How Did Mazda Get it So Wrong? Why The MX-30 R EV is one Hybrid to AVOID

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Today, the Mazda MX-30 R EV. A car that on paper makes a lot of sense, and even appeals to petrolheads. But one that in reality is a bit of a mess.
#Mazda #Rotary #MX30
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[@JayEmmOnCars]

CarVertical: The History Checking Service Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount! www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm

[@kalmmonke5037]

didnt mazda say battery size was something done for "sustainability" reasons? we just need a momentum preservation eelctric assited turbo inline 3 compac t 4 seatprius that isnt comprimised for looks like toyota said the new prius is. as media you need to create demand for proper cars: i have driving fun to not be bored and non attentive partially for saftey reasons, i do it by trying to get max miles per gallon and not wearing out the tires by using them to slow down a lot . its like old school endurance racing at more relaxed pace(if you arnt in a rush to get to places quickly), you minimize need for pitstops for fuel tires lubricant etc. for example, you preserve momentum around turns instead and speeding up again, but dont loose traction. . you brake and steer minimally but steadily, build up momentum downhills and at optimal rpm and power level according to bfsc chart for the engine (electric motors also have this ) . you maintain speed that is less than roughly 50 mile per hour (if car is more areodynamic, you can tolerate higher speed, but cutting through the wind becomes exponentially less effceint as you increase speed linearly). although climate crisis politics is obviosuly led by people who dont care about it(like cafe laws preventing small trucks) , chemcial toxicity affecting food supply and sustainability of the buisness model of car design, are good reasons to do this if the money savings means nothing to you. t weight is less safe t to people outside the car involved in crash, and unsafe to people inside car unless its more expensively built. weight exponentially worsens road longveity before repairs are needed, causing emission , monetary costs too, etc. not necessary: drive.google.com/file/d/1EG0dKAd3yuIRnND73W80v5i4CNe-EOzA/view?pli=1 pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/design/design-parameters/equivalent-single-axle-load/ i think electric asited turbo on hybrid better than ev because: if you wanna lower emissions as long as possible as mass scale (probably should) , you use a mix of combustion of non fully recyclable and currently rarely ever recycled, battery mass. whatever mix lasts longest. weight is less safe t to people outside the car involved in crash, and unsafe to people inside car unless its more expensively built. weight exponentially worsens road longveity before repairs are needed, causing emission , monetary costs too, etc. it also worsens tire dust emisions and brake dust emissions expoeentially: drive.google.com/file/d/1EG0dKAd3yuIRnND73W80v5i4CNe-EOzA/view?pli=1 pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/design/design-parameters/equivalent-single-axle-load/ magnetic reversal news , tony heller, tom nelson www.corbettreport.com/ www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9566750/ www.greencarcongress.com/2022/05/20220513-ea.html#:~:text=Emissions%20Analytics’%20results%20suggest%20around%2011%%20of%20the,more%20than%20400%20times%20higher%20than%20tailpipe%20emissions. natural rubber and better brake metal can minimize problem to some bodily crash saftey improved by strong lower end of car jumping to level with incoming cars, especially taller sitting and bigger cars, to minimize damages. audi a8 does ths but maybe it should be cmbustion based like seatbelt explosives, to minimize weight. rearseatfacing rear (figure out why im saying this, and youll deserve knowing it )can you just take off electric power sit steering motor and use it as manual steering on new cars? or have a switch for that if you wanna share car or sell it. electric turbo kit and anti power steering kit and hub motor hybridization kit and big tinted heads up display kit would sell a lot in aftermarket

[@sparky4878]

A range extender? The Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust lives on.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

🤣

[@eurasianlynx]

aka Geoff

[@heeltoeautomotive4962]

My genius… it’s frightening

[@bmkoster24]

Do you mean geoff?😂

[@sparky4878]

@@bmkoster24 no. Geoff was pure electric. When James added the diesel generator it was renamed.

[@antonygray4114]

This car has made James go into "however" overload. 😂

[@CarsofGlasgow]

haha

[@Barbarapape]

However you put it, this car is not fit for purpose.🙂

[@Desmo500]

@@Barbarapape what purpose?

[@shoos9315]

Peak "however", but great video, regardless

[@aus_life]

Cork - Mazda started as a Cork manufactuer, surely it's a nod to their history?

[@dominicrusho]

Correct

[@scott1245]

Yes but still a stupid idea

[@keinname629]

"corks & features" 😂

[@HologramJones]

@@scott1245 it's a sustainable material and highly versatile. But that might grate your gears.

[@fajarkurniawan9434]

Mazda : we make cork Samsung : we sell dried fish

[@smilepermile8165]

I REALLY want Mazda to do well. I love their approach of defying convention, pursuit of lightness (with their MX-5), their 'kodo' designs since 2013, their soul crystal red metallic paint and for somewhat patriotic reasons that they are from Hiroshima too. Unlike what James said, I actually like the cork they implemented into the interior - its a refreshing change from the all black interiors from German manufacturers, and reminds me of contemporary Scandinavian interior designs - and that it is a nod to how Mazda started their business over a century ago. However, the realworld/actual MPG or range will not be practical for most drivers . Still, i'm routing for you マツダ, and hope to see a straight 6 powered saloon/estate and your upcoming production version of the 'iconic SP' rotary sportscar👌

[@datathunderstorm]

And that’s the whole point. This is home wall charger technology. That’s its modus operandi. It’s a niche product - literally NOT for everyone. It’s a city BEV with a Rotary Range Extender - not really a traditional PHEV. Indeed, it deserves to be in a class of its own. My round trip commute is slightly above average at 31 miles per day. And that’s all I do, Monday to Friday. On the weekends I do even less - though once a month or two, and probably a bit more during the summer months, on weekends, I’ll take a longer trip outside my city - but never halfway across the country - I’d take a train or coach instead. I’m sure there are many, many others who have this exact mobility lifestyle. The Mazda MX-30 R-EV is for them. It’s not for those who want to do “mini-cab” miles everyday. It’s definitely NOT a replacement for a Toyota Prius (I drive one of those now) or a Hyundai Ionic Hybrid. No. It’s a Battery Electric Vehicle with a Revolutionary Rotary Range Extender to ban range anxiety and ensure you’re never stranded. The range extender is a generator - like an APU in an aircraft. It never powers the wheels directly - it generates electricity for the electric traction motors and can simultaneously recharge the battery on the fly. This vehicle has a range of settings, one of which allows it to mimic a hybrid vehicle during operation, but that’s more of an option available - and shouldn’t be the main mode of use every single day for long distances. If you have the aforementioned lifestyle (and believe it or not, many do) then this is for you - and can prove very cheap to run. If you’re looking for a Toyota C-HR or Prius Hybrid replacement, this is not your car. I note that a large number of people cannot wrap their heads around the fact that this vehicle was built to a certain eco specification for people of a certain lifestyle. Many who watched this video are literally never going to plug it in - hence their obsession with the MPG you get from running it non-stop on petrol. We need to acknowledge what this vehicle really is. If it’s not for you, walk away - don’t waste your time moaning or criticising its existence because you’re incapable of accepting or worse still, comprehending what Mazda were accomplishing by designing and manufacturing this vehicle. It’s a revision on an older concept to a degree (BMW i3 anyone?) but it’s certainly not a carbon copy. A 50 litre fuel tank + a revolutionary new Rotary Range Extender power generation unit makes it unique - especially in that it can recharge the traction battery anywhere - or while on the move - something the BMW i3 was incapable of doing - so they’re not really the same. You’ll get less MPG running that Range Extender for longer periods of time - and that’ll hit you in the pocket - and that’s the whole point. This IS a BEV with an onboard APU and it should be treated as such - not arbitrarily labelled as another PHEV. It may have some capabilities of a PHEV, but you run this primarily on Electric Power and a lot less on the Rotary Range Extender.

[@Barbarian75]

@@datathunderstorm very well written for such video that missing the point by the biggest possible distance.

[@davidvivian596]

Do you know what? I must have said to at least a dozen Mazda owners that I really liked the colour of their car. But none of them said it was Soul Crystal Red Metallic. What a brilliant name for a colour and more importantly, what a brilliant colour it is (especially when viewed wearing brown tinted sun glasses).

[@dbx3197]

@@datathunderstormI completely agree with you. As the owner of a recently acquired, used MX30 EV I think it’s a brilliant car if it suits your use case. In this instance my wife has the car for her daily run around which at most is 50 miles per day but more likely 10 to 15. The MX30 is lighter and therefore less impactful on the environment than a normal EV with its 200 to 300 mile range and enormous weight penalty. If you never use the range why carry about the extra batteries. The fact that everyone also is moaning about the limited range means you can pick these cars up for less than 50% or their new price. A total bargain.

[@Beer_Dad1975]

@@datathunderstorm But there are a LOAD of vehicles that meet your needs without all the pointless quirkiness of this thing - and that WILL still get good fuel economy when the battery is depleted, if you forget to plug it in for a couple of days, or you actually do need to go somewhere outside of the city - also if you need to take 4 adults somewhere, this thing is useless. It's just a bad car that isn't fit for any purpose that is outclassed by its competition.

