Mazda MX-30 145 Sport Lux

Daily use has shown that, despite its flaws, there's still much to like about our quirky electric car

- Louis Shaw

SO, THERE YOU have it. Six months with my Mazda MX-30 have gone by in a flash, meaning I've come to the end of one of the most interesting periods I've ever had with a car - one that continually challenged what I thought I wanted and needed from an electric vehicle (EV).

I must confess, from the moment the MX-30 was revealed, I was keen to run one, due to the appeal of those concept car looks, the eco space-age interior and - having driven the petrol-powered Mazda CX-30- the promise of a fun driving experience.

But perhaps the biggest attraction was the chance to understand this car better. It doesn't merely look different to anything else on the road; the package itself is like nothing I've seen before. The combination of a small battery, comparatively large family SUV body and Mazda RX-8-style rear-hinged rear doors immediately stood out. And yet there are inherent contradictions.