There’s no denying the ever-growing popularity of SUVs, but few are as overtly coupe-like for your money as Mazda’s MX-30 EV. But it’s not just the shape that marks a significant departure for the Japanese brand – this was Mazda’s first fully electric car and remains the only one you can buy right now.

Despite the inherent sportiness about the MX-30 EV’s looks, it doesn’t break new ground in packaging or construction for electric cars. Pillarless Freestyle doors are its most distinctive feature – an idea shared with Mazda’s own RX-8 coupe, as well as one of the MX-30 EV’s rivals, the venerable BMW i3. They are wide-opening and permit easier access to the rear seats than would be possible if it had a conventional three-door arrangement.

Although it looks like a coupe, and has remarkable rear-hinged back doors, as per the old Mazda RX-8 sports car (or a Rolls-Royce), it’s marketed as a plain old SUV, which brings it into contention with much more conventional cars. The MX-30 EV goes up against the DS 3 E-Tense or Peugeot e-2008.

It is designed for quick recharging, and that necessitates a small battery pack. So its capacity of 35.5kWh will give you a real-world range of around 100 miles. That might be all well and good if you’re confined to the city, but any impromptu trips further afield are going to involve regular – and costly – stops at public chargers. If you need to go further, Mazda offers the petrol-powered MX-30 R-EV range-extending hybrid.

It’s worth saying that none of the MX-30 EV’s rivals offer its attractive pricing and neat design. It’s especially eye-catching on the inside, which is bedecked with unusual materials and attractive detailing. Those rear doors make access to the (rather cramped) rear seats a little easier than it might have been.

The MX-30 EV comes in three trims – Prime-Line, Exclusive Line and Makoto. All models come with an 8.8-inch infotainment screen with connected services, such as being able to check range and charging from your phone and the ability to send navigation routes to your car from your armchair.

But is any of that enough to overcome the limited driving range? Over the next few pages we’ll take you through everything you need to know in this Mazda MX-30 EV review, including our impressions of the interior, the practicality, the running costs, the safety, the driving experience and more.