@@DanielRomero 100%. There's still nothing like the i3, both in driving dynamics and engineering quirkyness (lightweight rwd CARBON-FIBRE HATCHBACK). This will likely depreciate HARD like the i3 but it's quite a bit slower and has a fwd drivetrain. I'd have a completely different view on this car if it had 200hp like the Bolt (which is very fun to drive).
This is basically a CA compliance car. They just aren't serious about electric cars and this car won't sell. While this is cheap, so is the Nissan Leaf, which has much better range.
Mazda is expecting Americans to realize how much range they actually need everyday, but in reality, Americans want the most range they can get in their budget. This just isn’t competitive until the range increases. Out of all the cheaper EVs on sale now, I’d probably take a Mini Cooper SE. Everyone says that car is a lot of fun and it is a decent deal after tax rebates.
i think alot of wealthy californian parents will buy it for their kids as a first car. i think california has a high rate of wealthy 2 car households having a second ICE car for longer trips which is why they've focused on that state in particular.
The big problem with the MX-30 is price. They want to charge a premium for an average/poor performing electric motor and low range. Pretty much every other EV is a better buy. I think you're right that the REX version will be interesting, but even that will fail if it's another few thousand on top of this EV model. Convincing Americans that 100 miles is OK would be a challenge even at a low price. I was thinking about buying one of these as a 2nd city runabout car until I saw the MSRP, as I agree that limited range is fine as long as you have one car in the stable that can do longer trip duty. Given the state of competition, Mazda needs to drop this thing 4-8k. I don't see it happening. Honestly this just screams "compliance car." It's priced this way because they don't want anyone to buy it and they don't want to manufacture it. They just don't want to get penalized because CA is requiring manufacturers to offer electric cars.
It's a compliance car to meet the absolute minimum for California regulations in order to keep selling vehicles in California. Absolutely the automotive equivalent of your 4yr old sitting there moving peas around the plate whining "How much of this yucky stuff do I have to eat before I can go play?!"
just glad Ford scraped plans for one and made the MachE instead.... and I'm sure Ford is happy that did too...who knows what Mazda is smoking, to think this will sell at this price?
I love how you keep it professional and don’t trash the car from the start like other reviewers, still I don’t see a huge market for the Mx-30 but Atleast Mazda is trying to get into the EV game.
Shame they are using compliance era logic of building the cheapest possible BEV in hopes of selling enough of them. so it won't be fined.... That Ford almost fell into, before it scraped plans for one and produced the MachE instead...
Did I just miss when they changed their motto to Feel Alive? What I'm curious about is whether people getting 300 mile range EVs end up charging like once a month or if they always keep it topped off. I could totally see charging this maybe every 3 days or every weekend, which really speaks to the reality of most people's commutes.
The MX-30 is such an odd car. I love the design, the interior, and the half-doors. But with a starting price of ~$33.5k, when a leaf with the upgraded 62kwh battery is ~$32.5k.... I just don't see the point. If Mazda had offered double the range for a couple thousand more or something, I'd definitely be interested, I find the MX-30 way way more interesting than a Leaf. But at the price point with the range and (admittedly) less practicality than a leaf... It feels more like a compliance car
Agreed. I love Mazda and really want to love the MX-30, but it really seems half baked, especially considering this is Mazda's first EV. I'm not even concerned about the range - for me, it's the door setup which stands out the most as an absolutely bizarre choice. Did they do it as a weight saving measure? Then there's the cavernous hood cavity which other manufacturers would have developed into a front trunk. And it's slow. The Leaf and Bolt handily beat it in 0-60. What a hard miss for Mazda.
Nice looking vehicle (I even like the side view). Might be a good fit for our situation--we're older/retired, and our average outing is less than 15 miles roundtrip, maybe once or twice a week, and our second car [a 20-year-old Honda Civic] is getting really long-in-the-tooth...
Thoughts on the BMW i3? The styling is pretty polarizing but some love it. They've depreciated comically fast and can be found for way less than this car, with similar range.
We love our MX-30. Fun to drive, really comfortable and quit. Range? No problems at all, we have a need of 40-80 miles per day (and the range is really about 120 miles with good conditiond, 100 miles around zero), and charge it over night with the granny charger at home. We live in the country side, so need 2 cars anyway, so have a diesel for Longer trips, but 90% of our milage is done in the MX-30. It's a perfect second car for us, and we are very happy with it.
100 miles for $27,000 I remember the original LEAF had the same problem. However, considering there are some people with extremely low range requirements, garages to charge it and don't want to spend more than $30,000 on a vehicle, I think it could possibly work.
Perfect : PHEV w/ 100mi ev daily range and range extender for occasional longer road trips. Bad : body too small, suicide doors. Solution: Put the drive train in a cx5 body.
I had a BMW I3 with a range extender for several years, it worked very well, I had combined range of 160 miles. But in winter heater is resistive, range dropped dramatically. Lost 20 to 25 percent of range on my commute. Had to charge every day. Traded for an EV with 200 mile range. Still would rather have a 300 mile range. Not everyone can charge at home, the Mazda doesn’t make sense for people.
Just curious, now often do you charge and what's your average daily commute? I keep thinking about a long range battery with 300 miles or an AWD setup with closer to 200 miles, but still wouldn't need to charge either every day. Do you keep it topped up all the time or just charge once you hit 50 miles of range?
I have no idea why they made this. I’ve owned multiple Mazdas and love the brand. This car is hideous and the range is just terrible. Worst Mazda in a very long time, so disappointing from such a great car company. Why didn’t they adapt the CX5? I just don’t see the point if it can’t do at least 200 miles, which in the real world will be less. The major concern with EVs is range anxiety, and this doesn’t help to alleviate that in any way. I sure hope Mazda reads this comment, they need to step it up if they want to be relevant in the EV space.
Good points, I loved my 2014 Mazda 3 hatchback with its 40 mpg Skyactiv engine. This car is a placeholder for the PHEV model, but I wish they built it without all the plastic cladding.
💯 I still don’t understand why Mazda didn’t leverage their partnership with Toyota to incorporate their hybrid synergy drive. You’d still get better fuel efficiency than pure gas, and the GS450h and LS600h proved that hybrid cars can still be sporty. Instead they make an EV with atrocious range (compounded by the rarity of charging stations compared to their gasoline equivalents) and mediocre performance.
I agree with other reviewers that there is no reasonable usage scenario for the MX30. For 25K you can get a much larger and more comfortable used car and by definition a short commute doesn't use much fuel. For those who are environmentally conscious a used care clearly has a far more benign affect on the environment than a new one.
I could see it as a retirement city car. Also, for the kind of family that doesn't care about the cost bc they have 4-6 vehicles anyway. Really though Americans just have not bought cars this small in any real quantity in decades. Electric still isn't a good value proposition for the economy market. You go electric for the novelty.
I would suggest you check out the new ev vs used fuel efficent car argument on engineering explained. Only in specific rare scenarios is a used car more environmentally friendly then a new ev.
It would work for elderly people that only drive around the city. And it would work for those that have an average commute and have 2 or more cars with normal range. Also, not needing to pay for gas or having to go to a gas station is the real benefit for my EV ownership.
