Mazda MX-30

Does a relatively short range matter in an electric car if you live in the city? We’re finding out

- Louis Shaw

A WISE PERSON once said: “If you don’t look back at your car after you’ve parked it, you’ve bought the wrong model.” And one thing I can say about my new Mazda MX-30 at this early stage is that it’s making me owl-neck more than the night-time predator itself. It’s a stunning thing to behold, and I’m reminded of that every time someone stops me to ask about it in the street, or at a car wash, rest stop or public park. Take note, supercar owners: you don’t need to spend big money to get the world staring.

The fact that the MX-30 is difficult to pigeonhole only adds to the intrigue. Although it looks compact in photos, at 4.4 metres long it’s the size of a regular family SUV, but with the sloping roofline of a coupé. It also differs from most other cars in having rear-hinged rear doors, like those of the BMW i3 (and Mazda’s earlier RX-8 sports car). And it’s electric.

While my recently departed Renault Zoe was the first electric vehicle (EV) I’d lived with, I now feel like something of a veteran when it comes to battery-powered cars and took delivery of the MX-30 unafraid of what the future might hold. In fact, I’m relishing the opportunity to continue the EV lifestyle.