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Battery size: 35.5 kWh
Miles per kWh: 4.2
E-Rating™: C
Max charge rate: 35 kW
Range: 124 miles
Performance
With a relatively weedy 141bhp to play with, the MX-30 isn’t an EV which is going to surprise you with its performance. A Kia Soul EV for example has a much more impressive 201bhp and the MINI Electric has 182bhp. This lack of power means the Mazda never really feels fast, and the benchmark 0-62mph time takes 9.7 seconds. That’s about the same as a Nissan Qashqai 1.6-litre diesel, which is a decent car but is never going to be the sort of car small boys dream of owning.
Like all electric cars the Mazda MX-30 feels pretty perky when pulling away from a standstill as the motor’s pulling power is instantly available, but it doesn’t feel as urgent as most rivals and the reserves soon run out as you get above 30mph. The top speed is limited to 93mph too, but this should be plenty in the UK if you want to keep your licence clean and the battery charged.
Drive
While it might not have the outright speed to take on a GTi, the MX-30 makes up for it in the way it drives. Thanks to its (relatively) light weight it really does feel more nimble than other EVs and heavy diesels.
The steering is full of feeling and responsive, but sometimes the wheel wriggles in your hand as you accelerate and the front tyres struggle to multitask by doing the steering and power delivery.
As the suspension doesn’t have to cope with the extra load of huge batteries, it absorbs bumps easily and still manage to go around corners without leaning over. It's not as much fun as an MX-5 of course, but you can tell it's been developed by the same engineers.
The brakes are a change from EV rivals too. Although the MX-30 has five different modes with different strengths of regeneration, it doesn’t have one which is so strong that you can drive most journeys using just one-pedal. In the Mazda you will make use of the brake, making it seem perfectly familiar to anyone coming out of a ‘normal’ car.
The other big difference – which is also designed to make the swap from petrol to electric driving easier - is the noise. While other electric cars offer an oasis of silence or an occasional sci-fi bleep and buzz, the Mazda simulates a comparatively conventional engine sound piped into the cabin. It’s unobtrusive and discreet but distinctly audible. We can't decide if it's fun or a bit naff.
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