*Model Shown is for illustration purposes only.
Vehicle Information
Mazda's clever little MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is a PHEV, but not as you know it. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.
Mazda's little MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is a Plug-in Hybrid, but a very different one. The rotary engine's unique, never drives the wheels and constantly defers to an electric motor offering 53 miles of range. Sounds promising.
It's been a very long time since we've seen a Mazda with a rotary engine, that Wankel technology inextricably linked with the brand, who produced more than 2 million rotary engines between the launch of the Mazda Cosmo in 1967 and the end of production of the RX-8 sports car in 2012. Since then, rotary tech's been absent from the company's line-up, but now it's back, not in a high performance coupe but in a model we'd previously thought was an EV, the little MX-30 hatch. The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is effectively the range extender version of that car. That's a description which might conjure up memories of the old BMW i3 range extender model, which had a rather crude little motorbike engine stacked out back to noisily cut in when the EV batteries were depleted. As we'll see, Mazda's R-EV tech is a great deal more sophisticated than that. In fact, the rotary engine it uses never directly powers the wheels. Sounds intriguing. Let's take a closer look.
We quite liked the ordinary full-electric MX-30 when we first tried it, but wondered who would live with a real-world driving range figure of not much more than 100 miles (official figure 124 miles). This R-EV Plug-in Hybrid version seems a much better all-round proposition, it's 17.8kWh battery pack offering 53 miles of pure EV mileage before a little single-rotor 830cc 73bhp rotary Wankel petrol engine pipes in and adds a further 320 miles of range. Rather like Nissan's e-Power system (though that can't be plugged in), the engine isn't there to directly power the wheels. Instead via a generator, its role is to create energy for the 168bhp electric motor which (aided by 260Nm of torque) ultimately powers the car. There are three selectable driving modes - 'Normal', 'EV' and 'Charge'. 'Normal' uses the electric motor alone and keeps the rotary engine switched off unless battery charge becomes low. 'EV' mode forces the car to keep the engine switched off for even longer; and 'Charge' merely uses the engine to (rather inefficiently) charge the battery - you can set a target charge level in 10% increments. Regardless of which drive mode you choose, top speed is limited to an extremely modest 86mph, but 62mph is dispatched in a rather more eager 9.1 seconds, fractionally faster than the full-EV model.
All versions of the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV feature a rotor badge on the front wings and an e-Skyactiv R-EV badge on the tailgate, plus this PHEV variant gets unique wheels. Otherwise, you're going to struggle to differentiate it from the ordinary full-electric MX-30 model, which offers its own unique expression of the brand's usual so-called 'Kodo' design theme, here apparently "emphasising the car's beauty as a solid mass". You'll be intrigued by the 'freestyle doors' (some unkindly call them 'suicide doors') - seen previously on Mazda models like the RX-8 - which are hinged unconventionally; the front doors open forward to an angle of 82 degrees, while the rear doors open backwards to an angle of 80 degrees. Peer in and you'll note the open spaciousness of the cabin and what is quite a stylish and driver-focused interior. Inside, the sense of space is enhanced with a floating centre console that sits independently from the dashboard, while the use of environmentally-friendly materials has been carefully matched to meticulous quality and finish. Leather is replaced by a vegan alternative. The lower console incorporates a 7-inch colour touch-screen air conditioning control panel, and (in a nod to Mazda's founding as the Toyo Kogyo Cork Company in 1920), the MX-30 features cork lined centre console trays and inner side door handles. One clever R-EV added feature is a vehicle-to-load supply socket, with a three-pin plug that will allow users to run electrical items at up to 1,500 watts. The back seat can take a couple of adults in reasonable comfort. But boot capacity falls from the 360/1,171-litre total you get in an ordinary MX-30 to 350 litres and 1,155-litres here.
