric vehicles.

What is it like to drive? 9/10


The thing about the MX-30 is that if you're expecting Tesla Model 3 performance and acceleration levels, you'll be disappointed.

But having said that, it is by no means slow, and as soon as you start moving, there is a steady stream of torque that gets you going in no time. So, it's fast and agile, and this is especially noticeable in the city, where you have to race in and out of traffic jams. And for that matter, you definitely won't think this car is weak-willed. 

Like many EVs these days, Mazda is equipped with paddles on the steering wheel that adjust the amount of regenerative braking, where "5" is the strongest, "1" has no assist, and "3" is the default setting. In "1" you have a free spin effect and it's like going down a slope and it's actually quite nice because you almost feel like you're flying. 

 Another positive characteristic of the electric car is the absolute smoothness of the ride. This car is slipping. Now you can say the same about the Leaf, Ioniq, ZS EV and all the other EVs priced around $65,000, but Mazda has the advantage of actually being more refined and more premium in how it delivers its performance. .

As soon as you start moving, there is a constant flow of torque that instantly sets you in motion.

The steering is light, but it speaks to you - there is feedback; the car handles bumps, especially large urban bumps, very well, with suspension flex that I didn't expect given the size of the wheel and tire package in this Astina E35; and at higher speeds, it turns the way you'd expect from a Mazda.

The suspension isn't all that complicated, with MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam in the rear, but it handles with a confident and confident poise that sort of betrays the fact that this is a crossover/SUV.

If you enjoy driving and love to travel in cars with comfort and refinement, then the MX-30 should definitely be on your shopping list.

The MX-30 also has an excellent turning radius. It is very cramped, very easy to park and maneuver, and this makes it particularly suitable for the subcompact role in urban environments. Great.

If you enjoy driving and love to travel in cars with comfort and refinement, then the MX-30 should definitely be on your shopping list.

Now of course there are criticisms of the MX-30 because nothing is perfect and it's far from perfect and one of the more annoying ones is the aforementioned gear shifter which is a little awkward to put into park.

The thick pillars make it sometimes hard to see what's going on without relying on the camera, which is actually excellent, and those big, Dumbo-ear-like rear-view mirrors.

In addition, some surfaces have slight road noise, such as rough chips; you can hear the rear suspension working if there's only one of you on board, though if there's a little weight in the back it calms the car down a bit.

But that's pretty much about it. The MX-30 Electric rides at the level you'd expect from a Mercedes, BMW, or Audi EV, and in that respect, it outperforms its weight. So, for a $65,000 Mazda, yes, it's expensive.

But when you consider that this car can certainly play at the level of the Mercedes EQA/BMW iX3, and they're approaching $100,000 and up with the option, that's where the value of Mazda's first electric car really comes into play.  

The MX-30 is a real pleasure to drive and travel. Great job Mazda.

Verdict

Overall, the Mazda MX-30e is a purchase with soul.

Its flaws are easy to see. The packaging is not very good. It has a low range. There are some blind spots. And most importantly, it's not cheap.

But it becomes apparent shortly after you first step inside one of them at a car dealership. By taking the time to drive, you will find depth and credibility in an electric car, as well as quality and character. Mazda's controversial spec is there for good reasons, and if they align with your values, then you'll probably appreciate just how much the MX-30e actually exceeds its weight.  

So, from that perspective, it's definitely tricky; but also worth checking out.

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