[@joonglegamer9898]

You can't imagine anyone huh? Well I'm a ghost then. Because I love it (not the R-version, but the original 35Kw battery one). First off, the fact you can't fit in the back is a HUGE plus for a single introverted person like me. I love the fact that ONE ride with me - and no one want's a free ride home. Now I was friendly enough to offer them a ride, and in the future they'll say no thanks, and I can get my privacy the way I want it. Great stuff. Secondly, it's rather roomy when folding down the back seats to transport stuff. Thirdly, I charge at home and I am so cheap, that I have an extra charger with me to charge at work, perfect stuff. Not only that - thanks to awesome reviewers like yourself, who has reviewed this car from the start - down to the bottom pitts of hell, it was possible for a poor guy like myself to finally get a cheap EV. In fact, the dealerships didn't get any sold (and this is in Scandinavia, Not America), so I got it for an absolute bargain. I giggle a bit when I see my fellow Audi/BMW paying for their heated-seat subscriptions, and Teslas stuck in -18c charging situation while mine just faitfully rolls away in -18c using 16.6Kwh per 100Km, while others are laughing and pointing fingers at the silly little man (me) that bought it, oh noes, poor me. Thanks again, for making this car the cheapest available EV.

[@bufftigerx]

Agree. He's cherry picking scenarios the car is not designed for and acting like the ones it was designed for are invalid.

[@gk505]

WELL SAID

[@yebo56]

The cork is cool. Light, sound absorbing, cheap, natural..

[@keinname629]

... dirt absorbing, ...

[@VaunShiz]

Stains and will fall apart

[@tastydaddy69]

@@VaunShiz thats just weight reduction

[@desburnett5406]

​@@VaunShizThat depends; it's a variable product and, even untreated, it cleans easily ("absorbs dirt" = "it's pale and I don't like washing stuff") I've had various cork handled rods, handlebar wraps and the like - a damp cloth and a dab of cream cleaner completely restores them!

[@jysmtl]

It is coated so doesn’t crumble or stain.

[@chris-townson]

I'm a bit confused. This is the opposite of the WhatCar review. They say if you've charged the battery and filled the tank you'll get 400 miles out of it. So you can do your EV commute and charge at home at night and still do the Scotland trip. I think the point being you'd never run it from the start with an empty battery.

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

Whatcar always just go off the manufacturers claims. They never give you real world figures.

[@pronoP2]

His calculation when saying it will give 220miles is totally wrong. He said at its worst, it was giving 28.5 MPG, so taking that number multiplying for a 50liter tank gives you - 313miles (28.5MPG x 10.99 gallons of fuel). This doesn't count the battery range atall. And then he said it improved to 31.4MPG, so that amount to around 350miles again not counting battery. He didn't do his due diligence and just said what the range in the car told him.

[@ObiWanKeighobi]

@@pronoP2 ​ To be fair 360 miles in winter is pretty inexcusable for a REx car.

[@davidaustin6962]

You're overstating the case of what it can do a bit, but yes he was *way* understating it, clearly he couldn't think outside of the box.

[@darrylbrookes2780]

@@pronoP2 lol i know that super stupid getting the basic maths wrong like that, i did the same on my calculator when i heard him spew out them numbers thinking that makes no sense the number of miles should deffinately be about 10x the mpg (30 mpg = +300 miles of range) just makes you think the main reason he dint like the car is he cant add up or multiply correctly lol or understand that the average mpg he got from when he was running the car with out a full charge in the beginning is gunna stay artifcially low because the avg mpg takes that no battary run time into account ...... this guy some how is getting paid as a job doing this lol

[@tyler.greene]

Normally love your videos. They are generally very even in content good to bad. But this was just a crap dump. The customers that have brought one from me have loved it and we have sold more REV’s than the standard one. I also don’t know how the hell you’ve been driving because we haven’t seen below 48 mpg and that was a motorway trip to wales. We normally got between 80-100mpg! So maybe you need to try again. It’s all a bit negative. Don’t think I’ll be watching anymore.

[@baronvonhoughton]

Must be tough to be so honest when a manufacturer lends you a car to test, for fear they won't work with you again. Credit to you J.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

It is for some, not for me! Most of them really don't mind as long as you're fair

[@BCNeil]

This is why Jay is the best, 99% of car youtubers praise everything they test. Basically salesmen.

[@awild10]

I think even Mazda UK are aware of the flaws of this car and the likelihood of its time on sale lasting about as long as its battery!

[@JohnSmith-wx9wj]

Maybe they'll make improvements.

[@jimmychin8313]

@@JayEmmOnCars Why did Mazda bother to send this to Jay to test, knowing well that they were going to get a honest report. The rotary range extender needs to half the fuel consumed for it to be viable.

[@negofol5278]

Mazda has made an excellent choice that most reviewers apparently do not understand. It is not an hybrid car, but an electric car with a range extender, and they have determined that 95 % of daily usage is under 50 km and 99 % under 100 km. So a range of 100 km makes a lot of sense for an electric car and avoid lugging 500 kg of battery around. The thermal engine is there to dissipate any remaining range anxiety and to allow on occasional longer trip.

[@aldish25]

How much kWh can you store in a 150kg battery!? The battery is half the size,yet it's 150kg heavier!

[@Mvubo]

Thanks for clarifying this. The reviewers don't get it.

[@xnorpatch4492]

@@negofol5278 well said

[@giacdesiderio1230]

I have an MX-30 R-EV and I’m pleased to say that the figures you are providing are far from reality. I use the car to commute to work and back (30mile round trip on speedy dual carriageways) and only when the temperature dropped to around naught degrees was the range extended ever kicking in, otherwise it’s EV power there and back with more to spare. I have also used the car to do the odd longer journey too (200 mile journey recently) and when starting with a full battery, as most probably would, it’s been returning 65mpg. Not the absurdly inflated claimed mpg, but still efficient enough to be considered an effective system. It’s one of the best handling cars I’ve driven of late, and I’ve had a few, and its quirks are what drew me to it in the first place.

[@datathunderstorm]

This is exactly how the MX-30 R-EV was designed to be used. Not primarily running the 0.8L Wankel Rotary Range Extender like a Prius Hybrid, but running primarily on electric power for commuting. Having that range extender kick in during sub-zero temperature journeys (to generate extra electrical power for the much needed heating - which depletes traction battery levels quickly - despite the heat pump technology installed (funny that wasn’t mentioned) is an absolute boon. My commute is about 32 miles round trip. I rarely travel long distances anymore. Kids have grown up and left home. I love coupes, hate SUVs, yet Mazda have totally hooked me in with this unusual MX-30 R-EV that I am growing to love more and more each day. Home charging is a must….or don’t bother. This car would suit my existing lifestyle perfectly, but it is not for everyone.

[@azguzb328]

Do U have info about if the heat from the engine is used in cold weather?

[@datathunderstorm]

@@azguzb328 I suspect heat exhaust from the engine is used to reduce emissions (EGR?). Heat within the cabin is entirely generated via heat pump technology which is electricity powered - but highly efficient. The tiny 830cc single rotor Wankel Rotary Extender Engine doesn’t provide heating to the cabin directly - however, the generator it powers exclusively can and will both charge the battery and provide power to heat pump - the latter which heats the cabin efficiently.

[@aldish25]

You get 65 mpg because it counts in the electric range, that's not how it should be measured!!! You run out of battery power, now you run on petrol and now you have mpg, there's no miles per gallon on electricity!!!!

[@giacdesiderio1230]

@@aldish25 it doesn’t count the electric range towards the mpg. Like most PHEVs, if you drive on electric only, it measures it separately using miles per kw. The mpg figure only records the usage when the engine is actually running.

[@Ze-Germanzuk]

Mazda are the Nintendo of the car world, just when everyone has agreed on how to do things they decide to do something crazy like putting rotary engines in consumer cars, randomly putting on strange rear doors on everyday cars... Exactly why Mazda will always be my favourite Japanese brand. I'll never give up my classic BMWs but my go to car on a bright summer day will always be my MX5

[@drunkenhobo8020]

And this is their Virtual Boy!

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

Someone has to be weird now that Saab isn't around to do it anymore.

[@feandil666]

yeah.. except Nintendo makes tons of money. Mazda will become irrelevant if they don't make vehicles people wanna buy

[@Bubble-xy7ul]

Yeah, but you know, Nintendo was on the edge of bankruptcy with their last generation of consoles (before Switch), and then what? A total turnaround, and they outsell their big rivals by doing things their way, not like others, which basically carved out a separate niche for them. There is always a chance of a total flop while being innovative and non-conventional. Totally agree about Mazda being the Nintendo of cars. I hope they will continue bringing new ideas to the industry, and I will support them in this as a customer.

[@charlesstenberg8806]

I still believe the car might be somewhat better than the reviewer. First and last time, I'll watch this guy.