I live in an apartment and have a Kia Niro EV which gets 250ish on a charge. I can charge it at a public station and then forget about it for a week or two. This Mazda might work for a home owner with charging in the garage but not if you are dependent on public charging. The lease specials on the Kona and Niro EVs are the same price or lower!!
U gotta be crazy buying an EV with the range of 100 miles for $39K Perhaps if there is a lease deal where you can break even after all government incentives you might want to consider the base model.
It has such a unique beautiful interior that reminds me of my Volvo V50. . If they could make this more powerful and with more range, it would be an ideal car like my Volvo and I would maybe drive this over a Civic hybrid for the interior alone. But maybe not. :) It's much better looking than the CX-30 though.
This MX-30 needs to be at least $5k cheaper than a base 149 mile range Nissan LEAF. Which has an MSRP of $27,400. 100 miles of range for $31,775 is not pragmatic.
i hate that car companies are trying to convince us we already don't really want phev's and are just using them as stepping stones to EV's. even the reviewers seem to indicate this, as if our problem is their problem (range). it isn't my personal problem with EV's is how slow even "fast charging" is. I can stop off for gas in an emergency when I'm running late, it takes 2-3 minutes. range isn't a problem, it's just what's causing us to see the real problem because we will face this reality often of having to sit around for 15-20 minutes, if the charger is open/free, just for a quarter tank.
Honestly, I don't even care about the range as much as I am annoyed by the doors. My rear passengers would feel very clausterphopic and if I need to access the rear seats, I would be very annoying having to open the front doors every single time to access it.
This is a stupid product. The range extended version may make a little more sense for occasional road trips. Nobody wants to get a loaner for road trips. It’s a hassle and there is no guarantee loaners will be available when you need it. Instead of range extender that adds ICE maintenance hassle and repair costs. Higher speed DC fast charging would be a better solution. 45 minute stops with it’s short range is not it.
not when the average person drives less 30 miles a day and even less in most cities... so what EV are you planing to buy instead? lol it just cost to much vs the much longer range alternatives... ie the much larger longer range US version ID4 will sold for $35k this year... we would just need the $4.5 Wuling is a true EV city and its price justifies its short range or even if it cost much more....
Uh, not really. Modern batteries are pretty good at hitting their ranges in normal temperatures. It won't be of much use in cold climates, but half the population lives in places with fairly mild winters where range won't be down that much. I wouldn't want to be counting on that 100 miles in any situation, but 75, no problem in almost all of California, and many other places. That's enough for the great majority of commutes and ordinary daily driving. However, that still presupposes that the owner(s) have another vehicle more suited to long trips. I'm less bothered by the range than I am other unnecessary compromises. The CX-30 back seat was on the small side for the class, but could handle most adults acceptably, but this one is ridiculous for anyone but a small kid. The suicide doors were just a stupid decision. They limit access and give a poor view out from front and back seats. Dumb and pointless, driven by styling at the expense of practicality. I will be interested in seeing what the PHEV version is like. I hope it isn't crippled by a tiny gas tank.
The Hyundai Ioniq5 or Kia EV6, even the VW ID4, are all much better than this in terms of technology. The little brothers of those vehicles will be closer to the MX30 in price/size as well. Mazda and Subaru are gonna have a hard time keeping up with larger auto companies in the EV era. They are at least 5 years behind and they might have to start borrowing tech from Toyota/Honda/Nissan-Mitsubishi-Renault to remain competitive.
Thanks, Alex for the review. The MX-30 is fine and as usual Mazda likes to be a little unique. I'm a Mazda owner and fan and I'm really interested in the new CX-50 and looking forward to you/media finally getting to drive and test one, hopefully soon! I would seriously consider buying a hybrid CX-50 in a few years. Thanks again from a loyal subscriber.
Doomed-Doomed, well played Alex ;-) On the subject of Mazda, has anyone else noticed the curious cross-pollination going on in the new Toyota-Mazda 'joint venture' plant in Alabama? The CX-50 gets a Toyota Hybrid powertrain and the FWD Corolla Cross gets a Mazda Torture Beam Rear Suspension® .
2:10 "myself include, we would all be driving to work in vehicles like the MX-30" Alex, I believe the first EV review I ever read was yours on TTAC regarding the LEAF. IIRC you had to beg, steal and borrow range to make it to work and back in a day and that vehicle had about the same capacity as this. The EV world has moved on since then and there can be very few people who still think 100 miles is good enough, and even less people who think $30k for a compromised 2nd car is justifiable. Mazda claim that they're only a small company who can't afford big EV development, but at the time of that first review of yours Tesla were known only for selling a handful of modified Lotus's each year to rich fools.
You forgot about the Bolt EV and the EUV. I know they are technically not on sale right now and battery fire jokes aside those two are way more compelling than this. About the same price way more range and a bigger backseat.
Let's hope. This is for the ding dongs that said they would be happy with the original GM electric car. Short range and slow charging. It's back to the future.
At $26K it's cost matches its content. A Mach E or Model Y cost twice as much and if you sat in either of them and then sat in a BMW X3M40i, you'd weep at the quality difference you are giving up to have an EV. At least this Mazda's price exactly matches what you'd expect to pay for a vehicle like it.
Just ordered my EV, and will be picking it up this week. This will be our main car, so I picked an eNiro with the big battery. This car wasn’t even on my radar because the range is pretty close to hopeless for us. A shame because it’s quite a decent wagon, with perhaps a too long bonnet. It’s not especially efficient either.
The range extender version will be interesting if it uses a very small light rotary engine for the genset. Mazda has shown a prototype of a rotary engine range extender. That would fit in with keeping the vehicle light while giving Mazda rotary engine a future.
My thoughts on the range: Sure, the average driver drives less than 100 per day (on average). BUT, if I drive 25 mile each way to work, this is fine. 50 miles round trip. But it isn’t really uncommon that I need to go pick something up 10 miles out of my way. That jumps me up to 60 miles for those days. And what if I get a call to go to see a friend or my granddaughter and that add another 30 miles to my day. Now I’m right up to that 100 miles. It doens’t take me much to add 50 to 70 miles to any given day. Can you imagine tell your friend, I can’t come see you because I have to go charge my car. Oh, then winter hits and that 100 miles becomes 60. The minimum range must be 200 because we don’t want to restrict the rest of our lives that way.
I'd be interested in a plug in hybrid version of this car if it went true EV mode for the first 90-100 miles. My 2017 Volt gets about 50 miles of EV range which is normally enough for daily driving but I regularly have to drive 60-80 miles in a day to visit nearby lakes, mountains, and other recreation. It would be nice to do those trips without using the gas engine. I am also considering going full EV, especially if I can get my hands on an Ioniq 5.