The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV prices from launch at £31,250 with base 'Prime-Line' trim - exactly the same as the equivalent full-electric MX-30 model - which is an interesting approach. The same applies with mid-range 'Exclusive-Line' trim. But for reasons that are too dull to go into here, the top 'Makoto' variant costs £250 more with the R-EV drivetrain - which means an asking price of £36,000. Add on a further £200 if you want the upholstery to come in a combination of dark cloth and either brown or black leatherette finishing. At the top of the MX-30 range is the R-EV-only 'Edition R' - priced at £37,950 and limited to just 400 examples in the UK. Like all MX-30s, this one comes with the brand's Mazda Connect centre-dash infotainment system, including navigation, plus 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring, while the technology tally also includes Mazda Radar Cruise control and a driver's knee airbag. The latest camera-driven safety elements also feature, including 'Smart Brake Support' autonomous braking and 'Intelligent Speed Assist', which can adapt your velocity according to posted speed limits.
We gave you this car's total 373 mile combined driving range figure earlier, with 53 miles of that being on pure battery power. In order words, this MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV will go three times as far as the ordinary full-battery MX-30 model manages between charges. Mazda claims the usual fairyland combined cycle three-figure PHEV fuel reading - in this case 283mpg. More relevant is the quoted CO2 result, 21g/km, which means you'll be BiK tax-rated at just 8% (it's 2% for the ordinary EV MX-30). There's a 50-litre fuel tank and this Mazda can recharge at up to 36kW DC, allowing for a full-top-up in about 25 minutes. You'd need about an hour and a half to fill the 17.8kWh battery from a conventional 7.2kW home wallbox. Mazda says that engine efficiency has been improved here by the use of direct fuel injection, which reduces the tendency for the fuel and air mixture to collect at the back of the combustion chamber without fully combusting. An exhaust gas recirculation system also features, which operates mainly at low revs to prevent cooling loss - which previously was an issue with rotary powerplants (which have greater surface areas than piston engines of equivalent capacity). Previous rotary engines suffered from rotor tip wear, but Mazda says that's been mitigated here by the use of wider, 2.5mm seals. We should also mention the warranty, the usual unremarkable three year / 60,000 mile package. If you want to extend that, you can do so via optional 'Essential', 'Elite' and 'Complete' plans. Included in the standard package is a three year paintwork warranty and 12 years of anti-perforation cover. In addition, there's a 'Mazda Accident Aftercare' scheme which sees the company liaise with your insurer after an accident, making sure that you have access to a courtesy car if you need one and ensuring that all repairs are carried out to full Mazda standards.
The British government is nowhere near its targets in terms of public charging installation for the EV community and prices of electric vehicles seem to rise daily, as do our electricity costs. Given that, we wouldn't blame you for temporarily putting off the switch to a full EV and opting for something planet-friendly but a little more real-world usable in the meantime. Something like this MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV. You can tell your friends it's basically an EV, because it basically is. You can plug it in, an electric motor not an engine drives the wheels and for commuting folk, the EV range is long enough to make fuel station visits an extreme rarity. Yet when you need the peace of mind of fossil fuel-propulsion, it's there for you. The perfect combination? Some will certainly see this Mazda that way. Why on earth would you choose the identically priced but range-restrictive full-electric MX-30 over this variant? Answers on a postcard please.
Battery Capacity in kWh:17.8
Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins):290
Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change:20-80
Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW:2.4
Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins):25
Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change:20-80
Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW:50
Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins):Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change:Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW:Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins):Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change:Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW:Not Available
Battery Leased:No
Battery Type:Lithium-ion
Coupler/Connector Type:Type 2
Maximum Charging Rate - kW:50
Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage:100000
Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years:8
Usable Battery Capacity:17.8
WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb:17.3
WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb:3.6
WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - City:109
WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - Comb:85
WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - City:68
WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - Comb:53
HC+NOx:Not Available
Noise Level dB(A):Not Available
Particles:Not Available
Standard Euro Emissions:EURO 6
WLTP - CO2 Weighted (g/km) - Comb:21
Camshaft:Not Available
Catalytic Convertor:Yes
CC:1
Compression Ratio:11.9:1
Cylinder Layout:Not Available
Cylinders:Not Available
