#SUV #design #coupé #format #Executive #Digest
Mazda launched its plug-in hybrid SUV with the rotary engine that it has used in its models for many years, although here it works – under the cover of electrification – in a completely different way than usual where the small combustion engine powers the electric motor. .
The MX-30 has several versions, including an electric one. But it uses the combustion engine solely to charge the battery where, at maximum charge, it allows it to reach almost 85 km, supported by an 830 cc engine with 75 horsepower.
According to the brand, the typical customer of this vehicle is one who uses it mainly for city use and, on the weekends, for their trips.
The Mazda MX-30 R-EV is a car that is aesthetically different from the usual ones found on the market, as its design combines what the brand calls the connection to human beings and also to the planet. The front area has two circular headlights placed at the ends of the body, which, together with a grille on the straight top and a bonnet that appears to be suspended, give it a sporty, robust and elegant appearance; but also that it is a wide vehicle with a low center of gravity even though it is an SUV.
The side area of the Mazda is also different as its shape is that of a coupé with the big difference being that the rear doors open in the opposite direction and without any external handle. This design, different from the usual one, ends in a rear end with circular headlights at the ends.
The interior is also different from usual, as to begin with the doors open at 90º and there are several fabrics produced from recycled and sustainable products, where a large part of the plastics are soft and with a construction quality above average for the segment. , with seats in three tones, in a mix of synthetic leather, recycled fabric and sustainable fabric with brown stitching.
The floating central console is very interesting and has a lot of storage, covered in Portuguese cork but does not yet feature induction charging for cell phones. Access to the rear seats requires getting used to, and then we find two buttons on the back of the front seat to adjust the space available for the rear occupants.
The combination of patent colors, at least in this model, and the type of materials used demonstrate the brands’ increasing concern for sustainability. During the test, what the brand mentioned to us in the presentation in December came to mind: the symbiosis between man and machine is clearly evident in this vehicle.
The brand presents three driving modes, and in reality only two of them make sense for Portugal: electric and normal. Charge mode is suitable for all cities, towns or villages where it is not possible to travel without using electric mode. And, for this, what the model allows is to charge the battery before entering this place and then use 100% electric mode.
In dynamic terms, the MX-30 has good sound insulation and a solid footprint, where I once again realize that there is quality construction and materials here. In dynamic terms, the cornering is rigorous and the steering conveys the correct feeling of the road. The suspension filters out road irregularities well.
In terms of consumption, when we have a charge on the battery, consumption is around 3.4l, and after that it increases.
For this very well equipped model, with the various ADAS safety systems that are very well configured (including warnings about proximity to vehicles in the blind spot and also the lane keeping system), it has a final price of €47,000.