[@rjdavies1982]

The car is designed to be run with a full battery start of every day - so unfair appraisal. Must be charged every night at home too. My usual commute is max 40 miles / day - so car is fine and for occasional trips down m4 I have a range of around 400 miles as demonstrated by proper testing in other reviews

[@oxaile4021]

The issue with these small battery evs/hybrids is the battery degradation. A small battery will go through far more charge cycles during the cars life than a large battery which will degrade it faster. There's a reason why Mazdas 8 year battery warranty only covers 160000km. You'll likely find that the battery needs to be replaced nearly as often as the engine on those old rotaries.

[@rjdavies1982]

@@oxaile4021interesting - another recent review stated that the smaller battery setup in this car actually promoted better battery health! I don’t know anything about battery technology or chemistry - my own short coming perhaps! I’ve never considered an electric or hybrid before but I must admit the technology of this car caught my interest

[@gavjlewis]

​@@oxaile4021 160,000km (100,000 miles) is pretty good really. Tesla only offers the same on their LFP battery Model 3 and Y cars.

[@oxaile4021]

@@rjdavies1982 Every battery cell has a realistic lifespan of about (in an EV) 1000-3000 0%-100% charge cycles. You can imagine that a battery that lasts for about 80km will go through far more charge cycles before hitting, say 150k kms than a battery that will do 400kms. Or in math terms: a battery that can do 80kms on a full charge will hit 1000 charge cycles at about 80k kms where as a battery that can do 400kms on a full charge will hit 1000 charge cycles at about 400k kms. This is further exacerbated by the fact that a 80km range battery will more likely need to be fully charged to achieve it's daily use range where as a 400km range battery can be left to 80% charge level more often as the full range isn't usually needed during daily driving, further improving the battery longevity on the bigger battery.

[@thedreamfactory6964]

​@@oxaile4021Isn't it more the constant need to charge to 100% that harms them? I charge my ev always to 80% max. Good for 440 km. I do love the ev mx30. Considering it as second car.

[@lewismcnicholas2631]

Bit confused by a couple of comments here - if it’s a 50 litre tank and does 30 mpg then surely it has a range of 320 miles? Plus 3 miles per KW is really good for a PHEV which are usually 1-1.5 miles/KW in my experience. I agree it is still a quirky choice but I think it could work well in some use cases. The relative low weight is also welcome

[@gypsyemperor7535]

Average of 30 mpg combined using the electric!!!!😂. The tiny rotary when used alone gets around 20mpg and real world tests have shown worse. It's a disaster.

[@shivasirons1]

Even if you calculate range using 40 litres (not running the fuel tank empty), at 30 mpg that equals 264 miles... plus the alleged only 36 miles EV range (btw, the manufacturer quoted EV combined range 53 miles, city 68 miles) that still brings us to 300 miles. 200-220 mile range? Maybe mathematics is not a skill for everyone. One can only assume this niche market car is an easy "soft target". If you watch other professional journalist reviews, whilst (some) comments by James are quite valid, e.g. the limitations of the suicide doors (I see this car as a 2 door coupe with easier rear seat access), or even, PHEV limitations, the majority of other reviews spoke very favourably of the REV, and called it the pick of the MX-30 range. Which includes the limitations of the PHEV concept, i.e., you need to have a home to plug it in, every night, to take advantage of the EV powertrain. Then you use EV mode for city driving, and the ICE engine range extender is there for longer trips. And furthermore.. it was reported widely the alleged rotary engine sound is largely drowned out by road noise and the radio when touring at speed. In the final analysis, as always, it's a case of each to their own .. but please don't blindly believe everything you hear.. question everything. Check out other reviews by motoring magazines on KZbin to get a balance. You will be surprised.

[@pillred5974]

At the end of the day, 30mpg is terrible, if you do more than the electric range you are getting the same fuel consumption as an Audi RS3.@@shivasirons1

[@dantebg100]

Pointless calculations. Just learn physics 😊 burning the petrol directly in the engine 🚂 is always going to be more efficient than generating electricity. We can conclude that it's going to use more petrol than a regular car.

[@tazka78]

I was wondering the same, i am used to litres and km, 30mpg is about 7.84 l/ 100 km... which is not very efficient, true. but with 50 l tank and that consumption, you drive ~635 km = 391 miles. It is pretty normal range and much better than most EV's then. Or is there something wrong with the numbers mentioned in the video? Even with 10l/100km (23.5mpg) consumption you can go 500km = 310 miles

[@brianiswrong]

Only 2 things mazda seems to have got bang on 1)The mx5 2) the colour soul crystal red

[@CarsofGlasgow]

zoom zoom

[@kalmmonke5037]

i like their darker red more, they can also make a more 3d irridecent version of toyota sea glass pearl 2017 prius

[@keinname629]

That Mazda-typical sort of red is awfully boring to me.

[@kalmmonke5037]

what color you like most and why@@keinname629

[@yeshwantdasari2075]

I agree that's not all They've also got their interiors to a perfect T with it's buttons and ease of use. Also the Mazda3 is one the best family hatchbacks on sale

[@AndrewMarritt]

It’s as if they benchmarked a 2013 BMW i3 range extender and couldn’t quite match it. And BMW stopped producing that as soon as the battery capacity was improved.

[@GoldenCroc]

Yeah, its even got the similar doors.

[@whocares264]

Yes as soon as bmw discontinued the REX they lost most of their market.

[@obsessedcloset2638]

I drove this for probably 4k miles part of Mazdas epic drive team. It’s a good city car. End of. Like all manufacturers. Mazda are walking the diversification tight rope. No manufacturers truly knows which direction to go. I applaud their effort to be honest.

[@bigmacdaddy1234]

But it's not a good city car. Too expensive.

[@darrensaquaticsworld]

It's really not a good city car. The BMW i3 from 2013 did it better.

[@jdmguy44]

​@@darrensaquaticsworldI find this much more appealing than an i3

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

As if you can't leave a city with 80km range... Plenty of people who live in the countryside actually drive less than 80km per day.

[@darrensaquaticsworld]

@jdmguy44 An i3 does exactly the same thing for 20k less, just saying

[@nigel.w]

I watch this and then immediately YT shows me What Car?'s review telling me it's "BRILLIANT".

[@MysteriousFigure]

You do start to wonder where these places get people to say such nonsense, its clearly not a good buy from multiple perspectives and yet they harp on about loving it, worse that people seemed to be buying into that opinion as gospel unless someone prompted them to remember all the other options they have (i.e. the normal EV, never mind anything else)

[@Scotty_AV]

Some outlets are just determined to blindly sell EVs because their 100k BEV that their company pays for is giving them cheap motoring. And therefore that must mean every BEV is amazing.

[@rotaryperfection]

​@@MysteriousFigure Maybe some of those places actually used the vehcle as intended and that's the reason for the great reviews. Have you personally owned a plug in hybrid with home charger capability to know exactly where the benefits are? BTW, this Mazda works exactly like a 1st gen Chevy Volt but bigger.

[@jysmtl]

I don’t get this negative review. He acknowledges that it drives great. Looks great, fun to drive.

[@Whatshisname346]

It’s such a pity because it’s a quirky little thing. It’d appeal to someone like myself, city dweller, small family, in need of a hatchback for the dog, design conscious, if the EV range were a bit better but it’s just way too compromised. Stick a proper battery in it and I’d buy one.

[@phillipevans9414]

Or a turbo 1.5L and be done with it. Cheers!

[@darrensaquaticsworld]

Agreed, EVs have a strong wiff of diesel about them from 15 years ago. And we all know how that went.

[@Beer_Dad1975]

Quirks shouldn't come at the expense of basic functionality.

[@Whatshisname346]

@@Beer_Dad1975 Yeah that's true but they do give a car 'character'. I used to own an old Saab which was stupidly unreliable and required constant oil changes but the quirks made me think the designers really cared about their job.

[@angleseyandy9110]

At £31k min? 😂

[@TheGhiaDriver]

Excellent review as always, although flawed in so many ways I love how it's just so different from all the other cookie cutters models out there. It actually has some personality. And on a Mazda theme, I would love for James to review the latest albeit discontinued Mazda6. I think they're wonderful and criminally overlooked cars.

[@ALIENdrifter66]

The use range of this car is very specific. It’s designed to be used on the electric mode most of the time, use a little bit as an hybrid a few times a month and only use it as a gasoline car on a few trips per year. If that’s your use case, fuel economy doesn’t matter. The rotative engine is a good concept for a range extender, very simple, very light, very small. If your use case is different from what I have described, this car, and by that means, almost any range extender car, doesn’t make sense

[@NunoLima1337]

@@ALIENdrifter66 precisely my use case. Already have solar panels at home and having a battery slightly smaller than that of the original LEAF is not a deal breaker especially because this one has thermal management. Mazda UK is offering 0% interest loan and a home charger this summer ('24) and I think I'll get one.