Cylinders - Bore (mm):Not Available
Cylinders - Stroke (mm):Not Available
Engine Code:Not Available
Engine Layout:FRONT TRANSVERSE
Fuel Delivery:Not Available
Gears:1 SPEED
Number of Valves:Not Available
Transmission:AUTO
EC Combined (mpg):Not Available
EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies:No
EC Extra Urban (mpg):Not Available
EC Urban (mpg):Not Available
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Comb:7.6
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Extra High:9.5
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - High:6.4
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Low:5.9
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Medium:7.2
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Comb:37.2
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Extra High:29.7
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - High:44.1
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Low:47.9
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Medium:39.2
WLTP - FC Weighted (l/100km) - Comb:1
WLTP - FC Weighted (mpg) - Comb:282.5
Alternative Fuel Qualifying:Yes
Badge Engine CC:Data Not Available
Badge Power:170
Based On ID:Not Available
Coin Description:Not Available
Coin Series:Exclusive Line
Generation Mark:1
Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07:22E
Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years:12
Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years:3
NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %:91
NCAP Child Occupant Protection %:87
NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09:5
NCAP Pedestrian Protection %:68
NCAP Safety Assist %:73
Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?:No
Service Interval Frequency - Months:12
Service Interval Mileage:12500
Special Edition:No
Special Order:No
Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage:60000
Standard manufacturers warranty - Years:3
Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months:Not Available
Timing Belt Interval Mileage:Not Available
Vehicle Homologation Class:M1
0 to 62 mph (secs):9.1
Engine Power - BHP:170
Engine Power - KW:125
Engine Torque - LBS.FT:192
Engine Torque - MKG:26.5
Engine Torque - NM:260
Top Speed:87
Emissions Test Cycle:WLTP
RDE Certification Level:RDE 2
Alloys?:Yes
Space Saver?:No
Tyre Size Front:215/55 R18
Tyre Size Rear:215/55 R18
Tyre Size Spare:TYRE REPAIR KIT
Wheel Style:Not Available
Wheel Type:18" ALLOY
Height:1560
Height (including roof rails):Not Available
Length:4395
Wheelbase:2655
Width:1795
Width (including mirrors):2035
Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres):50
Gross Vehicle Weight:2251
Luggage Capacity (Seats Down):1155
Luggage Capacity (Seats Up):350
Max. Loading Weight:473
Max. Roof Load:75
Max. Towing Weight - Braked:Not Available
Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked:Not Available
Minimum Kerbweight:1778
No. of Seats:5
Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb:11.4
Mazda's clever little MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is a PHEV, but not as you know it. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.
Mazda's little MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is a Plug-in Hybrid, but a very different one. The rotary engine's unique, never drives the wheels and constantly defers to an electric motor offering 53 miles of range. Sounds promising.
It's been a very long time since we've seen a Mazda with a rotary engine, that Wankel technology inextricably linked with the brand, who produced more than 2 million rotary engines between the launch of the Mazda Cosmo in 1967 and the end of production of the RX-8 sports car in 2012. Since then, rotary tech's been absent from the company's line-up, but now it's back, not in a high performance coupe but in a model we'd previously thought was an EV, the little MX-30 hatch. The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is effectively the range extender version of that car. That's a description which might conjure up memories of the old BMW i3 range extender model, which had a rather crude little motorbike engine stacked out back to noisily cut in when the EV batteries were depleted. As we'll see, Mazda's R-EV tech is a great deal more sophisticated than that. In fact, the rotary engine it uses never directly powers the wheels. Sounds intriguing. Let's take a closer look.
We quite liked the ordinary full-electric MX-30 when we first tried it, but wondered who would live with a real-world driving range figure of not much more than 100 miles (official figure 124 miles). This R-EV Plug-in Hybrid version seems a much better all-round proposition, it's 17.8kWh battery pack offering 53 miles of pure EV mileage before a little single-rotor 830cc 73bhp rotary Wankel petrol engine pipes in and adds a further 320 miles of range. Rather like Nissan's e-Power system (though that can't be plugged in), the engine isn't there to directly power the wheels. Instead via a generator, its role is to create energy for the 168bhp electric motor which (aided by 260Nm of torque) ultimately powers the car. There are three selectable driving modes - 'Normal', 'EV' and 'Charge'. 'Normal' uses the electric motor alone and keeps the rotary engine switched off unless battery charge becomes low. 'EV' mode forces the car to keep the engine switched off for even longer; and 'Charge' merely uses the engine to (rather inefficiently) charge the battery - you can set a target charge level in 10% increments. Regardless of which drive mode you choose, top speed is limited to an extremely modest 86mph, but 62mph is dispatched in a rather more eager 9.1 seconds, fractionally faster than the full-EV model.