Suggestion, keep the Volt until 2025...there will be many better choices, chips will be plentiful and you can probably buy a good car for less than the MSRP. 🙂
The issue with short range EV's is that plugin hybrids exist. If this had a range extender like an i3 it woulda been fine too, but this just isn't going to sell anywhere outside of places like southern california where conditions are so bad that this is actually a viable option. These kinds of vehicles will only survive when there are no other options due to legislation and other worldly factors. With it being a california exclusive vehicle that should tell you right there this thing isn't really meant to be sold to the general public. I am waiting for a phev pickup truck but they seem to just want to skip the phev stage and go straight to electric, which sucks imo. I might snag a grand cherokee phev since it can still tow 6k and I don't NEED a truck, I just wanted one. I understand PHEV's are very complicated in comparison to full EV's, which is why most automakers are skipping them, but it still would be nice for the option since it would drastically help with the battery supply issue without having to waste more batteries on worthless products like this MX-30
PHEVs are not that complicated. Toyota has been doing it successfully for many years as have many other automakers. Many PHEV models are sold in Europe and Asia that we don't get here.
At only 9 minutes into the video, the MX-30 is a hard line cross off my electric car or hybrid car list. I do in general like the styling, especially the front end, but I find the way the doors work for access in and out to be cumbersome at best and generally cramped overall. And the practical range of only 50 to 80 miles is totally unacceptable, especially with a 6 to 12 hour charge time at best. This car’s market appeal is going to be a ‘splat!’ Like a water balloon on contact with the ground. The massive fail of the 1st generation compliance battery EV cars was their very short 50 to 80 mile range and their laughably long and slow charge times. At least with the 1st generation leaf, they offered the option of rapid charging and a fairly roomy and easily accessible cabin. And now there are battery upgrades available at a fairly reasonable price to extend the range out to 150 to 270 miles. Now, I am going to watch the rest of the video to see if I can find a redeeming set of features to generate any real reason to buy this car. And be amused at your ergonomic demonstrations of the functional use of this car.
What, you're not sold on the funky rear doors and all the plastic cladding, limited range (especially in winter, yes there is winter in California) and slow charging. You must not have answered the phone when Mazda called to get your opinion. Actually I think they skipped market research except from skater dudes. 🙂
For the price and what it offers, it’s a doom doom. I will go with Tesla, Nissan, VW, Hyundai/KIA before I would consider this one. I can’t even drive this one from OC to LA and back or LA to the valley with the hills and highway accelerations. If you are in LA and needs to go to the outlet mall in Palm Spring, you won’t make it with this car.
Gotta start off the EV Buyer’s Guide channel on a high note. It’s probably wise to not let this be the first EV review on that channel. This car is disappointing, especially coming from Mazda.
I live in LA and my commute is about 5 miles each way in usually stop and go traffic on the 405. A much less expensive, subcompact electric car would be practical for 95% of my driving.
I tried to get a lease on this.... First number they came back with was $560 with 1300 down.... this is hilarious not for the small battery but the horrible residual... I didn't want to waste my time and see the final offer... I just walked out... Alex, your comparisons don't do justice to the price gouging going on... there are no deals to be had... (when you say deals deals deals). Even the Leaf lease SV is impossible to get at $200 with $3000 down
Call me a cynic but other car manufacturers must be thrilled with the production and pricing of this vehicle as it gives them a rationale for continuing to price better electric vehicles considerably more expensive than similar ICE vehicles
If they completely revert the interior to the Mazda 3/CX30's masterclass I'd consider the range extended model. But covering half the car in cruddy black plastic murders Mazda's amazing styling and colours. Feels like they had a nearly perfect car with Mazda 3 but electric then had a meeting to brainstorm "how many ways can we make it slightly worse?"
Hopefully the PHEV offers more than a Chevy Volt in terms of range, fast charging, etc. Otherwise, the Equinox EV is going to blow the BEV out of the water in terms of price and range.
That ultra small batterie will have to be fully recharged EVERY DAY...........That means very short batterie life.........Also, I will not buy either a FWD or 2WD auto............Also, the elderly, like Me living on social security do not pay income tax and will NEVER see a tax incentive................Paul
Range extender sound a lot like an APU "auxiliary power unit" in airplanes. It's a great idea because you can lower the battery weight and cost. The apu can charge the battery with gasoline or diesel as your driving, and the elec propulsion motors can move you forward. Another advantage is that the APU is running at a constant rpm improving engine efficiency. This will also alleviate your range anxiety. Most countries do not have the EV infrastructure that the USA or Eu nations enjoy. A gas APU would help taxi drivers and commercial fleet to transition to EV
An aircraft APU provides startup power for the engines, powers interior lighting, and avionics in emergencies. It is not capable of providing propulsion whatsoever. So a range extender is much more capable.
Mazda has been doomed since the day they decided to officially ditch their Zoom Zoom identity. They've put out bland cars relative to their concept cars. They took way too long to support Apple Carplay and Google Auto. Too long to offer turbo engines. Every model except for the MX-5 has no identity. It's trying to be upscale, but it's not. Toyota has reliability locked in. Low cost is Kia/Hyundai. Subaru is the outdoor adventure buyer. Nissan is the I want a weird cheap angular car buyer. Mazda lacks an identity and that's why it will eventually fade into nothing. It's sad because they have top notch engineering and build quality (post Ford).
I don’t understand the point of this car. Only 100 mile range and it’s only available in California and its only $7000 less than the ID 4? 🤷🏽♂️ The Ford Mach E and Volkswagen ID4 are much better values after the tax credit.
If Mazda could bring the range above 200 Miles, this would fulfill the Niche of the Affordable EV millions are seeking. 100 Miles is the deal-breaker, especially when one factors in Heating/Cooling & any inclined/hilly/mountainous destinations.
If they add a range extender for not much more $$$ the MX-30 could be a good choice. As an old fart getting in and out of smaller or closer to ground cars like the MINI EV I would think the MX-30 is easier to get in and out of. For this old retired guy my 2016 Spark EV is still a better choice for my needs especially as a 2nd vehicle. I'd pick a Kona EV over the Mazda.
Must stop defending Mazda but this vehicle is just sadly misunderstod. 24000 miles to date. Looks great, reliable, safe, fun to drive, kids love the suicide doors. Terrific lights, awesome sound system. Its not great for road trips but how many affordable EVs are????
100 mile range is laughable. People aren't robots and just because they have a 30-50 mile commute doesn't mean they won't occasionally need to run errands or go farther. If this car cost like $15k, then maybe it would sell, but almost everyone else is better off getting a used Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf, etc.
This is another case of bad dashboard design. Touch controls > tablets. The storage is too small. Is this a gutless wonder like the 2000 Chevy Prism? The small HP scares me. My Camry has 289. I'm not looking for anything less.
Its a perfect EV for a Wage Slave. Its perfect to get them to work and back home. Because a Wage Slave doesn't need to have a life outside of work or be thinking about going on a vacation. So it doesn't need a big rang. Its also an ingenus business plan on Mazda part. That 100 mile rang battery not gonna last long and will need replace and seeing expensive they are you might as well just get a new MX-30. And because of the terrible rang it won't be a practical Used car either, so it'll just go straight to the landfill instead of stealing sales. Im sure those Battery are good to have buried underground.
Range anxiety is literally a mental disorder. WHY should a person who NEVER drives more than 100 miles per day get a bigger battery and carry it around completely unused as dead weight? WHY?
Have to say, having lived with a CX5, Mazda's infotainment ruins an otherwise pretty good vehicle. Really wish companies would stop trying to re-invent the wheel and just give us a touchscreen.
