Used Mazda MX-30 2021-present review

It's hard to pigeonhole the Mazda MX-30. Yes, it technically belongs to the electric SUV class, but unlike its peers, the MX-30 has rear-hinged back doors (as a throwback to the old Mazda RX-8 sports car) and a rather small electric range similar to the old Honda E electric city car.

There's some method to this madness, mind you. Those doors, along with its sloping roofline, give it a sporty, coupé SUV look.

The electric version is born of the MX-30's 35.5kWh battery, and Mazda argues the reason it's that small – compared with most electric SUVs – is that big lithium-ion batteries create a lot of CO2 during production.

The corollary of all this is a range of only 124 miles, which some might see as a little lacklustre (to put it lightly). What's more, our Real Range testing yielded a more realistic figure of 115 miles.

For context, the rival Hyundai Kona Electric is available with an official range of 300 miles. Even the non-SUV Renault Zoe manages more than 200 miles on a single charge.

In 2022, a version of the MX-30 with a petrol-powered range extender was released – it officially allows for 373 miles of total range and should banish any range anxiety fears.

Other than a couple of details, the R-EV looks just like the Mazda MX-30 EV. To tell the difference, you'll need to look out for badges on the front wings, a badge on the boot, wheels that come in a darker finish and the absence of a green strip on the number plates.

Power: The electric version's battery powers a 143bhp electric motor that's able to deliver 0-62mph in 9.7sec – pretty tame for an electric car.

Meanwhile, the range extender MX-30 R-EV is a small plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV, but unlike most other cars of this type, its petrol engine doesn’t ever drive the wheels. Instead, the small, smooth-spinning rotary acts purely as a generator to top up the battery that powers the electric motor. Essentially, the R-EV is an electric vehicle (EV) that doesn’t need plugging in on long journeys.

The battery isn’t huge, with a capacity of 17.8kWh, but it gives the R-EV a respectable official electric-only range of up to 53 miles. And on long trips, with the petrol engine kicking in when necessary to keep the battery at a comfortable state of charge, the car can cover at least 300 miles (according to the trip meter) and potentially up to 400 miles (if you believe the official figures) before its 50-litre fuel tank runs dry, whereas the regular electric version can officially manage just 124 miles between top-ups.

The R-EV makes a bit more power than its sibling (168bhp versus 143bhp), although it’s still no fireball by EV standards, covering the 0-62mph sprint in 9.1sec.

Ride & Handling: Fortunately, in almost every other respect, the MX-30 drives really well. As for the ride, it's even better than the VW ID 3’s. We found it quite comforting over deep callouses and it doesn’t buck about on undulating roads, which the bouncy DS 3 Crossback E-Tense does.

The MX-30's settled ride also helps its cornering stability. Even on bumpy roads, you can trust that it’s not going to get knocked off its line mid-bend, and the nicely judged steering is light yet accurate.

If you take it on a motorway, the range might create some anxiety, but the noise levels won’t. It’s quiet, with decently subdued suspension, wind and tyre noise. There’s just the reasonably pleasant murmur of its fake engine note when you put your foot down.

Interior & practicality: The driving position in the MX-30 is marvellous. There’s plenty of steering-wheel adjustment and you get electrically adjustable seats with adjustable lumbar support with all trims except entry-level Prime-Line.

The dashboard has quite a futuristic look, with three digital screens and a head-up display. The screens include digital instruments and a 7.0in climate control touchscreen, mounted just below the infotainment touchscreen. The MX-30 is kitted out with built-in sat-nav, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay plus an eight-speaker stereo. The top GT Sport Tech and Makoto trim have a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound system.

The MX-30 was initially sold in three trim levels: entry-level SE-L Lux, Sport Lux and GT Sport Tech – there was also a First Edition, with only 500 examples ever made. All models received LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, sat-nav, a head-up display and a reversing camera.

Sport Lux added heated, electric front seats and keyless entry, while top-spec GT Sport Tech got a sunroof, a Bose sound system and a heated steering wheel, too. In 2022, the MX-30's trims were renamed and currently are Prime-Line, Exclusive-Line and Makoto.