All versions of the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV feature a rotor badge on the front wings and an e-Skyactiv R-EV badge on the tailgate, plus this PHEV variant gets unique wheels. Otherwise, you're going to struggle to differentiate it from the ordinary full-electric MX-30 model, which offers its own unique expression of the brand's usual so-called 'Kodo' design theme, here apparently "emphasising the car's beauty as a solid mass". You'll be intrigued by the 'freestyle doors' (some unkindly call them 'suicide doors') - seen previously on Mazda models like the RX-8 - which are hinged unconventionally; the front doors open forward to an angle of 82 degrees, while the rear doors open backwards to an angle of 80 degrees. Peer in and you'll note the open spaciousness of the cabin and what is quite a stylish and driver-focused interior. Inside, the sense of space is enhanced with a floating centre console that sits independently from the dashboard, while the use of environmentally-friendly materials has been carefully matched to meticulous quality and finish. Leather is replaced by a vegan alternative. The lower console incorporates a 7-inch colour touch-screen air conditioning control panel, and (in a nod to Mazda's founding as the Toyo Kogyo Cork Company in 1920), the MX-30 features cork lined centre console trays and inner side door handles. One clever R-EV added feature is a vehicle-to-load supply socket, with a three-pin plug that will allow users to run electrical items at up to 1,500 watts. The back seat can take a couple of adults in reasonable comfort. But boot capacity falls from the 360/1,171-litre total you get in an ordinary MX-30 to 350 litres and 1,155-litres here.
The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV prices from launch at £31,250 with base 'Prime-Line' trim - exactly the same as the equivalent full-electric MX-30 model - which is an interesting approach. The same applies with mid-range 'Exclusive-Line' trim. But for reasons that are too dull to go into here, the top 'Makoto' variant costs £250 more with the R-EV drivetrain - which means an asking price of £36,000. Add on a further £200 if you want the upholstery to come in a combination of dark cloth and either brown or black leatherette finishing. At the top of the MX-30 range is the R-EV-only 'Edition R' - priced at £37,950 and limited to just 400 examples in the UK. Like all MX-30s, this one comes with the brand's Mazda Connect centre-dash infotainment system, including navigation, plus 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring, while the technology tally also includes Mazda Radar Cruise control and a driver's knee airbag. The latest camera-driven safety elements also feature, including 'Smart Brake Support' autonomous braking and 'Intelligent Speed Assist', which can adapt your velocity according to posted speed limits.
We gave you this car's total 373 mile combined driving range figure earlier, with 53 miles of that being on pure battery power. In order words, this MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV will go three times as far as the ordinary full-battery MX-30 model manages between charges. Mazda claims the usual fairyland combined cycle three-figure PHEV fuel reading - in this case 283mpg. More relevant is the quoted CO2 result, 21g/km, which means you'll be BiK tax-rated at just 8% (it's 2% for the ordinary EV MX-30). There's a 50-litre fuel tank and this Mazda can recharge at up to 36kW DC, allowing for a full-top-up in about 25 minutes. You'd need about an hour and a half to fill the 17.8kWh battery from a conventional 7.2kW home wallbox. Mazda says that engine efficiency has been improved here by the use of direct fuel injection, which reduces the tendency for the fuel and air mixture to collect at the back of the combustion chamber without fully combusting. An exhaust gas recirculation system also features, which operates mainly at low revs to prevent cooling loss - which previously was an issue with rotary powerplants (which have greater surface areas than piston engines of equivalent capacity). Previous rotary engines suffered from rotor tip wear, but Mazda says that's been mitigated here by the use of wider, 2.5mm seals. We should also mention the warranty, the usual unremarkable three year / 60,000 mile package. If you want to extend that, you can do so via optional 'Essential', 'Elite' and 'Complete' plans. Included in the standard package is a three year paintwork warranty and 12 years of anti-perforation cover. In addition, there's a 'Mazda Accident Aftercare' scheme which sees the company liaise with your insurer after an accident, making sure that you have access to a courtesy car if you need one and ensuring that all repairs are carried out to full Mazda standards.
