Mazda MX-30 Review: Good Looks, Subpar Performance

Mazda claims in its marketing materials that instead of going for all-out range, they chose to pack a weak electric motor and short-range battery because that's all a typical driver needs. I'm not sure. It seems like it was justified in under investing in EV technology. Most journeys in the car are under 100 miles. All those short trips add up quickly. Trying to fit a day of commute to and from work, plus errand, in the MX-30 means playing a game of range anxiety that involves starting every journey with maximum charge, carefully planning out where to refill, and wondering if you'll have enough power.

On a fast charge, the MX 30 can charge up to 50 kilowatts. That is weak compared to the Ford Mach-E and the Kia EV6 that can reach over 200 kilowatts. It takes less than 20 minutes to charge from 20 to 80 percent. I was able to charge my car in about 40 minutes at a fast charging station.

The dashboard's remaining range estimate was the most accurate of the EV's. When I was told that I had 60 miles of range, I knew that I would have about 20 miles left, even though I was on the highway. It's a small prize for having a short range.

If you have to stop every 50 to 75 miles to plug in, it would be hard to take a road trip in the MX 30. The EV batteries behave the same as the batteries in other consumer products. If you charge it to full each time, it will degrade the battery more quickly than if you charge it at a low percentage. You can start with only 80 miles of range if you charge the MX 30 to 80%.

The interior is beautiful.

There is an 8.8-inch screen on the dashboard and a separate 7-inch screen on the climate control. The space between the two screens is divided by the dashboard, so there isn't a single giant iPad that handles all functions.