Mazda Australia freely admits that it has no idea what sort of cars will be cross-shopped
against the new Mazda MX-30 M Hybrid, but does the car's unique status guarantee that it will
be a sales success in the local market? We're here in Victoria's Yarra Valley to assess its chances.
[pause]
The importer expects to sell 200 units a month in the basic mild hybrid form, with a battery
electric model to follow in the second half of this year, and possibly a range-extended
version with a rotary engine next year. That's a fairly conservative sales forecast for a Mazda,
but the MX-30 M Hybrid itself is a prime example of conservative engineering wrapped up in novel
packaging. One of those novel elements of the MX-30 design is its freestyle rear doors,
which swing the opposite way when opening. This concept was also a feature in the RX-8 sports car,
but it's been improved for the MX-30, with the seatbelts fastened to the rear doors for the
front seat passengers. The result? Coupe-like style with the pragmatic packaging of a
conventional hatchback. Where accommodation is concerned, this is no Hyundai Veloster.
Although it looks a bit tight from the outside, the rear of the cabin is actually rather spacious
for adults up to about 180 cm tall, even as in the case of this MX-30 Astina flagship
with the sunroof fitted. Ahead of the B-pillars, the MX30 is mostly what we've come to expect from
Mazda in the Skyactiv era. A minimalist dash with instruments and controls that are elegant,
yet simple to operate. The front seats provide the right balance of comfort and
support, while also providing a range of adjustment to suit all types of physiques.
Where the MX-30 departs from traditional Mazda interior design, it's the use of sustainable
materials throughout the cabin including cork, which is not only an eco-friendly material,
but also pays tribute to Mazda's early history as a manufacturer of the material.
[pause]
Traditional Mazda fans will be delighted with the MX-30's driving dynamics,
and its combination of ride comfort and noise suppression, but it's not all roses. Dynamically,
the MX-30 delivers lively steering response, tidy handling, and secure front-end grip, but it's the
straight line performance that's lacking, the engine just doesn't have enough punch.
Despite reasonable power and torque figures, the MX-30 struggled to reach the open road
speed limit on one steep section of road during the test drive program.
Under the bonnet of the MX-30 is the 2.0-litre, Skyactiv-G, petrol, 4-cylinder engine
that also powers base models of the Mazda 3 small car, rather than the Skyactiv-X,
which is a more fuel-efficient engine also available on the Mazda 3.
That means MX-30 misses out on both the undeniable fuel economy gains, and the performance benefits
of the more sophisticated engine. But on a drive that was by no means an economy run, the Mazda
returned a fuel consumption figure not too far adrift of the official figure published by the
Green Vehicle Guide. Leaving aside the question of fuel economy, the mild hybrid powertrain is very
refined. The idle-stop system kills the engine two or three meters before the MX-30 pulls to a halt,
and does it gently. And the engine restarts smoother in fact, than some prestige models
from Europe. The six-speed automatic proved itself to be a very clever unit, shifting
smoothly even in Sport mode, and holding gears when other lesser transmissions would shift up.
So there are pros and cons to debate when tossing up whether to buy the MX-30.
It's not the most economical hybrid on the road, and it could do with more power for
buyers who plan to overtake on country roads, but its value stacks up in other ways. Judged
purely as a hybrid, the Mazda MX-30 M hybrid is a swing and a miss, but as an all-round package,
it's practical, safe and comfortable nature means it hits the target.