2023 Mazda MX-30

The 2023 Mazda MX-30 G20e Evolve comes standard with the following features:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic LED headlights
• LED tail lights
• Rain-sensing window wipers
• Auto-folding side mirrors
• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• 8.8-inch infotainment screen
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• Eight-speaker sound system
• Head-up display
• Dual-zone climate control with touchscreen controls
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Electric park brake with auto-hold
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Paddle shifters
• Leather-wrapped shifter
• Push-button start
• Black cloth upholstery

The G20e Touring adds the following:

• Keyless entry
• Two-position memory side mirrors
• Auto-dimming driver side mirror
• Pure white Maztex synthetic leather and grey cloth upholstery
• Power driver’s seat
• Illuminated vanity mirrors

Astina models add:

• Bright-finish 18-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive LED headlights
• Sunroof
• Front cross-traffic alert
• Front parking sensors
• 12-speaker Bose sound system
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Vintage brown Maztex synthetic leather and black cloth upholstery

The 2022 Mazda MX-30 is available in the following exterior paint colours, depending on the variant:

• Arctic White
• Polymetal Grey metallic (+$595)
• Ceramic metallic
• Machine Grey metallic (+$595)
• Jet Black mica
• Ceramic three-tone metallic (+$995)
• Polymetal Grey three-tone metallic (+$1590)
• Soul Red Crystal three-tone metallic (+$1590)

The MX-30 is backed by Mazda Australia’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with the battery covered for eight years or 160,000km.

Scheduled maintenance for the MX-30 Electric is required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres – whichever comes first. The first five visits are quoted as an alternation of $153 and $230, amounting to $919 over the initial five years or 60,000 kilometres of ownership.

Additional items on top of the base service pricing include brake fluid ($88) every two years or 30,000km as well as the cabin air filter replacement ($105) required at the same intervals.

The 2022 Mazda MX-30 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. The MX-30 Electric also has an eight-year battery warranty.

For M Hybrid models, the first five years of servicing costs a combined $1732, and maintenance is required every 12 months or 10,000km.

For the electric E35 Astina, servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km and the first five years cost a combined $919.

The MX-30 Electric is like today’s BMW i3 in that it’s a bit of an oddball with some really interesting bits and a fun drive, coupled with a lofty price tag.

While the BMW could be pardoned somewhat as a trailblazer for the time – and packed construction and materials usually reserved for supercars – the MX-30 is playing in a different age, and is too compromised and too expensive compared to alternatives from other makes.

For the $20,000 over the G20e Astina which matches everything bar the electric drivetrain, you get smoother and quieter driving performance but that’s about it.

You also have less driving range, more weight, and of course you’re competing in a much more premium end of the market.

The real-world range is not good enough for the money. Even if the justification for such a small battery makes sense – less materials intensive, quick charging, and lighter kerb weight – consumers with range anxiety likely won’t give the MX-30 Electric a second look once they see the range.

The core strengths remain, however. The cabin is nicely appointed and has thoughtful, sustainable touches that make the MX-30 a lot more stimulating than its CX-30 sibling, the on-road experience is pleasant and refined, and of course that quirky SUV-coupe design is another point of difference.

With that said, the tight back seat and boot, impractical door design, low-output electric motor and short-range battery are big knocks that are pretty hard to get past at over $70,000 on the road given the ever-increasing amount of competition at this end of the market.

Here’s to hoping the upcoming range-extender version, complete with a rotary petrol engine as a generator, can address some of the shortcomings without sending the price into proper premium brand territory.