The first Mazda EV. Can the MX-30 tow? Maximum towing capacity? Need a Mazda MX-30 Towbar?

The first Mazda EV.  Can the MX-30 tow? Maximum towing capacity? Need a Mazda MX-30 Towbar?

Mazda's first attempt at a pure EV is based on the same platform as the CX-30, the new EV stands out with some pretty obvious differences. Gone is the huge grill, the headlights look smaller and more innocent with the ring-shaped “angel eyes.” Rather than the muscular lines and stance of the CX-30, the MX-30 looks innocent with a curved and deeply sloping rear hatch.

You have to love the double doors that open with hinges at the back. Not only does it make getting in and out of the rear seats easier but they look amazing.

Equipped with a 35.5kWh battery pack operating at 355 volts, the Mazda MX-30 Electric has a driving range of 200km, outputting 107kW and 271Nm through its front wheels.

The MX-30’s water-cooled lithium-ion battery is 50kW charging capable, able to recuperate charge from 20–80 per cent in a claimed 36 minutes – however, via a 6.6kWh public charger or the supplied 240-volt home charger, charge times increase to approximately three and nine hours respectively.

Mazda claims that instead of going for all-out range, they chose to pack the MX-30 with a weak electric motor and short-range battery because that’s all a typical driver would need.  We feel many would feel battery anxiety/stress just leaving the house, unfortunately. Recently Mazda has announced that the MX-30 range will be expanded to include a “range-extender” that uses a small petrol generator to recharge the car on the run, removing range anxiety for drivers.

The interior is stunning. Mazda's designers did a fantastic job of making the MX-30—not a huge car—feel airy and roomy inside by blending different fabrics and light colours with modernist design elements. The centre console that houses the shifter floats on a pedestal above a cork-like material that feels pleasant to the touch.

Actually, reach out to any surface in the MX-30 and it's swathed in one pleasant-feeling, soft-touch fabric or another. All panels feel solid, and I'd go as far as to say it's one of the best-looking interiors in any car, electric or not.

Perfect for city driving.  The steering is light and the car feels quite agile, it’s easy to find a driving position that suits you and you get a good view out. The ride is lovely and smooth, too, taking the edges off potholes and bumps much better than most alternatives manage to.  Freeway driving is not the MX-30’s forte. Acceleration isn’t especially strong above city speeds, so merging into a flow of fast-moving traffic might not be entirely stress-free. This also means the powertrain is under quite a lot of strain trying to maintain a constant higher speed.

The regenerative braking is one of the better such systems. It recharges the batteries by spinning the electric motor in reverse when you brake

The MX-30 mounts an 8.8-inch touchscreen atop the dashboard and a separate 7-inch touchscreen for climate controls down by the shifter. The dashboard itself bisects the space between the two screens. so, three digital screens and a head-up display that projects key info onto the windscreen. The screens include digital instruments and a 7.0in climate control touchscreen, mounted just below the main infotainment screen.

We're usually not keen on having a touchscreen for functions you use a lot, such as the temperature settings, but the MX-30 has physical buttons on either side of the display for temperature and fan speed, so it’s actually really easy to use. Plus, there’s a Euro-style rotary controller that allows you to scroll down lists quickly and generally helps you keep your eyes on the road.
Every MX-30 receives built-in sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, with the top range model upgrading the standard eight-speaker stereo to a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound system.

The MX-30 has a 350-litre boot capacity (unless you have the Bose stereo, which reduces it to 332 litres), so roof rails or a cargo box on a towbar might come in handy. Mazda has not rated the MX-30 to tow, but we do have an Invisible towbar available so that you can use ball-mounted accessories such as cargo boxes, bike and ski carriers with ease.

Scoring a five-star ANCAP safety rating, the Mazda MX-30 Electric boasts a full suite of safety equipment, including 10 airbags; 360-degree camera; adaptive LED headlights; autonomous emergency braking; blind-spot monitoring; forward obstruction and cross-traffic alert; lane-keep assist with departure warning; adaptive cruise control; and traffic sign recognition.

If you need a gorgeous looking car inside and out, and will only use it for short-range urban driving the MX-30 could be the car for you. Alternatively, it makes a great second car to pick up the kids from school or run to the shops.  Don't forget to add our Invisible towbar if you would like to take your bikes along on your next, "short" weekend trip.