I don't think this vehicle is practical or pragmatic at all. 100 miles of range, a back seat which cannot fit most adults comfortably, rear doors which cannot open unless the front door is opened first, cave-like rear seat visibility, small cargo space, a huge amount of wasted space under the hood, touchscreen a/c but non-touchscreen infotainment, and a price which does not compete with other EVs which can go much farther with better rear seating, 4 doors, and more storage space? Not pragmatic at all.
I can't even drive to the city and back in 100 miles. Way too little. 150 is the bottom limit imo even when being pragmatic. Preferably, I would like 200 mi+.
ah yes, after serving us a bevy diet of SUVs and front wheel drive trash disguised as SUVs, Mazda now expects drivers to select the sensible option. you cant condition your market to expect overkill (whether it be acceleration, range, speed) and then profit off of that, and then put forward a insipid option and hope to profit off of that now. do better mazda.
The base Ioniq 5 is more expensive but a much better value IMO. Both will depreciate rather quickly once this massive shortage ebbs, but the tax incentives/credits will buffer the impact of that a bit for a few years.
Fuel Economy grade is misleading. You should have separate grading for Fuel Economy and Battery Efficiency and also add a grade for Range - which is a more important category for EV Buyers.
Im 7.5 min in and .. Im out. Its great Mazda is trying new things but - I cant see that flying. So I only drive my truck x miles per day --- but if I want - I can do 400 and I dont have to think about anything else.
I think this is a compliance car to get some credit with CARB. For sale in California only is all you need to know. Thats a waste of tax credit given the choices we have now. Calling it a half-hearted attempt is giving Mazda too much credit.
hmm Dont Corks Shrink after a while and if its that flat kind would it not absorb oil if it got on it? . Id Personally get a Nissan Leaf for this Price. Lower end one least get a few more miles for similar price. lol And sorry id have no use for this. Drive to work is over 70 mi to and 70 back.
The number of people who still lament the loss of the Volt in the marketplace is quite large. Adding in a range extender and the entire car being just under $30K with the credit will be a big change in the marketplace. The other problem with the Volt was that the $40K price and the miserable 40 mile actual range on pure electric, meaning that most people had to charge it at work to be most efficient. Sure, you could turn on the range extender, but it was basically a hybrid at that point. And actual hybrids existed which were better. This, with the 100 mile range and a generator? Exactly what people will want. Pure EV, easily charges on a wall socket overnight, and the generator for those family road trips.
Considering the average commute of the Japanese buyer the 100 miles is ok. Still I believe is not something that really makes a difference for the American buyer.
The problem is that it can’t be your only vehicle. So…for a family where one person can commit to no more than (realistically) 70 miles per day and doesn’t have kids getting into and out of the rear seat, it almost makes sense. The slice of the market this appeals to is razor thin.
A disappointing new model. Make that range extender standard please. And add gas range to a healthy 400 mi. You can make even less battery (40~50mi) and just sell it as a gas hybrid car.
The problem with it as a Volt replacement alone is that 40-50 miles before the generator kicks in is massively more fuel used. Optimally, you want enough range so that the only time you need the generator is on long road trips, a few times a year. 100 miles gives you enough room - say 35 miles each way, plus a healthy safety margin. If you used it for work, that's roughly 250 days a year times 70 miles, plus extra weekend trips and holiday.road trips. Roughly 20K miles a year, which is a lot, but could be done 95% on electricity alone. This is the optimal balance point for the market and most consumers. Provided it HAS the range extender as standard. Tesla tries to do it by offering a massive battery pack, but to actually need it, you would need to drive 50-60K miles a year. Paying extra for a huge battery that you charge twice week versus every day is inefficient and costly. I can guarantee a Tesla with a generator added and a much smaller battery pack would cost 10-20K less and work much better. And not leave you stranded if you are out of range of the next charging station.
All the black plastic cladding is a joke. As a puttering around town vehicle, this car is OK, but why make it look like you can take it on the Rubicon? If I won one in a contest I would take to a body shop and have all the plastic painted the same color as the car. Good grief Mazda you've let the C minus design school students design this car. No thanks.
It looks fine. It's nothing special, but most cars don't look special to me. The doors may end up banging into other cars or impeding others getting into their cars more often than usual doors. I guess the range is probably fine for most.
These are going to be great in a few years for $10-$15k. Just like the BMW i3, they made no sense at $40k but are very attractive used below $15k.
They will not last a FEW years because of the small batteries having to be charged EVERY DAY...........Paul
@@paulholterhaus7084 The BMW i3’s have aged fine, why would the newer Mazda be any different?
@@paulholterhaus7084 What data do you base that on because I don't see any? If you're charging every day you dint buy this car in the first place.
@@aussie2uGA imo, that i3 is gonna be a classic. Also, it drives incredible. This Mazda is nowhere near as nimble or quick
@@DanielRomero
100%. There's still nothing like the i3, both in driving dynamics and engineering quirkyness (lightweight rwd CARBON-FIBRE HATCHBACK).
This will likely depreciate HARD like the i3 but it's quite a bit slower and has a fwd drivetrain. I'd have a completely different view on this car if it had 200hp like the Bolt (which is very fun to drive).
This is basically a CA compliance car. They just aren't serious about electric cars and this car won't sell. While this is cheap, so is the Nissan Leaf, which has much better range.
Mazda is expecting Americans to realize how much range they actually need everyday, but in reality, Americans want the most range they can get in their budget. This just isn’t competitive until the range increases.
Out of all the cheaper EVs on sale now, I’d probably take a Mini Cooper SE. Everyone says that car is a lot of fun and it is a decent deal after tax rebates.
i think alot of wealthy californian parents will buy it for their kids as a first car.
i think california has a high rate of wealthy 2 car households having a second ICE car for longer trips which is why they've focused on that state in particular.
@@sockself especially on the used market when the prices for the MX-30 plummet. I think kids would go for the Mini Cooper SE first, but good point
The big problem with the MX-30 is price. They want to charge a premium for an average/poor performing electric motor and low range. Pretty much every other EV is a better buy. I think you're right that the REX version will be interesting, but even that will fail if it's another few thousand on top of this EV model. Convincing Americans that 100 miles is OK would be a challenge even at a low price. I was thinking about buying one of these as a 2nd city runabout car until I saw the MSRP, as I agree that limited range is fine as long as you have one car in the stable that can do longer trip duty. Given the state of competition, Mazda needs to drop this thing 4-8k. I don't see it happening.
Honestly this just screams "compliance car." It's priced this way because they don't want anyone to buy it and they don't want to manufacture it. They just don't want to get penalized because CA is requiring manufacturers to offer electric cars.
I agree with you 100% nobody is going to buy this car with a 100 mile range.
It's a compliance car to meet the absolute minimum for California regulations in order to keep selling vehicles in California. Absolutely the automotive equivalent of your 4yr old sitting there moving peas around the plate whining "How much of this yucky stuff do I have to eat before I can go play?!"
just glad Ford scraped plans for one and made the MachE instead.... and I'm sure Ford is happy that did too...who knows what Mazda is smoking, to think this will sell at this price?
@@nc3826 Ford didn’t scrap their original plans for a compliance EV. Remember the Focus Electric?
