2022 Mazda MX-30 EV

Pros: Unique sporty/upscale style; gas-engine-car loaner program

Cons: Subpar driving range; no all-wheel-drive version; rear side doors are halfsize and don’t open independently of the front doors; tight rear-seat space

CG Says: Mazda for 2022 introduces an all-new subcompact electric crossover SUV, with coupe-like styling and an innovative gas-vehicle loaner program. The MX-30 EV is Mazda’s first all-electric vehicle. It goes on sale in California in fall 2021, with other states presumably to follow. A plug-in hybrid version with a rotary gas engine is also expected later in the model year.

The MX-30 EV has a 143-hp electric motor and front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive isn’t offered. It’s powered by a 32.0-kWh battery pack that delivers just 100 miles of driving range per charge, according to Mazda’s estimates. Mazda hopes to offset the MX-30’s relatively short range by allowing buyers to borrow a gas-powered vehicle free for a limited number of days during the first three years of ownership. Also included is a $500 ChargePoint credit for use at public charging stations, or for installation of a home charging station.

The MX-30 EV’s body design is somewhat unusual for this class of vehicle. Along with its coupe-like roofline, the rear doors are hinged at the back and they’re approximately half the size of the front doors. They also don’t operate independently of the front doors. In addition, the rear seating area is sized more like that of a sporty coupe than a true SUV.

The dashboard layout features an all-digital instrument panel, along with an 8.8-inch screen that handles the navigation, audio, and camera systems. Infotainment features include Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. The MX-30 EV comes with Mazda’s i-Activsense bundle of safety-tech features, which includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, rear cross-traffic braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and a driver attention monitor.

Mazda needed to enter the EV market, and the MX-30 EV puts its own unique twist on the category. But while this stylish crossover may appeal to those who long for something a little different, the MX-30 EV is probably a bit too quirky and impractical for most mainstream compact-SUV shoppers.