The first 500 Mazda MX-30 EVs will arrive in the UK for sale early in the new year. Assuming the government's grant system still applies, then you might get change from £27,500 – unless you opt for the three-tone ceramic metallic or Soul Red Crystal Metallic finishes – which will add £950 and £1,250 respectively to the invoice. So does the price sound like good value for a car that uses rapid chargers up to 50kW? WhichEV takes a closer look at the details.
While the specs don't promise a performance or range demon, Mazda has spent time packing in the gadgets. The MX-30's Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture has been specifically tailored to complement the vehicle's inherently smooth all-electric driving behaviour. In combination with the new SUV's comprehensive i-Activsense safety systems, Mazda claims that it offers drivers a uniquely quiet, seamless driving experience. This was something that was stressed to the engineering team.
Possibly more than any other automotive manufacturer, Mazda has ‘history' in this area. Rumour has it that the original MX-5 team were blasted with the sounds of classic British sports cars, in an attempt to help them understand what a genuine classic sports car should sound like. The whisper-quiet nature of EVs is easier to imagine.
Seems there's some extra intelligence built into the pedals as well. Mazda claims that the throttle pedal delivers a seamless transition between linear power delivery and smooth regeneration on lift off – equally, the braking system should give you a seamless transfer between energy regeneration and hydraulic brake action.
If recycling and sustainability are your thing, then the interior should make you smile. The cockpit has a floating centre console plus seven-inch touch-screen air-conditioning panel – and all in a range of new, environmentally friendly materials such as cork – with a door trim fabric incorporating fibres from recycled plastic bottles.
When Mazda's President, Yasuhiro Aoyama originally announced the car, he said that his engineers “…had a very clear goal for our first battery-electric vehicle. It had to have stand-out design and be great to drive.” You can judge from our galleries whether or not you feel that Mazda has lived up to that promise.
Some things are certainly not clear, even in high res images. For example, a quick glance around the side/rear makes you wonder how easy it will be to get your passengers in and out. Check that rear door.
The first edition of the MX-30 comes with Mazda Connect, navigation, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Mazda Radar Cruise control and a driver’s knee airbag. Just in case.
Commenting on the Mazda MX-30 First Edition, Managing Director, Mazda Motors UK, Jeremy Thomson, said: “Our first all-electric Mazda heralds an exciting start to Mazda’s second century in business. With the First Edition MX-30 order book now open, customers in the UK can reserve a car for just £800 for delivery early in 2021. A battery electric vehicle conceived and created with Mazda’s well-renowned focus on distinctive styling, innovative technology, driver focused dynamics and class-leading interior quality, the MX-30 will be a standout addition to the rapidly evolving EV marketplace. Part of Mazda’s multi-solution approach to efficient vehicles, the launch of our first pure electric car is a milestone moment for the brand and a landmark moment for our dealers and customers here in the UK.”
Early orders will also include a free wall box home charger, which should save you a few hundred pounds. As with all EVs in the near future, if you lease it as a company car, then your BiK will be 0%, potentially saving you thousands over an Internal Combustion Engine vehicle.
Overall, the front-wheel-drive powertrain combines a 107kW (145ps) AC synchronous electric motor with a 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery, equipping the new SUV with a driving range of approximately 125 miles (200km). You can expect a top speed of just over 90mph and it will hit 60mph in a fraction under 9 seconds.
More details on the MX-30 itself, videos and information on how to order can be found here.