GW: have fun living in the past... and good luck with those meds..
@@nc3826 lol how am I living in the past? Because I mentioned a car from 10 years ago?
GW: ofc... now go to talk to your therapist... about why you waste time being trivial? ;)
I love how you keep it professional and don’t trash the car from the start like other reviewers, still I don’t see a huge market for the Mx-30 but Atleast Mazda is trying to get into the EV game.
No they not
Mazda isn't really trying to get into the EV game, they are doing the bare minimum to meet California regulations. Hence, this compliance car.
I like the way it looks. But yeah I'm more interested in the plug in hybrid as that seems far more pragmatic to me.
as a used car, meant as a 3rd car, or for a new teen driver, this is perfect. other than that.....ugh mazda, what a waste of effort.
Seems like a lot of cost and trouble to engineer a vehicle that wont sell at all!
Shame they are using compliance era logic of building the cheapest possible BEV in hopes of selling enough of them. so it won't be fined....
That Ford almost fell into, before it scraped plans for one and produced the MachE instead...
Mazda does not expect it to sell............Only 250 units alloted to the US..........Paul
Did I just miss when they changed their motto to Feel Alive?
What I'm curious about is whether people getting 300 mile range EVs end up charging like once a month or if they always keep it topped off. I could totally see charging this maybe every 3 days or every weekend, which really speaks to the reality of most people's commutes.
The MX-30 is such an odd car. I love the design, the interior, and the half-doors. But with a starting price of ~$33.5k, when a leaf with the upgraded 62kwh battery is ~$32.5k.... I just don't see the point. If Mazda had offered double the range for a couple thousand more or something, I'd definitely be interested, I find the MX-30 way way more interesting than a Leaf. But at the price point with the range and (admittedly) less practicality than a leaf... It feels more like a compliance car
Agreed. I love Mazda and really want to love the MX-30, but it really seems half baked, especially considering this is Mazda's first EV. I'm not even concerned about the range - for me, it's the door setup which stands out the most as an absolutely bizarre choice. Did they do it as a weight saving measure? Then there's the cavernous hood cavity which other manufacturers would have developed into a front trunk. And it's slow. The Leaf and Bolt handily beat it in 0-60. What a hard miss for Mazda.
@@ekuhlkamp I'm the opposite, i actually love the half-doors lol, even though I know they're not as practical
Why did they even make this? It could've at least been the first truly affordable ev. About 20k for 100 miles isn't too bad
Nice looking vehicle (I even like the side view). Might be a good fit for our situation--we're older/retired, and our average outing is less than 15 miles roundtrip, maybe once or twice a week, and our second car [a 20-year-old Honda Civic] is getting really long-in-the-tooth...
Thoughts on the BMW i3? The styling is pretty polarizing but some love it. They've depreciated comically fast and can be found for way less than this car, with similar range.
Sounds like you almost never take long car trips, so if you like the price this may be the car for you....in California.
We love our MX-30. Fun to drive, really comfortable and quit.
Range? No problems at all, we have a need of 40-80 miles per day (and the range is really about 120 miles with good conditiond, 100 miles around zero), and charge it over night with the granny charger at home.
We live in the country side, so need 2 cars anyway, so have a diesel for Longer trips, but 90% of our milage is done in the MX-30.
It's a perfect second car for us, and we are very happy with it.
100 miles for $27,000
I remember the original LEAF had the same problem. However, considering there are some people with extremely low range requirements, garages to charge it and don't want to spend more than $30,000 on a vehicle, I think it could possibly work.
Perfect : PHEV w/ 100mi ev daily range and range extender for occasional longer road trips.
Bad : body too small, suicide doors.
Solution: Put the drive train in a cx5 body.
I had a BMW I3 with a range extender for several years, it worked very well, I had combined range of 160 miles. But in winter heater is resistive, range dropped dramatically. Lost 20 to 25 percent of range on my commute. Had to charge every day. Traded for an EV with 200 mile range. Still would rather have a 300 mile range. Not everyone can charge at home, the Mazda doesn’t make sense for people.
Just curious, now often do you charge and what's your average daily commute? I keep thinking about a long range battery with 300 miles or an AWD setup with closer to 200 miles, but still wouldn't need to charge either every day. Do you keep it topped up all the time or just charge once you hit 50 miles of range?
@@PaulHo commute is between 44 to 60 miles a day , charge about every 3rd day at home.
I have no idea why they made this. I’ve owned multiple Mazdas and love the brand. This car is hideous and the range is just terrible. Worst Mazda in a very long time, so disappointing from such a great car company. Why didn’t they adapt the CX5? I just don’t see the point if it can’t do at least 200 miles, which in the real world will be less. The major concern with EVs is range anxiety, and this doesn’t help to alleviate that in any way. I sure hope Mazda reads this comment, they need to step it up if they want to be relevant in the EV space.
Good points, I loved my 2014 Mazda 3 hatchback with its 40 mpg Skyactiv engine. This car is a placeholder for the PHEV model, but I wish they built it without all the plastic cladding.
💯
I still don’t understand why Mazda didn’t leverage their partnership with Toyota to incorporate their hybrid synergy drive. You’d still get better fuel efficiency than pure gas, and the GS450h and LS600h proved that hybrid cars can still be sporty. Instead they make an EV with atrocious range (compounded by the rarity of charging stations compared to their gasoline equivalents) and mediocre performance.
If they did an MX-50 with 100 miles range + range extender, then it'll be a winner.
For the same price :D
That won't happen. If/when they have a range extender they will use that as an opportunity to shrink the battery a LOT.
I agree with other reviewers that there is no reasonable usage scenario for the MX30. For 25K you can get a much larger and more comfortable used car and by definition a short commute doesn't use much fuel. For those who are environmentally conscious a used care clearly has a far more benign affect on the environment than a new one.
You can also get a CX-30 for that price which may be a lot more reasonable as a daily driver.
I could see it as a retirement city car. Also, for the kind of family that doesn't care about the cost bc they have 4-6 vehicles anyway.
Really though Americans just have not bought cars this small in any real quantity in decades. Electric still isn't a good value proposition for the economy market. You go electric for the novelty.
I would suggest you check out the new ev vs used fuel efficent car argument on engineering explained. Only in specific rare scenarios is a used car more environmentally friendly then a new ev.
It would work for elderly people that only drive around the city. And it would work for those that have an average commute and have 2 or more cars with normal range. Also, not needing to pay for gas or having to go to a gas station is the real benefit for my EV ownership.
Your average older used car generates a lot of pollution and carbon use. If it's a recent car, a lot less so.
I live in an apartment and have a Kia Niro EV which gets 250ish on a charge. I can charge it at a public station and then forget about it for a week or two. This Mazda might work for a home owner with charging in the garage but not if you are dependent on public charging. The lease specials on the Kona and Niro EVs are the same price or lower!!
U gotta be crazy buying an EV with the range of 100 miles for $39K
Perhaps if there is a lease deal where you can break even after all government incentives you might want to consider the base model.
It has such a unique beautiful interior that reminds me of my Volvo V50. . If they could make this more powerful and with more range, it would be an ideal car like my Volvo and I would maybe drive this over a Civic hybrid for the interior alone. But maybe not. :) It's much better looking than the CX-30 though.