[@joetaka7620]

Hi James - speaking of somewhat electrified + unconventional cars, i'm not sure if you still have Honda UK supplying you press cars but i am intrigued to see you review a Honda Civic e:HEV. Several journalists/youtubers have been getting incredible MPG figures (particularly in city driving) and once Toyota GB start selling the brand new Prius, it would be interesting to see how that also compares with the Honda Civic e:HEV. I'm just thinking if the Honda Civic e:HEV may be the car to get for enthusiasts who like driving but want to have low consumable costs - whilst their other fun sportscar is not in use.

[@jea1034]

Not exactly a fair review. You should hv recorded once it was fully charged.

[@simonbrain8801]

You should give the Mazda 2 hybrid a go, currently running 59+ mpg in mine. Self charging hybrid, best of both worlds. EV when required and no range worries

[@uranblut]

it's a Toyota, of course it works :).

[@0990ftn]

you mean your Toyota Yaris

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

​@@uranblut No. The Yaris is a rebadged Mazda 2. Designed primarily by Mazda and built in Mazda factories.

[@uranblut]

@@rightwingsafetysquad9872 no :P. The Mazda 2 Hybrid is built in Toyotas factory in Valenciennes, France :).

[@0990ftn]

@@rightwingsafetysquad9872 Wrong car

[@sirhamsteralot3977]

As someone with an rx8, the doors are a very good point. Personally I *love* the suicide doors on mine, however this is mostly due to the fact that I use them as an access hatch to the backseats and not to put kids in the back. I can see how it could be easier access for strapping in small children in the back though. The doors are especially situationally useful, they're great if you have a bit of space around, but in a cramped parking space opening the back doors will prevent you from getting in the front so you have to awkwardly stand in between the doors to get in. Having an rx8 the backseat is also there for occasional use, and I think I wouldn't like it as much if I had to use it a lot, however for the occasional 3 persons onboard its fine™ I suppose. It sounds like the doors on the mx30 have mostly the same pros/cons but being aimed at a different crowd rather than an enthusiast makes the cons stand out more than the pros.

[@noname-sd5dt]

When i do the school drop off in the RX8 in the kiss and drop lane, the other kids gather on the fence hoping to get a glimpse of the doors opening for my sons to get out and to hear that sweet bp pulse. Back doors also allowed me to fit a dual sus 29er mtb in there on a few occasions. Dunno how that would benefit the mx 30. It just gives me a chance to talk about my RX8 😅

[@jonniepotter1194]

I love my Mazda CX-5! I like that because they’re an independent company they have the freedom to make mad shit like this.

[@rotaryperfection]

I don't think you 100% get the gist of the advantages of this plug in hybrid. The all electric range is actually very good for people who MOSTLY communte within that mileage range in the city. I had a 2014 Chevy Volt that operated exactly the same as this Mazda and had the same battery range. I also had level 2 charging capability at my house and plugged in after each drive. My gas engine would turn on only a few times a week (which is the point of commuting mostly on electric and saving fuel). You're simply too worried about the extended range economy. That's unimportant for these types of vehicles because if used within their designed limits, you will save on fuel 80% over the course of a month. To give you an idea of what it saved me, I was daily driving a large American truck Ram 1500 with V8 and was having to spend $125 US dollars in fuel PER per week with fullups per week. Once I got the Volt, I only had to fill up the car ONCE a month with the rest being all electric. That was $37 worth a fuel PER MONTH. See the difference? Sure on occasion, I would make 4hr trips one way to visit my sister, so yes, the fuel economy then wasn't the best. However, I didn't buy that car to make that drive every week either. Being able to pull to a gas station and fill up in road trips and get back on the road is this types of cars blessing.

[@amandafranklin903]

I test drove this car over 50 miles starting with about 60% in the battery, I put it into "normal" mode - so it maintained the battery level between 40% and 50%. The drive had motorways and country roads including the hills up to and over Beachy Head. There were two of us in the car. I returned it to Mazda in Eastbourne with just over 50mpg and 43% charge in the battery and 4.2Miles/kwh for electric - and I didn't hang about. It was a warm day. On a cold day with a depleted battery, perhaps it might not be as good? Anyway, I'm going to order one tomorrow as a company car - 8% BIK! I know not as good as electric (2% BIK), but in my case, living in a town house without a drive, full electric currently is not an option. I did test drive a CHR PHEV too - I just didn't like it, it seemed like style over substance, although I suspect the economy might be a bit better. The CHR was also a lot noisier tackling the hills of Beachy Head - which surprised me, I thought they'd have got rid of the CVT noise but they haven't.

[@ianhargreaves6258]

I`d buy one .What Car ? PHEV car of the year. I don`t listen to these so called motoring journalists , just try for yourself and then make a decision.

[@ProductofNZ]

Im quite fond of the quirkiness of this car.

[@carmadguy]

I've just ordered one on a lease deal through my work. I'm probably in the very niche group where it suits my needs. It has a rotary and suicide doors so suits my constant need to buy weird cars and we also do a lot of short journeys with the occasional long journey so 90% of the time it the engine will never be used. Looking forward to see what its like to live with on a day to day basis with 2 babies

[@peterbarber8053]

I had one of those for a day when my 3 was in for a service. The one I had was as the EV version. It was fundamentally flawed by the woeful range but I did really like it for being quirky and having its own character. I found the interior a breath of fresh air . I actually liked the cork and interior trim. Had a light airy feel and quality finish to it so refreshed from the dark oppressive interiors of most modern cars. If I only needed a car for local urban use I wouldn’t mind one.

[@sanatandharma4435]

Another car with design over substance....All to familiar nowadays!!

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

I still believe a small battery and a range extender is a superior concept to half a ton of batteries.

[@ad_fletch]

In theory yes, but somehow this one weighs about the same as a Model 3 RWD and has far less range.

[@bikeaddictbp]

The half ton of batteries is at least in part offset by the deletion of the combustion engine powertrain ... and all of its associated maintenance. I have a Chevrolet Bolt, which weighs 1600 kg, only slightly more than a modern VW Golf, but ... no oil changes, no sparkplugs, no timing belts, etc. Heavy long distance trailer towing etc is another matter but in the absence of having to do that, straight EV rules as long as you can charge at home (which I can). Most hassle-free vehicle I have ever owned.

[@angleseyandy9110]

Yes I agree, the closer the battery gets to zero gives the best range. Hence my preference for a 1.5l Diesel giving me just shy of 700miles range on a 5 minute fill up that I didn't need an app for

[@jamesonslow]

As an owner of a mk1 MX-5 and an RX-8, I'm a big Mazda fan and love their innovative mindset. Such a shame common sense didn't prevail when conceiving this one. Sad to say the rotary engine is probably now a chapter in history.

[@princesssolace4337]

last Mazda I got was the 2012 Mazdaspeed3/MPS3 ... still got it and its superb

[@jamesonslow]

@princesssolace4337 That must be fun. I was looking at the prospect of picking up a Mazda6 MPS for a while, but finding a pre-2006 one in the lower tax bracket was a challenge.

[@princesssolace4337]

@@jamesonslow I was thinking bout the MPS6 but I opt for less weight without the 4wd system and its for the missus. Tuned it to 100 octane pump gas its making 300hp/480Nm @ 1.25bar .. loads of school run fun😁

[@angleseyandy9110]

Sad that they have effectively been forced into this by lies on a massive scale from fringe groups

[@TurboHappyCar]

I'm from the US and I have / had lots of Mazdas. (4 piston and 3 rotary.) I was excited about the MX-30 R-EV until I saw the 0-60 mph time of 8.7 seconds. That's a second slower than a Toyota mini van. You would die trying to merge onto a freeway with that kind of performance. 😂

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

One of your worst videos ever. You completely miss the point of PHEVs. FACT: PHEV are getting MORE popular globally, their demand is INCREASING. This is for people who do NOT want a pure EV, for example bc they make trips to regions without charging infrastructure, but who want to do their daily commute in pure EV mode. The VAST MAJORITY of people have a commute of less than 80km, they can drive this model in pure EV mode 90%+ of the time and on top of that it can be used to go to places where a pure EV can't go or to get somewhere without a charging stop.

[@jamesengland7461]

Funny how he can get such a wonderful vehicle to get such poor mileage, because it's so mediocre. My 20 year old 3 liter Ford Taurus gets the same mileage Jay is getting.

[@ojrphoto]

As an owner of an MX30 EV this car reminds me a bit of Saab. On paper there are 20 good reasons why you shouldn't buy one. But it gets under your skin and tempts you in with its charm. I drive 42 miles a day for work and in winter I can just about do 2 days work before recharging, in summer I expect that to be easier. My partner has a self charging hybrid so she has long journies covered should we need to and we need to take our daughter with us. The best bit for me was thus, A just over 2.5 year old MX30 EV with 17k miles cost me £12750...£0 tax, £60 a month on electric charging at home...for me and my life style its a no brainer, especially when it looks and feels as unique as this.