If you’re tall and happen to find yourself in the front of an MX-30, we think you’ll be quite happy. There’s plenty of room, whether you’re long in the leg, long in the body, or both. Plus, there’s the width: you get enough to put distance between you and your passenger.

That’s all good, but then we move on to the rear seats, which are, well, not good. For a start, you have to get in, and that isn’t as easy as you might think. The small rear-hinged back doors that can only be opened when the front doors are open put a big cross in the usability box. If you’re tall, you’ll need to contort yourself through a narrow opening and onto the seat, which you’ll barely fit in. There’s little head room and even less leg room – or no leg room if the front seats are slid fully back.

The MX-30’s boot is quite small, especially next to other electric SUVs. It’s less accommodating than that of many small cars, and there are no clever touches such as a height-adjustable boot floor or space under the floor for the charging cables.

Updates

March 2023: range-extender MX-30 given five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP
- January 2023: Mazda reveals new MX-30 with range-extender powertrain fitted

- May 2022: revised Mazda MX-30 goes on sale, with quicker charging rates, LED headlights and adaptive cruise control
- March 2020: UK prices for Mazda’s first battery EV announced.

"A typical left-field choice here from Mazda. In everyday use, that electric range is a bit frightening. The range-extender is a much more relaxing affair." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

If you're interested in finding a used Mazda MX-30 or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

You can pick up an early EV Mazda MX-30 for around £8000. There's a mix of trims available – SE-L Lux, Sport Lux and even GT Sport Tech – and almost every example is in excellent condition. A 2022 or 2023 Prime-Line or Exclusive Line should cost around £10,000 at the moment, with Makotos going for around £12,000. Spend between £14,000 and £22,000 on cars from 2024 and 2025.

The range-extender Mazda MX-30 starts at around £14,000 for a late-2023/early-2024 car with average mileage. This can leap up to around £20,000 to £25,000 for a 2024 or 2025 model.

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Charging

One advantage of the MX-30’s small battery is it won’t take too long to charge. Getting it from 20-80% requires a stop of about half an hour using a 50kW service station charger (that’s its maximum charging rate – some cars can charge at 100kW or more). A home wall box needs six hours to get it from empty to full.

The range-extender MX-30 R-EV has a petrol engine and has no trouble topping up the battery, and the car feels the same to drive regardless of the state of charge. It has a decent combined range of around 360 miles.

As with other PHEVs, you’ll have to charge up the MX-30 R-EV’s battery as much as possible and make full use of the 53-mile electric-only range to get near the official average fuel-economy figure, which is up to an impressive 283mpg. In our experience, real MPG is lower than that.

With a maximum charging speed of 36kW, the MX-30 R-EV’s battery can be topped up from 20-80% in about 25 minutes. The DS 4 and Kia Niro PHEVs can't charge up that quickly, and take around three or four hours, respectively, with a 7kW home EV charger.

Road tax

All Mazda MX-30s will be liable for the current standard road tax (VED) rate, which stands at £195 a year.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups range from a reasonable 19 to 20 (depending on your chosen specification). Mazda sells a £399 three-year service plan for the MX-30.

If you're going pure electric, go for GT Sport Tech. Despite being the top-of-the-range trim, it sits alongside the most affordable used examples right now, so why settle for anything less?

However, we'd be tempted by the range extender version. The MX-30 R-EV doesn’t have any issues with range anxiety. Its petrol engine has no trouble topping up the battery, and the car feels the same to drive regardless of the state of charge. It has a decent combined range of around 360 miles.

Our preferred trim is the entry-level Prime-Line, which comes pretty well equipped, with 18in alloy wheels, climate control, adaptive cruise control and automatic wipers.

Our favourite Mazda MX-30: MX-30 R-EV Prime-Line

As we previously mentioned, the Hyundai Kona Electric can travel a lot further on a single charge than the MX-30 – up to 300 miles, in case you've forgotten. Used prices are similar, if not slightly higher, and it's more practical, too. Its interior is nowhere near as plush as the MX-30's, though.

The Peugeot e-2008 is a similar story, being similarly priced and more practical. It can officially go 206 miles on a single charge – it's now become available with a larger battery and more range, we should add, although this version yet to hit the used market (as of writing).

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If you're interested in finding a used Mazda MX-30 or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.