Used Mazda MX-30 for sale: everything you need to know

The Mazda MX-30 is one of the more unusual modern cars, from a company known for doing things its own way. In size this electric SUV is equivalent to something like a Nissan Qashqai, but thanks to a short range, in utility it’s closer to stylish small cars like the MINI Electric or Honda E.

As a new buy it’s similarly priced to the MINI and Honda too, but fairly savage depreciation means cars just a few years old look great value if you don’t need huge range from an EV. The rotary range-extended model makes an interesting alternative if you need to travel further.

In the cold light of day the MX-30’s low range can’t hold a candle to the utility of cars like the Volkswagen ID.3, MG4, or Hyundai Kona EV, and it lags several of them on performance too. That makes it difficult to recommend as a pragmatic buy. If you don’t need much range though, the aforementioned MINI Electric and Honda E are potential alternatives.

Should you buy a Mazda MX-30?

When there are now so many sensible electric cars offering real-world range tallies of 200 or even 300 miles, and depreciation has made them far more affordable than their list prices might have you believe, it’s difficult to recommend the Mazda MX-30 as a primary family car.

That’s partly because its quoted 124-mile range (more like 100 in the real world) is well behind the farthest-reaching EVs, but also because Mazda’s choice of an unusual door layout - with two main doors up front and rear-hinged ones behind - still isn’t quite as practical in everyday use as a car with proper doors for rear passengers.

Let’s imagine for a moment that you don’t need much range and aren’t too bothered about a few practicality compromises though. In that light, the MX-30 seems like a better buy - it’s interesting to look at, has a lovely interior (with cork details, a nod to the early days of Mazda’s 100-year old history), and is easy, satisfying, and comfortable to drive, if not particularly quick.

It’s also worth noting you can buy a range-extended version which Mazda says will do 400 miles combined between electric and petrol power. The engine itself is an unusual rotary design, like some of the brand’s old sports cars. It’s a bit noisy and uses a surprising amount of fuel, but it does expand the MX-30’s utility.

The MX-30 makes an interesting rival to other low-range EVs like the Honda E and the outgoing MINI Electric (the new electric MINIs have a much longer range). But if you want a full EV that goes a decent distance on a charge, then less interesting but more usable family EVs like the VW ID.3, MG4 and Hyundai Kona EV make a whole lot more sense than the Mazda.

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What’s the best used Mazda MX-30 model to buy?

When it comes to trim levels, take your pick. The MX-30 is nicely finished and well-equipped in all its variants, though features like the heated steering wheel and Bose audio do make some of the higher-spec models (GT Sport Tech in earlier cars, Makoto more recently) more appealing.

You’ll find more EVs than R-EVs on the market as it was launched first, and your choice between these depends on how much range - electric or otherwise - you need for the car to be usable. If you really will be doing mainly local trips then the EV should be fine, but while the R-EV isn’t actually that fuel-efficient out of town, being able to cover longer distances between either electric or petrol fill-ups does make it more usable.

Used Mazda MX-30 fuel economy and performance

• Mazda MX-30 EV: The fully electric version of the MX-30 uses a 145PS motor powering the front wheels, with a 9.7-second 0-62mph time. Mazda claims up to 124 miles of range from the small 35.5kWh battery pack.
• Mazda MX-30 R-EV: The R-EV’s battery is smaller still at 17.8kWh but is supplemented by a tiny rotary engine of 830cc. Power jumps to 170PS and the 0-62mph time drops to 9.1 seconds. All-EV range is only 53 miles but with petrol power that jumps to 400 miles, equivalent to a claimed 282.5mpg.

What used Mazda MX-30 trim levels are available?

The number of trim levels below looks huge for a relatively recent model, but Mazda recently replaced its original four trim lines (from SE-L Lux to GT Sport Tech in the list below) with the three below (Prime Line, Exclusive Line, and Makoto). Ignore the special First Edition trim offered at launch, and the earlier three trim levels are roughly equivalent to the more recent trio.

• The Mazda MX-30 SE-L Lux got 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, auto wipers, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, a 7-inch driver display and 8.8-inch central touchscreen (with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto), radar cruise control, light grey cloth trim, a leather steering wheel and shift lever, and a suite of safety features.
• The Mazda MX-30 Sport Lux gave the 18-inch wheels a bright finish, and got privacy glass, a frameless rear-view mirror, some chrome interior detailing, light grey cloth and leatherette seats, an 8-way power adjustable driver seat with lumbar support, heated front seats, and keyless entry.
• The Mazda MX-30 GT Sport Tech added a front wiper de-icer, adaptive LED headlights, a heated steering wheel, 12-speaker Bose audio, 360-degree parking cameras, and extra safety features including driver monitoring and smart emergency braking.
• The Mazda MX-30 First Edition is based on SE-L Lux trim and adds a mix of equipment from the Sport Lux and GT Sport Tech, plus a contrasting black roof and metallic grey side panels in a three-tone colour package.
• The Mazda MX-30 Prime Line is the current entry-level model, and has 18-inch alloy wheels, auto LED lights and auto wipers, front and rear parking sensors, a 7-inch driver display and 8.8-inch touchscreen (with the same features as the older SE-L Lux), climate control, radar cruise control, a head-up display, and a range of safety features.
• The Mazda MX-30 Exclusive Line comes with bright-finish alloys on the EV and diamond-cut on the R-EV, privacy glass, light grey cloth and leatherette seats, power driver seat adjustment, heated front seats, and keyless entry.
• The Mazda MX-30 Makoto adds a 360-degree parking camera, a front wiper de-icer, adaptive LED headlights, a power tilt and slide sunroof, heated steering wheel, 12-speaker Bose audio, and the safety features you’d find on the older GT Sport Tech.

Used Mazda MX-30 dimensions and boot size

The Mazda MX-30’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4395mm
• Width: 1795mm (without mirrors)
• Height: 1555mm

The Mazda MX-30’s boot size is:

• 350 litres (332 litres with Bose audio)
• 1155 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof, 1137 litres with Bose audio)

Used Mazda MX-30 road tax

The full EV version of the MX-30 currently costs nothing at all to tax, in common with other electric vehicles. The tiny range-extending engine in the R-EV bumps this up to the £170 per year fixed rate of other hybrid vehicles.

How much is it to insure a Mazda MX-30?

Insuring a Mazda MX-30 shouldn’t be too bad. All fully electric variants are rated at group 19 (out of 50), while R-EVs are in groups 22 and 23. An MG4 starts a lot higher, in group 27, while the smaller and no more usable Honda E starts in group 25.

Read our full Mazda MX-30 review