[@sonnymoore5555]

There is a market for these, but the pure EV could've used more range. 200km on paper is just not enough, even for short commutes. That makes it a disposable car, just like the Nissan Leaf is.

[@big0bad0brad]

@@sonnymoore5555 And there you have it - this thing will be useless after 10 or so years

[@N4CR]

Family member has one of these, I've driven it a few times. It's a unique car, from interior to exterior, I love the homage they paid to their Cork business of old. I think in future it'll be a cute, desirable EV, bit like the BMW I3 which has price creeping up year on year as people figure out what a neat car it is. It's fast enough for a daily, has a smaller battery (easy to charge, keeps weight down and efficiency up), it's really a city vehicle that you can take on some smaller trips, a bigger leaf with better battery tech and more range. Family explained they've spent about 8 dollars to drive it in half a year or more lmao. Free power hour they charge in and until now they had no road tax, it's just enough to keep the battery topped off this way and costs almost nothing. Handles fine and just is an EV with some flair. Suicide doors are neat and very Mazda too.

[@big0bad0brad]

In the future? In the future there won't be any working batteries to put in it

[@Low760]

Mx30 is not a family suv. Just buy the right car, the Mazda3. We don't need high riding things.

[@baronvonjo1929]

I do lol. No reason for so many cars to be slammed pointlessly in our potholed hilly roads. Its a communter car. No practical logical reason to have the fenders, bumpers,and sides so close to the pavement.

[@Low760]

@@baronvonjo1929 there's a dual issue here and the bigger and taller heavier vehicles ruin the roads making people move on quicker. I drive a 2014 Holden with factory sports suspension and I can avoid potholes fine?

[@baronvonjo1929]

@@Low760 Good for you? I frankly just can't justify buying a sedan or hatchback again. Once I am done with my Fit I plan on moving elsewhere. I would be down for lifted hatchbacks and wagons but slim pickings. And there just arent any realistic offerings. You can do a lot to avoid the issues for 98% of driving. But if you drive as much as me then after years of driving and thousands if miles and being in areas you don't know it becomes a issue. The ridiculous height of my Fit and my families Camry have been issues way more than our SUVs over the years. We tried the cars out. There is a lot to enjoy about em. But there is nothing worthy enough about the sedan or hatchback shape to make it better for basic commutes. If I was rich enough to have a second car a sedan, coupe, or hatchback would be interesting. But doubt I will ever make such money. The hills are crazy too. So many roads abruptly incline or decline amd you see the hundreds of battle scars the road has from sedans of the area. The hills allow objects like signs, walls, and bushes, to block your sight way to easy as well. The basic shape of these cars have just limited us so many times in terms of maintenance, comfort, ease of use, practicality etc. It seems you are fine with this. But there just isn't anything there to keep me here. Also another reason is I like a connected cabin. So basically a hatchback. Very slim desirable options here in the US. Nothing I see except crossovers or SUVs checks my boxes anymore.

[@baronvonjo1929]

@Low760 There is much more too it for me than that. The hills in my area cause many roads including my own driveway to be very steep when connecting to main or side roads. You can see the battle scars from roads all over where sedans gouged into the pavement. You can go at an angle to avoid it but then you look like a fool making everyone wait while the soccer mom in a RAV4 goes through it like a breeze. There is also the issue of being so low you can see through walls, the hills, rocks, trees, etc. I would be down for a lift hatchback or wagon. But there are no really good options in North America. Also, I want a connect cabin like a hatch. But we don't have many decent offerings here either that are practical. That leaves only CUVs and SUVs as my option. I drive a hatchback, and my mom has a really nice V6 Camry. There is a lot to enjoy about them. But they are simply style over function. It's not too uncommon to need to go offroading a bit here a cars just can rarely handle it. The low ground clearance is just constantly a issue for both of us. We both look forward to the day where we can chuck them for something more practical. We had suvs for years. We tried sedans and cars. Just not worth the hassle. You can avoid lots of the little inconveniences, but it begins to become a headache after years and thousands of miles. Older sedans and such had really good ground clearance. Year after year new models get lower and sportier.

[@nickduncan1505]

Great review James. I also was expecting it to be a very clever solution to the electric range problem… but clearly it’s not. Considering it’s essentially Mazdas version of BMWs i3 REX it should have capitalised on the technological improvements since that was released, but I guess it doesn’t. What a missed opportunity.

[@big0bad0brad]

Mazda had an idea that they would do something akin to variable valve timing on a rotary by varying the load on the engine to make it rotate faster or slower at different phases of the cycle. I'm guessing that didn't work out.

[@Ethelberd]

My Ford Ranger has the same style of doors and I don't understand what issues you've been having with them. I have never had issues loading groceries or people, and the Ranger has *less* space in the back than the MX-30. I kinda feel some of your complaints were made just for the sake of complaining, honestly. The battery range will almost never be exceeded, so combustion engine fuel efficiency is mostly irrelevant. The battery range will almost never be exceeded, so combustion engine noise is mostly irrelevant. The combustion engine is really small and muffled, so the noise level is mostly irrelevant. The battery range will almost never be exceeded, so the battery's "short" range is mostly irrelevant. The aesthetic value of the car is subjective, but you present them as if they're facts. The engine power is more than enough to do everything it needs to do, even when running at reduced power. This whole thing just feels like polarized clickbait, honestly.

[@brutusoftroy2810]

9:58 to save yourself from over annunciated waffle

[@flibbertigibbet6200]

How can you have the largest contrast in propulsion lol so called green electric future and a terrible oil burning rotary that will blow up by 30k mls. I have had 3 Mazdas and never again. Rx8- the clutch blew itself apart along with the Cat then the engine failed at 15k miles, mazda6 diesel got oil contamination and failed and a petrol cx3 2.0 which was gutless.

[@amcluesent]

30 miles a day on pure EV would be ample for me, plus I can charge in my garage every night. I do longer runs every few weeks so using petrol for that would be fine. The lower kerb weight of the smaller battery means less wear on tyres and better handling. Point rather missed.

[@pillred5974]

But it only does around 25 to 30 mpg once the battery is depleted, imagine driving from London to Cornwall it would cost you a fortune.

[@xiaobaozha]

@@pillred5974except you would stop for bathroom breaks and food…at least I would. I would charge the car during those stops. I live in Devon and drive to Heathrow/Gatwick/Bristol/Birmingham airports once or twice per month. It would halve my BIK tax (compared to my current Yaris).

[@jambosalad]

Correct. But, if you drive from London to Cornwall just once in a year, who cares about the cost?

[@pillred5974]

Not many people go on only one journey of over 50 miles in a year though do they. @@jambosalad

[@David-wf1hr]

the mx hybrid is over 100kg heavier over the standard mx and thats with the hybrid having a smaller battery.

[@rahpowah01]

Oh god... They really made it.... 😮😮😮. I cant believe mazda is actually this dumb. That aluminum rotor is going to eat itself. Thanks for the review. Well done and clearly showing how poor this car will work out even in the short term.

[@EastCoastSteam4468]

They got rid of the superb Mazda6 to introduce more SUV's.

[@baronvonjo1929]

If you look up the Mazda6 sales you will see it was a declining car with little future prospects in its current guise. I will never understand why so many people get so made at car makers axing cars that dont keep the lights on. If the car was 60k it might have had the profits to keep it going. This isnt the 90s or 80s where such sales numbers were acceptable. Its the 2020s, and the future is uncertain. Brands are trying tp keep a lean lineup that makes the most money and profit for their limited production space, r&d money, engineers, etc. Most mainstream branded cars these days that sale below 60k are guaranteed to be axed. Depends on the cost of course.

[@jonniepotter1194]

The CX-5 is a very good suv though

[@artempavlov4599]

I think you are a bit unfair on a range and do not get a PHEV class exactly. Outlander PHEV, RAV4 and Prius prime are good cars, that may be fully electric cars in 85% of the time. How many people travelling more then 30 to 50miles to work? Not a lot in reality, so for lots of people it is ok, and on a weekend you can travel far away. However there is one problem, that makes PHEV awesome - you must have an ability to charge at home, otherwise a battery just a heavy load.

[@jdmguy44]

I love the design of this car and find it very appealing. I just wish they sold the more conventional mild hybrid model the Japanese market gets.

[@RogerNewsham]

Always liked Mazda and quirky cars, so the EV version appealed to me when it was released until I saw the range... I rejoiced at the PHEV announcement, as I thought it would be the EV plus the rotary for extended range, so I immediately clicked the video link... oh dear, it's just a Wankel, next!

[@yusufkphotos]

The cork in the interior is an Easter egg to Mazdas origins as a cork manufacturer

[@pxidr]

I like companies that thinks out of the bounds, but Mazda is persisting to use the Wankel engine, it just doesn't work. It is too energy unefficient and requires too much maintenance, that counteract its advantages (small and smooth running)

[@davepax982]

From what I have read, Mazda has sold approx 140 of these MX30 things in Australia over the past 3 years...