The British government is nowhere near its targets in terms of public charging installation for the EV community and prices of electric vehicles seem to rise daily, as do our electricity costs. Given that, we wouldn't blame you for temporarily putting off the switch to a full EV and opting for something planet-friendly but a little more real-world usable in the meantime. Something like this MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV. You can tell your friends it's basically an EV, because it basically is. You can plug it in, an electric motor not an engine drives the wheels and for commuting folk, the EV range is long enough to make fuel station visits an extreme rarity. Yet when you need the peace of mind of fossil fuel-propulsion, it's there for you. The perfect combination? Some will certainly see this Mazda that way. Why on earth would you choose the identically priced but range-restrictive full-electric MX-30 over this variant? Answers on a postcard please.
Battery Capacity in kWh:17.8
Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins):290
Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change:20-80
Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW:2.4
Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins):25
Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change:20-80
Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW:50
Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins):Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change:Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW:Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins):Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change:Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW:Not Available
Battery Leased:No
Battery Type:Lithium-ion
Coupler/Connector Type:Type 2
Maximum Charging Rate - kW:50
Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage:100000
Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years:8
Usable Battery Capacity:17.8
WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb:17.3
WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb:3.6
WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - City:109
WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - Comb:85
WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - City:68
WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - Comb:53
HC+NOx:Not Available
Noise Level dB(A):Not Available
Particles:Not Available
Standard Euro Emissions:EURO 6
WLTP - CO2 Weighted (g/km) - Comb:21
Camshaft:Not Available
Catalytic Convertor:Yes
CC:1
Compression Ratio:11.9:1
Cylinder Layout:Not Available
Cylinders:Not Available
Cylinders - Bore (mm):Not Available
Cylinders - Stroke (mm):Not Available
Engine Code:Not Available
Engine Layout:FRONT TRANSVERSE
Fuel Delivery:Not Available
Gears:1 SPEED
Number of Valves:Not Available
Transmission:AUTO
EC Combined (mpg):Not Available
EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies:No
EC Extra Urban (mpg):Not Available
EC Urban (mpg):Not Available
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Comb:7.6
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Extra High:9.5
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - High:6.4
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Low:5.9
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Medium:7.2
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Comb:37.2
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Extra High:29.7
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - High:44.1
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Low:47.9
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Medium:39.2
WLTP - FC Weighted (l/100km) - Comb:1
WLTP - FC Weighted (mpg) - Comb:282.5
Alternative Fuel Qualifying:Yes
Badge Engine CC:Data Not Available
Badge Power:170
Based On ID:Not Available
Coin Description:Not Available
Coin Series:Exclusive Line
Generation Mark:1
Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07:22E
Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years:12
Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years:3
NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %:91
NCAP Child Occupant Protection %:87
NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09:5
NCAP Pedestrian Protection %:68
NCAP Safety Assist %:73
Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?:No
Service Interval Frequency - Months:12
Service Interval Mileage:12500
Special Edition:No
Special Order:No
Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage:60000
Standard manufacturers warranty - Years:3
Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months:Not Available
Timing Belt Interval Mileage:Not Available
Vehicle Homologation Class:M1
0 to 62 mph (secs):9.1
Engine Power - BHP:170
Engine Power - KW:125
Engine Torque - LBS.FT:192
Engine Torque - MKG:26.5
Engine Torque - NM:260
Top Speed:87
Emissions Test Cycle:WLTP
RDE Certification Level:RDE 2
Alloys?:Yes
Space Saver?:No
Tyre Size Front:215/55 R18
Tyre Size Rear:215/55 R18
Tyre Size Spare:TYRE REPAIR KIT
Wheel Style:Not Available
Wheel Type:18" ALLOY
Height:1560
Height (including roof rails):Not Available
Length:4395
Wheelbase:2655
Width:1795
Width (including mirrors):2035
Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres):50
Gross Vehicle Weight:2251
Luggage Capacity (Seats Down):1155
Luggage Capacity (Seats Up):350
Max. Loading Weight:473
Max. Roof Load:75
Max. Towing Weight - Braked:Not Available
Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked:Not Available
Minimum Kerbweight:1778
No. of Seats:5
Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb:11.4
125kW R-EV Exclusive Line 5dr Auto
