Roadshow editors select the products and services we write. When you make a purchase through our link, we may receive a commission.
This all-electric crossover has a high-end interior and comfortable driving, but this is not enough to make up for its narrow interior space and insignificant range.
These suicide doors are not particularly useful.
The 2022 Mazda MX-30 is a peculiar vehicle. Is it an SUV or a hatchback? Does it break new ground in the field of electric vehicles? Is it worth buying? The simple answer to all these questions is no.
The MX-30 is Mazda's first electric car. Similar to the size of the traditionally powered CX-30, the Japanese automaker refers to this car as a small crossover, directly targeting environmentally friendly urban residents who are not far from home. A glance at the estimated range will allow you to double check the model year to see if it is 2022 or 2012.
The MX-30’s 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery provides-please drum-100 miles of juice. That's it. In a world where electric cars can travel more than five times on a single charge, this number is far behind the times. In fact, this is not much more than what you got in the Ford Focus Electric or Nissan Leaf in the Dark Age of Electric Vehicles in 2011. The limited range of the MX-30 is an obvious shortcoming, which is an obvious shortcoming, but it is not the only problem with this car. For example, the battery-powered Mini Cooper SE offers a similarly low cruising range (only 114 miles between charges), although it is orders of magnitude more fun to drive, and it is not affected by a problematic design. In fact, it may be our favorite new Mini. The point is that low-end electric cars are good, but they must be eye-catching in other ways, and this Mazda, unfortunately, is not.
The Japanese automaker argued that since most people rarely drive more than 30 miles a day, the MX-30 has more than enough cruising range. At the end of 2021, this is a very weak argument, but in principle, Mazda is correct. It doesn't make sense to pay for a huge battery, a battery that consumes more energy and resources to manufacture. Once the DC fast charger appeared on every street corner like a gas station, Mazda's strategy began to become more meaningful. But we haven't got there yet, and it won't be for a while. As I learned firsthand, additional range buffering is still important.
Whatever the reason, the car failed to recharge one day. I hung it on a standard household socket and let it slowly absorb electrons overnight. But when I went to run errands the next day, its cruising range was the same as 73 miles after plugging in. Fortunately, there is still enough power to reach where I need to go and return again, but this chaos has increased my stress level. If it is winter, I will be more worried, I need to run the heater.
As for the most important topic of charging time, when connected to a 110-volt outlet, it takes about 13 hours and 40 minutes to charge the battery from 20% to 80%. Level 2 charging at 240 volts and 30 amps can accomplish the same job in 2 hours and 50 minutes. With a 50 kW DC fast charger, you can reach 80% in about 36 minutes. Although lithium-ion batteries do not charge linearly, Mazda does not list the full charge time, so if you need a 100% battery, plan accordingly.
Buzzing! When connected to a DC fast charger, the MX-30 will swallow electrons.
To make up for the lack or range of this crossover, Mazda offers some benefits. The automaker has partnered with ChargePoint to provide car owners with a $500 credit line, which they can use for public charging or as a down payment for level 2 household chargers. Car owners can also generously take advantage of the Mazda MX-30 Elite Access Loaner Program, which allows them to drive other vehicles in the company's portfolio for up to 10 days each year during the first three years of ownership. This is useful when you have to travel long distances or transport more people than the MX-30 can manage.
Greatly expanding the appeal of this car, an extended-range plug-in hybrid model will be launched soon, most likely in the 2023 model year. A small rotary engine will be used as an on-board generator to charge the battery while you are driving, but it will not directly power the wheels. This may be worth buying the MX-30.
Range is not one of the strengths of this crossover, nor is performance. A single electric motor provides a modest 143 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque, much less than Chevrolet Bolt, Hyundai Kona Electric or Volkswagen ID 4. All these twists are sent to the front tires, a pair of 215/55R18 Bridgestone Turanzas. Like other electric cars, this Mazda suffered the most impact when it rolled off the assembly line. Even if the wear level is relatively low, 480, in wet conditions, if you step on the accelerator, these rubbers will squeak. Nevertheless, as the speed increased, the performance of this car dropped significantly, losing most of its impact on the highway.
There is enough space under the hood, there is actually enough space to install the rotary range extender, which is exactly what Mazda is doing.
