2023 Mazda MX-30 SUV

　　

2023 Mazda MX-30 Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　Mazda has taken its time bringing an EV to market. It's one of the last of the Japanese automakers to go fully electric, which makes the 2023 Mazda MX-30 a big deal. Mazda says the MX-30 represents the brand's first step into a "multi-solution electrification strategy," which we understand to mean: "We've got more EVs on the way, they're just not ready yet."

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Mazda MX-30 EV Insights

Trim:MX-30 Base

　　4dr SUV (electric DD) - $34,110 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr SUV (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $37,120 MSRP

　　

Range

 zzdcar TESTED

　　114 miles

　　zzdcar Tested Rangezzdcar begins with a full battery charge and drives the vehicle on a mix of city and highway roads (approximately 60% city, 40% highway) until the battery is almost entirely empty. (We target 10 miles of remaining range for safety.) The miles traveled and the indicated remaining range are added together for the zzdcar Tested Range figure.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 97 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　5.3 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$78/mo

　　MX-30

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　The MX-30 is a stylish way to enter the room, though. It's based on Mazda's subcompact CX-30 SUV, with taut proportions and muscular fenders. The interior is classy, with a mix of leather, cloth and metal trim, and there's ample cargo space at 21 cubic feet. Handling is crisp and responsive, as befits most Mazdas.

　　The MX-30 makes just 143 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque, however, which is well shy of most rival EVs. The Chevrolet Bolt, for example, makes 200 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The Mazda also only covers about 100 miles on a full charge. That might be enough for most average commuting duties, but it's hardly what we expect of EVs in 2023. Most budget-friendly EVs today top 250 miles and are useful for longer trips.

　　Considering the competition — the aforementioned Bolt and Bolt EUV, the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, Mini Cooper SE and even the Tesla Model 3 — the MX-30 is more a proof of concept than a fully baked EV ready for mainstream consideration. But given Mazda's penchant for making stylish, joyful cars, we imagine improvements aren't far behind. Be sure to read our test team's full Expert Rating to learn more about the MX-30.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the MX-30 drive? The driving experience is where Mazdas generally shine, and the MX-30 is no exception except for one area — it's slow. Despite the inherent torque advantage afforded by an electric powertrain, the MX-30 is no quicker than a subcompact economy car. Our test MX-30 needed a full 9 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. It doesn't feel as sluggish as the numbers say it is, but there's no escaping that the MX-30 is among the slowest vehicles in its class. For comparison, the Kona Electric covers 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds.

　　Another downside: The regenerative braking isn't strong enough for one-pedal driving, where one can drive solely using the accelerator pedal. Luckily, those are the only driving deficiencies of this Mazda — it steers, handles and brakes with excellent poise and accuracy. Despite the lack of power, the MX-30 is easy and quite fun to wheel around town. The electric powertrain is smooth and predictable.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the MX-30? For a small car, the MX-30 doesn't disappoint too much when it comes to comfort. The front seats strike a good balance between support and comfort, and the cloth upholstery is both aesthetically nice and breathable. The rear seat cushions are decent, too, even if the seatbacks are a little upright, and there's sufficient padding on all armrests. The MX-30 is also one of the quieter cars in the class, keeping most wind, road and ambient noise out of the cabin in most conditions.

　　The MX-30 comes up a bit short in ride comfort and in its climate control system. Mazda did away with its independent rear suspension for its small car platform, which means that bumps come through a little more prominently at the back. That isn't great for rear passengers, who are already subject to a few comfort downgrades compared to those in front. It took us a bit of time to acquaint ourselves with the climate controls, but we eventually liked them. We also appreciated how quickly the heated seats fired up. On a warm day, we found the air conditioning to be a bit lacking, though.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below