This MX-30 needs to be at least $5k cheaper than a base 149 mile range Nissan LEAF. Which has an MSRP of $27,400. 100 miles of range for $31,775 is not pragmatic.
i hate that car companies are trying to convince us we already don't really want phev's and are just using them as stepping stones to EV's. even the reviewers seem to indicate this, as if our problem is their problem (range). it isn't my personal problem with EV's is how slow even "fast charging" is. I can stop off for gas in an emergency when I'm running late, it takes 2-3 minutes. range isn't a problem, it's just what's causing us to see the real problem because we will face this reality often of having to sit around for 15-20 minutes, if the charger is open/free, just for a quarter tank.
Honestly, I don't even care about the range as much as I am annoyed by the doors. My rear passengers would feel very clausterphopic and if I need to access the rear seats, I would be very annoying having to open the front doors every single time to access it.
love it! Doom Doom! LOL :-)
This is a stupid product.
The range extended version may make a little more sense for occasional road trips. Nobody wants to get a loaner for road trips. It’s a hassle and there is no guarantee loaners will be available when you need it.
Instead of range extender that adds ICE maintenance hassle and repair costs.
Higher speed DC fast charging would be a better solution. 45 minute stops with it’s short range is not it.
Alex, you can find the good in ANY vehicle!! This proves it!
using 80:20 rule for Li batteries, you have 60 miles. minus at least 30% when its cold as no heat pump, ~40 miles usable. its just so hard to justify.
not when the average person drives less 30 miles a day and even less in most cities... so what EV are you planing to buy instead? lol
it just cost to much vs the much longer range alternatives... ie the much larger longer range US version ID4 will sold for $35k this year...
we would just need the $4.5 Wuling is a true EV city and its price justifies its short range or even if it cost much more....
Uh, not really. Modern batteries are pretty good at hitting their ranges in normal temperatures. It won't be of much use in cold climates, but half the population lives in places with fairly mild winters where range won't be down that much. I wouldn't want to be counting on that 100 miles in any situation, but 75, no problem in almost all of California, and many other places. That's enough for the great majority of commutes and ordinary daily driving. However, that still presupposes that the owner(s) have another vehicle more suited to long trips.
I'm less bothered by the range than I am other unnecessary compromises. The CX-30 back seat was on the small side for the class, but could handle most adults acceptably, but this one is ridiculous for anyone but a small kid. The suicide doors were just a stupid decision. They limit access and give a poor view out from front and back seats. Dumb and pointless, driven by styling at the expense of practicality.
I will be interested in seeing what the PHEV version is like. I hope it isn't crippled by a tiny gas tank.
The Hyundai Ioniq5 or Kia EV6, even the VW ID4, are all much better than this in terms of technology. The little brothers of those vehicles will be closer to the MX30 in price/size as well. Mazda and Subaru are gonna have a hard time keeping up with larger auto companies in the EV era. They are at least 5 years behind and they might have to start borrowing tech from Toyota/Honda/Nissan-Mitsubishi-Renault to remain competitive.
Thanks, Alex for the review. The MX-30 is fine and as usual Mazda likes to be a little unique.
I'm a Mazda owner and fan and I'm really interested in the new CX-50 and looking forward to you/media finally getting to drive and test one, hopefully soon!
I would seriously consider buying a hybrid CX-50 in a few years. Thanks again from a loyal subscriber.
A range extender would be HUGE benefit for this thing. Will be interesting to see what they spec that at.
Styling: just call it what it is: lumpy, rounded with the thickest pillars this side of a Hummer 🤮
1:33 but its only sold in one state. California. Lol.
Makes no power, and has no range. If this is the future, I want nothing to do with it
Doomed-Doomed, well played Alex ;-) On the subject of Mazda, has anyone else noticed the curious cross-pollination going on in the new Toyota-Mazda 'joint venture' plant in Alabama?
The CX-50 gets a Toyota Hybrid powertrain and the FWD Corolla Cross gets a Mazda Torture Beam Rear Suspension® .
2:10 "myself include, we would all be driving to work in vehicles like the MX-30"
Alex, I believe the first EV review I ever read was yours on TTAC regarding the LEAF. IIRC you had to beg, steal and borrow range to make it to work and back in a day and that vehicle had about the same capacity as this.
The EV world has moved on since then and there can be very few people who still think 100 miles is good enough, and even less people who think $30k for a compromised 2nd car is justifiable. Mazda claim that they're only a small company who can't afford big EV development, but at the time of that first review of yours Tesla were known only for selling a handful of modified Lotus's each year to rich fools.
You forgot about the Bolt EV and the EUV. I know they are technically not on sale right now and battery fire jokes aside those two are way more compelling than this. About the same price way more range and a bigger backseat.
Looks like Bolt will be replaced by the Equinox in 2023. It may become a collector's item. 🤔
Perfect for retirement communities and well heeled island enclaves like Martha's Vineyard, where an E-Z-GO simply won't impress.
I think they are waiting for a Rolls Royce EV and they can keep the E-Z-Go in the trunk for the hired help.
100 miles which will be down to 60 to 70 miles in cold weather.
Definitely just a placeholder for Mazda. A proverbial toe in the EV door; not even a whole foot. We'll see better from them in 3-5 years.
Let's hope. This is for the ding dongs that said they would be happy with the original GM electric car. Short range and slow charging. It's back to the future.
This is a big NO for me. Mazda is out of their mind if they think this is useful to anyone for the price they're charging
At $26K it's cost matches its content. A Mach E or Model Y cost twice as much and if you sat in either of them and then sat in a BMW X3M40i, you'd weep at the quality difference you are giving up to have an EV. At least this Mazda's price exactly matches what you'd expect to pay for a vehicle like it.
The driving cost per mile with an EV is wayyyy less than an X3M40i
If they would give me the incentives off the sticker I might look at an EV. There is a reason most EV buyers qualify.
Just ordered my EV, and will be picking it up this week. This will be our main car, so I picked an eNiro with the big battery. This car wasn’t even on my radar because the range is pretty close to hopeless for us. A shame because it’s quite a decent wagon, with perhaps a too long bonnet. It’s not especially efficient either.
Smart choice.
The range extender version will be interesting if it uses a very small light rotary engine for the genset. Mazda has shown a prototype of a rotary engine range extender. That would fit in with keeping the vehicle light while giving Mazda rotary engine a future.
Hope it won’t have the same reliability as the RX-8🤞 More so, I hope it comes to America in the first place.
My thoughts on the range: Sure, the average driver drives less than 100 per day (on average). BUT, if I drive 25 mile each way to work, this is fine. 50 miles round trip. But it isn’t really uncommon that I need to go pick something up 10 miles out of my way. That jumps me up to 60 miles for those days. And what if I get a call to go to see a friend or my granddaughter and that add another 30 miles to my day. Now I’m right up to that 100 miles. It doens’t take me much to add 50 to 70 miles to any given day. Can you imagine tell your friend, I can’t come see you because I have to go charge my car. Oh, then winter hits and that 100 miles becomes 60. The minimum range must be 200 because we don’t want to restrict the rest of our lives that way.