[@N4CR]

Yeah they are rare in NZ too, I've seen 4-5 of them and one is owned by my family. Cute looking car and definitely appeals to the ladies.

[@RotormanMTB]

140 too many.. the EV one was 80K in Australia STUFF THAT.. and I own 2 Mazdas, one being an Rx8. That car is a mess!

[@michaelandmariedownes6070]

Yes i understand they have been discontinued in Australia along with the cx9 and soon to be deleted cx8. They are to be replaced by their overpriced CX60/90 range.

[@RotormanMTB]

@@michaelandmariedownes6070 Maybe - but they are moving into the Premium segment. And have started poorly with problems already with these cars. Recalls so soo..

[@keithireland6627]

Hiya great review. There is no direct comparator for this. The nissan engine is effectively a range extender but not a phev and can drive the front wheels etc etc. I think the idea is good a rotary is a great choice as lack of torque is irrelevant. Maybe just needs tweaking id love to drive one for a weak. 🍀🍀🍀

[@Henchman1977]

In a rotary instead of pistons that reciprocates you have a Dorito that spins.

[@Uncompromiser]

Never read a more biased and frankly wrong review. Try reading the WhatCar - Hybrid of the year- review.

[@Ambienfinity]

My heart sank when I saw a review of this the other day. Not bloody suicide doors again, was my first thought. Then, the reviewer started going on about the revolutionary way the range extender worked, like it was something new -- and the odometer flashed up in shot at 35 mpg. Then started chunnering on about charging times. What an age we live in. I'll stick with my old ICE for a bit longer, I think.

[@stevenjones916]

If they are good enough for Rolls Royce...

[@EvoraGT430]

My SkyActiveG Mazda 3 (mild hybrid/petrol) averages 42mpg, so this new system is nuts.

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

This can drive 80km just on electricity, with zero petrol.

[@drunkenhobo8020]

@@EvoraGT430 Yeah, even using Mazda's official figures, the CX-30 standard petrol version gets a better MPG than this car using its full battery and petrol tank. It's actually impressive they made an EV that inefficient.

[@philipjames3526]

The in-laws have this one. And it will ultimately depend on how many miles you do. They do less than 40mile round trips most of the time, so genuinely under EV. Not a perfect solution, and the rear doors suck. I personally don't do loads of miles so if I were to replace the CX30 sky active x. I'd have looked at this car, as having driving the in-laws. I'd have strongly considered it. However in fairness.... EV have made such big improvements, I could see just getting an EV next. A 7 out of 10 :-)

[@SamiHentunen]

Hahahahahahaha. What a dud. I assumed that it would actually have that 30+ kWh of battery of the EV version.

[@camilstoenescu]

Mazda: two steps forward, one step back.

[@_SPREZZATURA_McGEE_]

ok, paula abdul :)

[@jamesmiller113]

I wouldn't be that charitable - how much did this cost Mazda to develop?

[@kalmmonke5037]

@@jamesmiller113 i think they developed rotary as part of deevlopment for sports cars, and this phev was just a esg score complaince car sort of thing

[@jamesmiller113]

@kalmmonke5037 that makes sense, yeah - it's a shameful situation, wishful thinking forcing companies to engineer trash nobody wants

[@David_Journey]

@@jamesmiller113 it's incremental refinement to an already existing car - MX-30. Why to be so dramatic? Mazda makes smart bets and experiments. Nobody forces you to buy this particular car. The tech from first gen MX-30 was a test bed and got refined to CX-60 PHEV. It worth to put things in perspective rather than be grumpy about an isolated point in time.

[@jysmtl]

Love it. Kudos to Mazda for trying a very different direction.

[@sputumtube]

Strange how this is classed as 'progress'. My old 2005 clunker Volvo S80 diesel averages 46mpg.

[@Toxofox]

I think the car would be perfect for people doing very little miles during the week (school run, shopping) but like to go on a little family road trip during the weekend without the range anxiety. Best of both worlds if you have a drive, a home charger and if you think owning an EV will make whatever difference you're hoping for. I run a RX8 as my daily. 21mpg is the norm, less if you're after some fun. 27mpg on long distance cruising. The suicide doors are fine if there's nobody around. But it's impossible to open if your car is surrounded by other cars (supermarket car park for example). You get used to it and work around it.

[@angleseyandy9110]

£30k to £40k to do that? So you'd need another car for everything else? So much for the "cost of living crisis"

[@davidkelly972]

I have had mine a month now and have covered just over 2100 miles. I must disagree on your review, I have moved from an Octavia Scout 4x4 and apart from the space and slightly greater overtaking ability I don't miss anything. To paraphrase your review, I think I have the best of both worlds, I do agree on the doors though, however since I am the only person using the Car for 95% the time it is no big deal. I did use my Car from Derbyshire to North Berwick and return and other longer journeys over the first few weeks covering 1100 miles and using 14 gallons of fuel. This works out at 78.57 mpg. This was worked out from full tank to full tank. I am now on 2100 miles and have only used about a third more of the fuel so approximately 80 litres or 17.6 Gallons, this is equivalent of 119mpg. In practice this means I have used £115 in fuel and 20kwh of electricity per day. Over 30 Days this has cost me 8.5p per Kwh × 20kwh per day x 30 days equals £51. So 2100 miles has cost me approx £166. My average monthly fuel bill for the Scout was £300. The same 2100 miles in the Scout would have used 45 gallons or 204 litres at 47mpg costing approximately £316. I am £150 better off and have a new car, with no servicing costs for 3 years, as this was in the deal. Mazda also gave a £6000 deposit contribution, as they are having trouble selling because of reviews like yours, this top of the range Makoto would have been out of my reach otherwise. If your profile is mainly short journeys to and from work for instance of say under 30 miles each way and you have a home charger (also with the deal) then this Car is superb. If you don't have a charger and you do more frequent longer journeys then perhaps another model is more suited. For my profile an occasional longer journey is not a big deal. I don't have to worry about finding a charger as I just top up with petrol, no range anxiety here. I am very pleased with a re-fined Car, with brilliant build quality that is packed with equipment and is superb to drive. It is amazingly quiet and the range extender is not noticeable during normal driving, my wife does not notice when it kicks in.

[@iandoolan8757]

Totally agree with your comments. Reviews, the media etc said the same thing about plug in hybrids. I have a plug in hybrid and it has saved me an absolute fortune at 8p / KW and an overall average mpg of 98. If used properly they are very economical. A pure EV on a long run has to resort to motorway charging points at nearly £1 / KW. Personally I think the range extender idea and the plug in hybrids, neither of which have range anxiety, are a very viable way forward for some time yet. When my PCP ends I will consider a Mazda REV.

[@silvaanosvs8783]

Different cars for different people and purposes. I have an MX-30 EV for shorter trips. With the 200km range (that in my experience is always more than that in the summer) I have never charged anywhere but at home. For longer trips, (and when I prefer four wheel drive) I have the Mazda 6. So, the car costs about half of what I would have to pay if I needed it as my one car. That's £30k. Then I have spent £250 less per month in diesel+electricity the year I have had it. The annual service was £250 less than "normal". Since it's got sensible power and weighs no more than an ICE car, the tires look new and will last years - I don't know what the proven difference is, but talking to people it seems they are munching through tyres at more than double the rate they used to before EV ownership. It's an absolute delight. But I agree on the R-EV's battery. It could have been better with the same range instead of an even smaller one. But what then about the weight?

[@niktodt1]

Well, he wasn't talking abot EV, but R-EV. Less that half the range, and you have to include apex seals (wich will be a massive bill guaranteed), oil consumption, engine cooling system maintenace and oil changes,.... this car is literally the worst of both worlds.

[@whocares264]

Ah a BMW I3 REX copy....but the bmw is better in every way

[@martincday007]

It is a relief to hear that Mazda may have finally addressed their harsh ride, that was always a deal-breaker, hopefully it applies to all their current models.

[@truthseeker3536]

Mazdas are becoming boring! The 'harsh ride' in their older vehicles was a part of why they were so fun to drive. The more comfortable you make a car, the more a disconnected from the road snoozefest it becomes. I have personally watched this happen with BMWs over the decades, now Mazda is heading in that same direction.

[@EvoraGT430]

@@truthseeker3536 That's a fallacy, sorry. Drive any Lotus and you will learn why.

[@flurpoid]

​@@truthseeker3536I have much more fun driving my heavier and more comfortable Jetta over my comparatively diminutive Mazda 2. The harshness of the Mazda seriously feels like I'm breaking it when driven hard, something I don't experience in the Jetta. And it feels stiffer over bumps but feels like it has much more body roll overall.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Russ is right - Lotus proved a comfortable ride and engaging drive are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the opposite can be true

[@alexms1993]

Just import the full petrol version from Japan. Problem solved 😂

[@markymarkreviews]

The BMW i3 Rex did it better. And that came out in 2013! Way ahead of its time. Used a 2 stroke BMW scooter engine for battery charging purposes and I calculated ran at 45-55mpg on the motorway when I wanted to conserve the battery charge level. That had a 27.3 kWh useable battery. 200 mile range. It only had a 9 litre petrol tank! Great review and summation.