Despite the inconsistent power output and limited range, the MX-30 still drives like a Mazda. The steering has a rare crispness in the center, coupled with the weight and ratio choices make the MX-30 feel flexible and connect exceptionally to the EV road. The ride quality is tight but soft, and the body maintains good control at corners and big bumps, despite a slight roll at the corners. In its true form, there is no roughness or road grit that sneaks into the passenger compartment from the suspension connection point, which makes this Mazda feel that it is made by a premium manufacturer. Even the driving position is just right.
Matching with its dial-in chassis, the brakes of this all-electric crossover are also commendable. The pedal is firm but never grasped, and the transition from regenerative braking to friction braking is 100% natural. It feels like a traditional brake pedal, without the rubber feel or the effort you sometimes get in an electric car. Paddles mounted on the steering wheel allow you to adjust the level of regenerative braking. If you want the MX-30 to sail like a sailboat in the breeze, just click the right oar a few times. If, like me, you all like to regenerate and hit the left paddle, this Mazda will provide a lovely single-pedal driving experience. The only downside is that your brake selection is reset every time you switch in or out of the drive or restart the car.
MX-30 has common driving assistance functions. Automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, lane keeping assist, rear parking sensor and blind spot monitoring are all standard features and work as advertised. The only modern auxiliary feature missing is lane centering. Upgrading to the Premium Plus package can provide you with additional conveniences, such as a 360-degree camera system with dynamic lines, a heated steering wheel, a front parking sensor, and a premium 12-speaker Bose sound system. You can also get Blind Spot Assist, which helps prevent you from turning to other vehicles when you are trying to change lanes, as well as warnings for intersections ahead. When the vehicle speed is below 6 mph, the assist system will warn you of vehicles coming from the left or right side, helping to prevent collisions, especially at intersections with limited visibility.
If narrow, the interior of this Mazda is good.
The Mazda Connect infotainment system is standard, with an 8.8-inch dashboard display. This multimedia product is definitely not one of my favorites. You can use some buttons on the dial and center console instead of the touch screen to control everything, although the more troublesome is the completely unintuitive interface. Using the navigation system is painful, but saving and managing radio presets is so complicated that it will make you cry. Thankfully, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard. A perfect match with the main display is the 7-inch touch screen for the climate control system. In addition to the front panel, there is also a 7-inch digital instrument panel.
The interior of the MX-30 is high-end and elegant. I am worried about their long-term durability, but the cork decoration on the center console and front door handle looks great, feels good, and is a lovely hat from Mazda tradition, because apparently it was used to make cork a century ago . who knows? Other high-quality materials abound. The dashboard is mainly made of low-gloss soft plastic that looks rich, there is an interesting felt fabric on the upper door, the artificial leather seat surface is good enough (no real cowhide) and everything is strictly and carefully assembled.
The comfort level in the front row is high, but the back seat is very narrow and there is not enough legroom for adults. Access to the rear is also a challenge, as the MX-30's unusual rear hinged half door does not open wide enough. They can also cause huge blind spots, whether on the sides where the fixed B-pillars are usually located, or behind you where you can hardly see anything. The cargo space clock is 21 cubic feet, 1 cubic feet more than the Mazda CX-30 crossover, but 3.5 cubic feet less than the Honda Civic hatchback.
With the development of modern electric vehicles, the performance of the 2022 Mazda MX-30 is mediocre.
This all-electric crossover rides well and feels premium, but its limited range, narrow seats, and lackluster infotainment system make it feel lagging behind other generations of electric cars. If you are still considering buying the MX-30 after reading this review, the starting price is $34,645, including $1,175 in shipping. The more stylish Premium Plus sample seen here costs $38,650, plus an option for the total price of $995 for the stunning soul red crystal metallic three-tone paint job. None of these prices include any available state or federal incentives.
Unless you live in a highly urbanized area, you really should not buy the MX-30. The good news is that you may not be able to do it, at least for now. In 2022, Mazda will only offer 560 units for sale in California (can you say, "compliant cars?"). However, this all-electric crossover — and the upcoming extended-range plug-in hybrid version — will be more widely used in subsequent model years.