I'd be interested in a plug in hybrid version of this car if it went true EV mode for the first 90-100 miles. My 2017 Volt gets about 50 miles of EV range which is normally enough for daily driving but I regularly have to drive 60-80 miles in a day to visit nearby lakes, mountains, and other recreation. It would be nice to do those trips without using the gas engine. I am also considering going full EV, especially if I can get my hands on an Ioniq 5.
Suggestion, keep the Volt until 2025...there will be many better choices, chips will be plentiful and you can probably buy a good car for less than the MSRP. 🙂
The issue with short range EV's is that plugin hybrids exist. If this had a range extender like an i3 it woulda been fine too, but this just isn't going to sell anywhere outside of places like southern california where conditions are so bad that this is actually a viable option. These kinds of vehicles will only survive when there are no other options due to legislation and other worldly factors. With it being a california exclusive vehicle that should tell you right there this thing isn't really meant to be sold to the general public.
I am waiting for a phev pickup truck but they seem to just want to skip the phev stage and go straight to electric, which sucks imo. I might snag a grand cherokee phev since it can still tow 6k and I don't NEED a truck, I just wanted one. I understand PHEV's are very complicated in comparison to full EV's, which is why most automakers are skipping them, but it still would be nice for the option since it would drastically help with the battery supply issue without having to waste more batteries on worthless products like this MX-30
PHEVs are not that complicated. Toyota has been doing it successfully for many years as have many other automakers. Many PHEV models are sold in Europe and Asia that we don't get here.
the inside is very cool, I just found one in CA , 2022 27,000miles asking $19K , might just buy it for my work daily
At only 9 minutes into the video, the MX-30 is a hard line cross off my electric car or hybrid car list. I do in general like the styling, especially the front end, but I find the way the doors work for access in and out to be cumbersome at best and generally cramped overall. And the practical range of only 50 to 80 miles is totally unacceptable, especially with a 6 to 12 hour charge time at best. This car’s market appeal is going to be a ‘splat!’ Like a water balloon on contact with the ground.
The massive fail of the 1st generation compliance battery EV cars was their very short 50 to 80 mile range and their laughably long and slow charge times.
At least with the 1st generation leaf, they offered the option of rapid charging and a fairly roomy and easily accessible cabin. And now there are battery upgrades available at a fairly reasonable price to extend the range out to 150 to 270 miles.
Now, I am going to watch the rest of the video to see if I can find a redeeming set of features to generate any real reason to buy this car. And be amused at your ergonomic demonstrations of the functional use of this car.
doomed... will stick with internal combustion cars for at least a decade!
Makes the most sense for most people, especially if you drive a car that will get 30+ mpg. In a decade gasoline may be at least $6-$7 gallon.
This seems to be a compliance car…..
no matter how cheap this is, its the dumbest vehicle made and a stupid financial choice
What, you're not sold on the funky rear doors and all the plastic cladding, limited range (especially in winter, yes there is winter in California) and slow charging. You must not have answered the phone when Mazda called to get your opinion. Actually I think they skipped market research except from skater dudes. 🙂
For the price and what it offers, it’s a doom doom. I will go with Tesla, Nissan, VW, Hyundai/KIA before I would consider this one. I can’t even drive this one from OC to LA and back or LA to the valley with the hills and highway accelerations. If you are in LA and needs to go to the outlet mall in Palm Spring, you won’t make it with this car.
Gotta start off the EV Buyer’s Guide channel on a high note. It’s probably wise to not let this be the first EV review on that channel. This car is disappointing, especially coming from Mazda.
I live in LA and my commute is about 5 miles each way in usually stop and go traffic on the 405. A much less expensive, subcompact electric car would be practical for 95% of my driving.
alex probably run out of range while making this video
Ha ha, he has plenty of back up cars.
I tried to get a lease on this.... First number they came back with was $560 with 1300 down.... this is hilarious not for the small battery but the horrible residual... I didn't want to waste my time and see the final offer... I just walked out...
Alex, your comparisons don't do justice to the price gouging going on... there are no deals to be had... (when you say deals deals deals). Even the Leaf lease SV is impossible to get at $200 with $3000 down
Why did you exclude the Bolt from the comparison??
Call me a cynic but other car manufacturers must be thrilled with the production and pricing of this vehicle as it gives them a rationale for continuing to price better electric vehicles considerably more expensive than similar ICE vehicles
If they completely revert the interior to the Mazda 3/CX30's masterclass I'd consider the range extended model. But covering half the car in cruddy black plastic murders Mazda's amazing styling and colours.
Feels like they had a nearly perfect car with Mazda 3 but electric then had a meeting to brainstorm "how many ways can we make it slightly worse?"
Hopefully the PHEV offers more than a Chevy Volt in terms of range, fast charging, etc. Otherwise, the Equinox EV is going to blow the BEV out of the water in terms of price and range.
That ultra small batterie will have to be fully recharged EVERY DAY...........That means very short batterie life.........Also, I will not buy either a FWD or 2WD auto............Also, the elderly, like Me living on social security do not pay income tax and will NEVER see a tax incentive................Paul
Range extender sound a lot like an APU "auxiliary power unit" in airplanes.
It's a great idea because you can lower the battery weight and cost. The apu can charge the battery with gasoline or diesel as your driving, and the elec propulsion motors can move you forward.
Another advantage is that the APU is running at a constant rpm improving engine efficiency.
This will also alleviate your range anxiety.
Most countries do not have the EV infrastructure that the USA or Eu nations enjoy. A gas APU would help taxi drivers and commercial fleet to transition to EV
Then it'll be just like the BMW i3. Which was also a pretty bad ev 😅
An aircraft APU provides startup power for the engines, powers interior lighting, and avionics in emergencies. It is not capable of providing propulsion whatsoever. So a range extender is much more capable.
This has potential. Say a little 2 cylinder 600cc 60hp engine.
@@yystl are you a pilot thats flies an airplane with an APU by any chance?
@@gregkramer5588 yes
A nice review but also some massive bullshit re range… charging and anything EV related. M this guys knows nothing about EVs
A nice review but also some massive bullshit re range… charging and anything EV related. M this guys knows nothing about EVs
Mazda has been doomed since the day they decided to officially ditch their Zoom Zoom identity. They've put out bland cars relative to their concept cars. They took way too long to support Apple Carplay and Google Auto. Too long to offer turbo engines. Every model except for the MX-5 has no identity. It's trying to be upscale, but it's not. Toyota has reliability locked in. Low cost is Kia/Hyundai. Subaru is the outdoor adventure buyer. Nissan is the I want a weird cheap angular car buyer. Mazda lacks an identity and that's why it will eventually fade into nothing. It's sad because they have top notch engineering and build quality (post Ford).
I don’t understand the point of this car. Only 100 mile range and it’s only available in California and its only $7000 less than the ID 4? 🤷🏽♂️ The Ford Mach E and Volkswagen ID4 are much better values after the tax credit.
If Mazda could bring the range above 200 Miles, this would fulfill the Niche of the Affordable EV millions are seeking. 100 Miles is the deal-breaker, especially when one factors in Heating/Cooling & any inclined/hilly/mountainous destinations.