[@TheImperfectGuy]

wasn't a 2 stroke engine Was a efficiency-modified 2 cylinder 4 stroke out of the BMW C650GT

[@markymarkreviews]

Wrote in a rush! 2 CYLINDERS 4 stroke. Yes.

[@chrisdavidson911]

"It only had a 9 litre petrol tank!" - which makes it terrible for people who can't plug it in, and actually need to use the engine. Biased because you had one.

[@donswier]

100k miles on my 2017 REx. Saved $2,000 annually on fuel. Still waiting for anything to fail. Biggest issue is tires last only 30k miles (may be my fault☺️)

[@callumcurtis15]

​@@donswier30k miles is loads, I worked for a fast fit garage a couple of years ago and we would see worn out tyres just over 20k miles on the drive axle on average for most cars. We had several contracts with lease companies whose drivers don't care about the cars where some people would wear out tyres in less than 15k miles .

[@kerryjones1508]

A miserable and mean spirited review. A recent What Car review described this Mazda as "Amazing" and "Brilliant". This car will appeal to people who enjoy something a bit different, who are a fan of the Wankel engine. The What Car reviewer had a better engineering understanding on how best to use the the hybrid system. I'm predicting that the depreciation from new will be spectacular. Autotrader are advertising low mileage 1 year old EV examples of this car for around £13000 - £14000. I'm going to wait and plan to get a year old Wankel one.

[@Armandinho8]

Agree... a terrible review... the Prius applies the same formula and has been a massive sales success. The electric only range is similar at 44 miles. If this mazda is anywhere near as reliable it will do well and appeal to those with average daily commutes.

[@edwardlees4585]

I have an electric MX-30 and can say i'm really satisfied with it. A lovely car. Did he drive through South Harting at one point? I'm sure I recognised the church.

[@JoseMariArceta]

Out of all the reviews I watched so far, this is the only one who has rightfully pointed out the massive flaw in the concept of using the Wankel engine as a range extender. It is simply too inefficient vs. its advantages for packaging. It's not like they have made the car roomier because of it, the car is quite a small crossover.

[@__-fm5qv]

I think it would still make sense if it was quieter, simply because of the smoothness, you don't want a rough i3 lump ruining the EV experience. But because its too loud and intrusive it loses that point too. Maybe an opposed piston engine, or a flat 2 would make more sense. At least then you could cancel out the primary forces even if it sounds a bit rough. Imo another interesting experiment would be a steam turbine, it would be fairly quiet and definitely smooth, but efficiency is a big question mark. It would be interesting to see though how it does against the also very inefficient wankel.

[@JoseMariArceta]

Nissan has some cool variable compression 3 cylinder engines or even a fairly basic 4 cylinder atkinson engine would have been more efficient and probably similarly sized since they won't have a "toyota" e-cvt and it'll be primarily electric motor driven anyways.@@__-fm5qv

[@spentron1]

The generator it attaches to is shown as twice the size of the engine. Diminished return. Also I'm not hearing about Hybrid having an advantage in cold climates, that's the real potential if all that heat is tapped.

[@JoseMariArceta]

@@spentron1 Maybe a better setup would be a slightly larger than 20kwh battery with a smaller generator and rotor setup to act as an actual range extender only when the battery is fully depleted. But in this case why not just get a separate genset and an electric car to achieve the same thing. The engine is just not up to par with conventional hybrids, it only has the wow rotor engine cool factor.

[@spentron1]

@@JoseMariArceta you need to be able to tell the car what kind of trip you're expecting, which it probably does but I don't recall him mentioning. But yes a rotary especially needs to be used less.

[@mfitzy100]

It’s not selling well - rarely seen one over here in Ireland and Mazda was always fairly popular over here. It’s even fairly well priced. Think the range is poor

[@marantamil459]

It's a brilliant car. The problem is that Jay still lives in the 1990s.

[@peterrolt6403]

It's called the real world

[@rowlewis81]

Loving mazda design. Shame they cost so much (looking at the cx60) seems really not set up for the uk market with the engines available, However prices for the ex30 used are rather tempting if you basically drive 10 miles to work each day

[@datathunderstorm]

Agreed. Also been tempted. May still end up with the MX-30 EV (top of the range, of course).

[@rowlewis81]

@@datathunderstorm currently drive a Mazda 6 did recently have a cx30 for a week did like it alot

[@julianevans9548]

If we all drove normal-sized cars with a ~150-200bhp engine that can do a genuine 40mpg in real-world driving, weighing ~1,500kg, with a small electric motor that would do 40 miles on a charge, our personal transport environmental problems would be largely sorted. (And it would be safer for cars/pedestrians we hit.) 40 miles covers most journeys and means a small battery - less pollution from heavy metals. The problem with this car is the uneconomical rotary engine. A bizarrely terrible choice. Most of us could do that. We don’t need pointlessly heavy SUVs/crossovers (you can have an estate for extra space). We don’t need 500bhp in a family car. Or even 300. And we could still have sports cars, etc. for occasional fun. The current situation is what happens when you let people selfishly do whatever they want - and allow big businesses to propagandise them through advertising to ‘choose’ to drive needlessly large vehicles. On top of that, electric vehicles are so much heavier - the latest electric BMW 5 series is 680kg heavier than the petrol equivalent (source: Harry Metcalfe). And biggest issue is that the government have no intention of improving the charging network because rich people have driveways and garages, so they’ll be fine. That is the key problem with electric cars - or do you have spare hours a week to ‘fill’ your car? Electric cars are still the preserve of the rich - the poor will be shafted once they’re forced into them.

[@julianevans9548]

There. Had my rant.

[@joey_f4ke238]

@@julianevans9548 Fair point, just going to rebate that companies sell what people want to buy, suv's will naturally fall in popularity at some point. If anything the government being stupidly advocating for ev's regardless of what form they are in seems like the real issue to me, but people like to have a bigger car they don't need, even while having to put up with all the issues that come with the bigger size. Also the charging network can't really grow much too quickly because the regular electric network is already pretty heavily loaded in most countries you can't suddendly add tons of cars charging at power levels insanely higher than any house uses, (a hause will use peak 3-5kw and maybe up to 1-2 average but an ev fast charging will use 200-350kw so up to 100x what a house takes) that would lead to a huge overload of the network. Not quite for the rich but definitely are only a sensible option for those in the countryside with under a 100 mile daily commute so they can slow charge at home. For the city just get an electric scooter thet you can charge inside.

[@julianevans9548]

@@joey_f4ke238 I largely agree. It's never a good idea to give people what they want (or what advertisers tell them they want). A sane society would not allow the manufacture of over-sized vehicles. The main problem is that companies get to do what they want.

[@Zlin0035]

I feel like BMW did this abit better with the i3 REX. my aunt has one and gets about 65-80 miles on a charge before the petrol engine has to kick in, and even then it will do over 50mpg.

[@marcos1669]

Kudos for the only honest review of this car that I have seen

[@Andrew-tb9vr]

Probably the last car Mazda will lend you🤣

[@robtt997]

Really enjoy your reviews . This was on the list to try as my next car . It’s not now ! Mazda 3 still on list as I like Mazda cars even though we have a poor dealer in nearest town

[@frenchbred2081]

Don’t buy a Mazda 3 it if you leave it parked up for more than 7 days! It will not start, so many issues.

[@jdmguy44]

​@@frenchbred2081Really?! I have a 2018 Mazda 2 skyactiv. A second car not used much as no longer my primary vehicle. Starts normally after nearly three weeks sitting - and still has the original battery.

[@frenchbred2081]

@@jdmguy44 I work for them we see loads with batteries going flat constantly.

[@jdmguy44]

@@frenchbred2081 I take this is just a Mazda 3 thing then....

[@robtt997]

@@jdmguy44 My 2007 Mazda MX5 is left occasionally left for three months and still starts on the button . Wonder why Mazda3 has an issue ?

[@reteptetep5078]

Nothing rusts like a Mazda. Great vehicles. But nobody with half a brain would buy one of these vehicles with their own money. It would be a right-off after 10 years like every other Mazda before it..

[@markc6714]

Had a 3 MPS for 12 years in immaculate condition. Sounds like a YOU issue

[@reteptetep5078]

@@markc6714 My Mazda had significantly more rust when it was 10 years old than my current Mitsubishi, which is 17 years old. It is what it is. Mazda's are just not good-quality vehicles.

[@markc6714]

@@reteptetep5078 absolute nonsense

[@reteptetep5078]

@@markc6714 Is what it is. If you like Mazdas, you do you. I certainly won't be spending my money on one of those pieces of junk again tho.

[@julianevans9548]

EVs - if you live in a flat, you're screwed. Or do you have the spare time to spend (approximate figures) an hour charging for every 200 miles you want to drive? The major problem is not EVs - it’s the lack of a charging network. The people who ignore that are the ‘I’m alright, Jack, I charge at home’ brigade - great for you, not for others. (Oh, and if an EV works for your particular situation, do tell us all, because that means they work for everyone.)

