Mazda MX-30

Mazda MX-30 at a glance

The MX-30 is part of our Mazda catalogue, and the battery-electric version also appears in our electric cars section.

Versions and model history

The MX-30 has had one generation, coded DR, so the table shows its three powertrains.

Production began on 19 May 2020. Europe received the electric version from the third quarter of 2020, at first as a First Edition priced from EUR 33,134 in Germany (2020). Japan started sales on 8 October 2020, initially with the mild hybrid, and added the electric version in January 2021. The rear doors are rear-hinged clamshell doors that open backwards, as on the earlier RX-8.

Mazda presented the e-Skyactiv R-EV in Europe on 14 January 2023. Its rotary engine never drives the wheels; it only charges the battery. Japan received it in November 2023 as the Rotary Plug-in Hybrid, also with an Edition R. Outside Europe and Japan the car had a shorter life: in the United States it was sold only in California from August 2021 and was withdrawn in July 2023 after fewer than 600 sales, Canada ended it with the 2024 model year and Australia in early 2024.

Powertrains and performance

Figures are from ADAC; Wikipedia quotes 105 kW (143 PS) and 264 Nm for the EV motor. All European versions use a single-speed reduction gear and front-wheel drive.

The R-EV's 830 cc single-rotor Wankel engine has direct injection, exhaust gas recirculation and a particulate filter, and produces 55 kW (75 PS) and 117 Nm, enough to keep the battery charged once its electric range is used. The mild-hybrid version uses the 2.0 e-Skyactiv-G four-cylinder (1,997 cc) with a 24-volt motor, 107 kW (145 PS) and a six-speed automatic.

Charging: the EV takes up to 6.6 kW on single-phase AC and 50 kW DC according to ADAC (Wikipedia gives 40 kW and 30-40 minutes to 80%). The R-EV charges at up to 11 kW AC and 36 kW DC.

Dimensions, space and boot

Width is the Wikipedia figure (ADAC lists 1,848 mm); height and weights are ADAC data.

Energy use and running costs

ADAC lists the EV at 19.0 kWh/100 km WLTP. The R-EV is rated at 18.3 kWh/100 km in electric mode, a weighted 1.0 l/100 km and 22 g/km of CO2, but 8.3 l/100 km of petrol once the battery is empty, so it is cheapest to run for drivers who charge every day.

German list prices for the EV ranged from EUR 33,134 (First Edition, 2020) to EUR 40,591 (100th Anniversary, 2020); from 2022 the Prime-Line started at EUR 35,990. The R-EV cost from EUR 35,990 (Prime-Line, 2023) to EUR 45,040 (Edition R). Mazda's vehicle warranty in Germany is six years or 150,000 km for cars from April 2022 (previously three years or 100,000 km), and the battery is covered for eight years or 160,000 km down to 70% state of health.

Trims and equipment

German trims were Prime-Line, Ad'vantage, Exclusive-Line and Makoto, with the special editions First Edition and 100th Anniversary for the EV and Edition R, Nagisa and Makoto Plus for the R-EV. The Japanese launch was linked to the centenary of Toyo Cork Kogyo, Mazda's original company name, and the 100th Anniversary model marked the same date.

Safety

Euro NCAP tested the MX-30 in 2020 and awarded five stars, with 91% for adult occupants, 87% for child occupants, 68% for pedestrians and 73% for safety assist. ANCAP also rated it five stars in 2020. More results are on our safety page.

Reliability and known issues

The MX-30 has been on sale for a relatively short time and in small numbers, and the sources used for this article contain no breakdown statistics or defect pattern for it. The eight-year battery warranty applies to both the EV and the R-EV in Germany.

Sales

Europe registered 9,477 MX-30s in 2020, 12,249 in 2021 and 5,849 in 2022; Japan took 2,587, 4,655 and 1,829 in the same years. In 2020 the car won a Red Dot design award in the electric vehicle category and reached the 10 Best list of the 2020-2021 Car of the Year Japan.

Rivals

The related CX-30 is exactly as long but has conventional rear doors and a bigger boot. Among electric crossovers, the MX-30 competed with cars such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, Peugeot e-2008 and Opel Mokka Electric; compare them in our comparison tool.

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