If they add a range extender for not much more $$$ the MX-30 could be a good choice. As an old fart getting in and out of smaller or closer to ground cars like the MINI EV I would think the MX-30 is easier to get in and out of. For this old retired guy my 2016 Spark EV is still a better choice for my needs especially as a 2nd vehicle. I'd pick a Kona EV over the Mazda.
Must stop defending Mazda but this vehicle is just sadly misunderstod. 24000 miles to date. Looks great, reliable, safe, fun to drive, kids love the suicide doors. Terrific lights, awesome sound system. Its not great for road trips but how many affordable EVs are????
100 mile range is laughable. People aren't robots and just because they have a 30-50 mile commute doesn't mean they won't occasionally need to run errands or go farther. If this car cost like $15k, then maybe it would sell, but almost everyone else is better off getting a used Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf, etc.
This is another case of bad dashboard design. Touch controls > tablets. The storage is too small. Is this a gutless wonder like the 2000 Chevy Prism? The small HP scares me. My Camry has 289. I'm not looking for anything less.
Its a perfect EV for a Wage Slave. Its perfect to get them to work and back home. Because a Wage Slave doesn't need to have a life outside of work or be thinking about going on a vacation. So it doesn't need a big rang. Its also an ingenus business plan on Mazda part. That 100 mile rang battery not gonna last long and will need replace and seeing expensive they are you might as well just get a new MX-30. And because of the terrible rang it won't be a practical Used car either, so it'll just go straight to the landfill instead of stealing sales. Im sure those Battery are good to have buried underground.
Range anxiety is literally a mental disorder. WHY should a person who NEVER drives more than 100 miles per day get a bigger battery and carry it around completely unused as dead weight? WHY?
Have to say, having lived with a CX5, Mazda's infotainment ruins an otherwise pretty good vehicle. Really wish companies would stop trying to re-invent the wheel and just give us a touchscreen.
Nothing Pragmatic about 100 mile summer range, when you have Winter like here. It's -25C today, so what cut the safe range down to 50 or 60 miles.
I don't think this vehicle is practical or pragmatic at all. 100 miles of range, a back seat which cannot fit most adults comfortably, rear doors which cannot open unless the front door is opened first, cave-like rear seat visibility, small cargo space, a huge amount of wasted space under the hood, touchscreen a/c but non-touchscreen infotainment, and a price which does not compete with other EVs which can go much farther with better rear seating, 4 doors, and more storage space? Not pragmatic at all.
I can't even drive to the city and back in 100 miles. Way too little. 150 is the bottom limit imo even when being pragmatic. Preferably, I would like 200 mi+.
ah yes, after serving us a bevy diet of SUVs and front wheel drive trash disguised as SUVs, Mazda now expects drivers to select the sensible option. you cant condition your market to expect overkill (whether it be acceleration, range, speed) and then profit off of that, and then put forward a insipid option and hope to profit off of that now.
do better mazda.
The base Ioniq 5 is more expensive but a much better value IMO. Both will depreciate rather quickly once this massive shortage ebbs, but the tax incentives/credits will buffer the impact of that a bit for a few years.
Fuel Economy grade is misleading. You should have separate grading for Fuel Economy and Battery Efficiency and also add a grade for Range - which is a more important category for EV Buyers.
Im 7.5 min in and .. Im out. Its great Mazda is trying new things but - I cant see that flying. So I only drive my truck x miles per day --- but if I want - I can do 400 and I dont have to think about anything else.
Doomed-Doomed, certainly. DOA, in fact, with its range. And why not let it charge at 7.2 kW? Mazda is Doomed-Doomed.
I think this is a compliance car to get some credit with CARB. For sale in California only is all you need to know. Thats a waste of tax credit given the choices we have now. Calling it a half-hearted attempt is giving Mazda too much credit.
21 minutes in..."only sold in California." Mazda PR team working hard to get the best TH-camrs to review a car sold in one state.
hmm Dont Corks Shrink after a while and if its that flat kind would it not absorb oil if it got on it? .
Id Personally get a Nissan Leaf for this Price. Lower end one least get a few more miles for similar price. lol
And sorry id have no use for this. Drive to work is over 70 mi to and 70 back.
The number of people who still lament the loss of the Volt in the marketplace is quite large. Adding in a range extender and the entire car being just under $30K with the credit will be a big change in the marketplace. The other problem with the Volt was that the $40K price and the miserable 40 mile actual range on pure electric, meaning that most people had to charge it at work to be most efficient. Sure, you could turn on the range extender, but it was basically a hybrid at that point. And actual hybrids existed which were better.
This, with the 100 mile range and a generator? Exactly what people will want. Pure EV, easily charges on a wall socket overnight, and the generator for those family road trips.
Yep, will be much more popular as a PHEV.
Considering the average commute of the Japanese buyer the 100 miles is ok. Still I believe is not something that really makes a difference for the American buyer.
The problem is that it can’t be your only vehicle. So…for a family where one person can commit to no more than (realistically) 70 miles per day and doesn’t have kids getting into and out of the rear seat, it almost makes sense. The slice of the market this appeals to is razor thin.
Not your fault Alex,
1st time Car made your video 👎
Total disaster. Specially that button behind driving seat.
Combined legroom is LESS than the Mini...WTF HOW?! The back seat of a Mini is freakishly small.
A disappointing new model.
Make that range extender standard please. And add gas range to a healthy 400 mi. You can make even less battery (40~50mi) and just sell it as a gas hybrid car.
The problem with it as a Volt replacement alone is that 40-50 miles before the generator kicks in is massively more fuel used. Optimally, you want enough range so that the only time you need the generator is on long road trips, a few times a year. 100 miles gives you enough room - say 35 miles each way, plus a healthy safety margin. If you used it for work, that's roughly 250 days a year times 70 miles, plus extra weekend trips and holiday.road trips. Roughly 20K miles a year, which is a lot, but could be done 95% on electricity alone. This is the optimal balance point for the market and most consumers. Provided it HAS the range extender as standard. Tesla tries to do it by offering a massive battery pack, but to actually need it, you would need to drive 50-60K miles a year. Paying extra for a huge battery that you charge twice week versus every day is inefficient and costly. I can guarantee a Tesla with a generator added and a much smaller battery pack would cost 10-20K less and work much better. And not leave you stranded if you are out of range of the next charging station.
Mini SE only ever has 2 doors and 4 seats. If you are like me do need 3 rear seats but only rarely, this is the pick. Or a new *cringe* Leaf.
This car is probably just like the Aston Martin Cygnet (Toyota iq), it’s used to lower the brands overall emissions
All the black plastic cladding is a joke. As a puttering around town vehicle, this car is OK, but why make it look like you can take it on the Rubicon? If I won one in a contest I would take to a body shop and have all the plastic painted the same color as the car. Good grief Mazda you've let the C minus design school students design this car. No thanks.
Hey Alex I like to sleep at night without having the night mare of running out of electric..Like Mazdas will wait for the motor add on.
It looks fine. It's nothing special, but most cars don't look special to me. The doors may end up banging into other cars or impeding others getting into their cars more often than usual doors. I guess the range is probably fine for most.