[@timaustin2000]

Will point out that rapid charging hasn't taken "An hour" in half a decade.

[@JJCotek]

eeeh, in my garage 10-20% of spaces either have ev charging boxes or have socket for connecting charging cables

[@julianevans9548]

@@timaustin2000 And yet people reviewing cars who aren't EV evangelists incessantly talk about the problems with charging. Length of time to charge, chargers not working, chargers busy... But I'm sure they're all lying. For no reason.

[@julianevans9548]

@@JJCotek Congratulations for - inevitably - meeting this criterion: 'Oh, and if an EV works for your particular situation, do tell us all, because that means they work for everyone.'

[@julianevans9548]

I also hear how you're supposed to keep EVs 20% to 80% charged or the battery dies much quicker, with even warranties being voided if you don't. So, how much is the range then, when you only have 60% of your range to play with?

[@davidstorm4015]

I love Mazda as a manufacturer, they make superb, innovative vehicles. BUT, why manufacturer a car with a drive train like this? It is utterly pointless and highlights the current crazy direction that car making is heading in. I cannot wait for the day when a proper alternative to EV vehicles arrives, until then I will continue to drive efficient petrol and diesel vehicles.

[@Neofolis]

This is how I feel about all hybrids. They almost always have a very small battery only range, after which you are using extra fuel to transport a battery around. I appreciate that most people's daily mileage is low enough to drive in EV mode all of the time, but that just means the hybrid part is only there for very occasional use, so what's the point. Given that there are many EV's now that can charge from 10-80% in 15-30 minutes, adding 200+ miles of range, if this is only an occasional scenario for most people, I don't see it as that much of an inconvenience, given that people will generally plan to have stops on longer journeys anyway. I still think EV's aren't the best option financially for most people, but that will change over time, whereas hybrids don't seem like a good option for anyone. Hybrids may reduce fuel bills for some people, but only if they don't do many miles, in which case they won't be saving very much. Disclaimer: I went straight from ICE cars to an EV and have never owned a hybrid, so I'm sure there are plenty of hybrid owners that will be happy to tell me I don't know what I'm talking about and having not owned one that is fair, but conceptually they make no sense to me.

[@datathunderstorm]

Owner of 2008 Prius Tspirit Hybrid here. Bought over 10 years ago for commuting 32 miles round trip daily. Worst Winter MPG was 53mpg during the recent sub-zero temperatures in London. For that, I got 495 miles from my 45 litre tank of fuel (used 42 litres). Best summer statistics; 69.4mpg @ 653 miles from that same 45 litre tank of fuel (used 43.8 litres - could have probably made 700 miles, but risky running out of fuel). I refuel approximately every 3 weeks / 21 days. I’d say it was extremely frugal for a 15 year old hybrid - and no, I don’t drive like a snail, I assure you. I’m just an expert at hypermiling! Very cheap on fuel.

[@Neofolis]

@@datathunderstorm Thanks for your reply. That's not dissimilar to my previous Hyundai i30 deisel. I know I would very occasionally get over 70mpg in the summer, but I can't remember the worst winter economy. I know it was usually in the 50s in winter, but it may have dropped below 50 on the coldest days. Like you, I don't drive slowly, but I do try to drive economically. Having said that, I was spending £350/month on deisel, about 2000 miles per month, compared with £100/month on electricity for my current Kona Electric and prices are higher now than they were then. This sounds great, but given the higher purchase price of EV's, it still only makes financial sense if you are doing high mileage and plan to keep the car for a good few years. Also to make these kinds of savings, you have to charge at home and there aren't that many people who do high mileage and would always be able charge at home. Now that second hand EV prices have plumetted, they will be starting to become more financially viable to a wider audience though.

[@drunkenhobo8020]

I think that's exactly why specifically there are so few range extender hybrids. BMW i3 tried it... then discontinued it and went full electric. GM tried it... and then discontinued it and replaced it with full electric. The MX-30 is already discontinued in America. They sound like a good idea but in reality you're lugging around a very complicated, high-maintenance ICE for absolutely no reason on 90% of your journeys. And the times you do need the engine, it probably could have been matched by just having a bigger battery.

[@pillred5974]

Don't include the Civic e-hev in that it's a brilliant car that charges itself, I'm averaging over 60mpg and it will give a hot hatch a run for its money as well so you get the best of both worlds.

[@drunkenhobo8020]

@@pillred5974 All battery electric cars charge themselves. It's a marketing gimmick.

[@billiebobbienorton2556]

A black roof?!??!?! No thank you.....

[@rickran1647]

IMHO, this is kind of a prove that Mazda isnt really interested in this kind of powertrain. Kind of like Toyota and Subaru these days

[@MF-jp5vp]

@17.57...I think that's the best piece of road in the entire UK! Anyone know where it is?????? Even looks like there's a Marshall to waive you onto the main road...Wow....just WOW

[@kevinleesmith]

Why is the front tyre flat at 1:55 to 1:59¿

[@3ducs]

A cramped little thing that still manages to weigh close to 4,000 pounds. Bravo! A 2006 Jaguar XJ8 VDP extended wheelbase car weighs less than that and here in the US comes with a 4.2 liter V8. Ask me which I would choose. Have chosen.

[@rupertorgan7749]

Like a lot of enthusiasts I want Mazda to succeed through its left-field thinking. I miss Saab for that reason. However I had rather hoped range extension was going to mean another 150 miles on a 250 mile range in optimum conditions. Where I live in Finland, distances are big between towns (i.e. charging points) and winter temperatures can severely reduce the range of an EV car, so the idea of a range extender makes sense from not only for practicality, but from a safety point of view when it's -30c out there.

[@RichardJoashTan]

I am happy that I will buy a fully loaded Mazda MX30 R-EV anyway.

[@Coffee.Crisp.]

I want it in Canada

[@tobyhall7617]

I'd buy it I wish disappointed that it doesn't have the EV range as the full EV but still would work if it's plugged in every day most people don't do more then 50 miles a day and the petrol engine is there if you need its there for when you want to go and see family two hours away like every few months it's for people who want an electric car but don't want the hassle if they need to make a longer journey than they normally would and they just want to get there

[@Nafeels]

I still wish Mazda sells a crate version of the single rotor engine. 0.8L, 74HP, it would massively reduce my annual road taxes while being fun.

[@xiaobaozha]

I feel like the whole story is yet to be determined. There are different drive modes that have no mention in this video (I’m surprised), I can’t see a scenario where you would allow the battery to run down, isn’t that the whole point of having a generator?? Somethings missing but I guess time will tell. It’s relatively well priced and BIK % is very low for company car drivers (why I’m interested). It’s even stated at one point that the fuel was only sipped…🤷‍♂️

[@69Phuket]

Just No! Oh ..Go on then sell me a SUV. Like the Mocha (already on order) ;)

[@FreddieDobbs]

Fascinating!

[@mnap89]

So its like 1st gen Opel Ampera/Chevrolet Volt. About 50km on battery and 10l/100km on range extender. We didnt improved technology much at all for 10 years or so...

[@deanchur]

The Volt was apparently a decent little car as well; I recall seeing owners say they hadn't used the ICE in 3 months.

[@thedreamfactory6964]

You should state: Mazda didn't improve technology?

[@sevensixtysteve8662]

It's a shame because in all other respects, I really like this car. Personally I think the emphasis is wrong here, they should have fitted the larger twin rotor engine and made it a non plugin hybrid. With the battery assist, you solve the rotary's biggest weaknesses, torque and economy but you end up with a much more compact hybrid powertrain than a conventional inline four would give you.

[@anthonytube]

Ah good old Mazda. It's flawed and created new tick boxes no-one wants but just love the MX30. It epitomises the very essence of Mazda and it a world of bland VW/Stellantis offerings I would have the Mazda flaws and all. It drives great (it really does), Interior is lovely, (It really is!) Build quality is great (It actually is) , paint is lovely (Soul red & Ceramic is really special) and full of kit (Top trim almost more than my £60k BMW). I get it and admire Mazda, they are building some beautiful cars of late, it's just a shame they are behind the curve (maybe the curve is changing?). If you buy one new (or any EV at present) you are a FOOL! These things lose value like a Lada in the 80's so very soon will be a quirky, fun to drive runaround for 1/3 of the price and then who will care about the flaws? Okay the apex seals WILL fail at some point and you'll have spent £4k on oil but I still love the thing.

[@TK42138]

Excellent review as always. It really is a car that doesn't make sense. I can't even begin to visualise the type of customer who would buy one. I think Mazda are late to the party with this thing - as indeed most other hybrid manufacturers. My 2005 Xtrail is bigger, less claustrophobic inside, 300kg lighter and better on fuel than this supposedly modern hybrid - which like all hybrids have all the complexity of a modern petrol engine and with the additional complexity of an EV/hybrid running gear. No wonder they're so bloody heavy.