Should you buy one?

The arrival of the R-EV range extending plug-in hybrid has considerably improved the uability of the Mazda MX-30. So if you suffer from range anxiety or anticipate the need for long-distance trips, but really want something innovative and good value, then the PHEV is definitely the way to go.

However, if your driving mainly consists of short trips and you have only an occasional need to carry more than one passenger, then the Mazda MX-30 EV is a interesting way to take up electric car ownership. It’s engaging to drive, the interior is lovely – and easy to use – and the pricing is relatively affordable. But it really is a niche offering.

There are flaws. The interior offers only limited room for passengers in the back. As such, we believe most buyers would be better off looking at rivals with a larger battery and greater space. The obvious examples being the DS 3 E-Tense, Peugeot e-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka Electric.

These alternatives can’t match the Mazda for impressive build quality, high-quality interior and engaging handling, but they are far more pragmatic, and will make more sense for more people. It will be interesting to see how the range-extender model improves the situation.

What we like?

The MX-30 is attractive to look at, nicely crafted inside and has a simple but effective infotainment system. It’s also enjoyable to drive in EV and R-EV forms – as long as you’re not desperate for high performance.

What we don’t like?

The EV’s driving range is just too short to make this a practical car for general use – it might be fine if all you do is potter around town, but to visit somewhere even 50 miles from home will require otherwise unnecessary planning.

The R-EV is a much better all-rounder, but it’s comparatively slow and ineffcient when the battery’s depleted and you’re running on petrol only.