The Mazda MX-30 R-EV: Everything you need to know

The Mazda MX-30 R-EV is the latest edition to join the Mazda range, introduced to sit alongside the MX-30 BEV. The success of the BEV was limited by the 124 miles range but the R-EV combats this with the addition of a rotary engine which Mazda claim will provide a total range of over 400 miles. ​

​How does the R-EV work?

At a basic level, the MX-30 R-EV is a Plug-In Hybrid - the car uses both electric charge and petrol. However, unlike other PHEVs, the car is only ever powered by its electric motor, similar to BEV, meaning you are always experiencing the smooth performance of an electric vehicle. The 17.8kWh battery provides 53 miles pure electric range when fully charged which is more than enough for the average daily commute. When this battery begins to run low, the 830cc rotary petrol engine acts as a generator to recharge but will never directly power the wheels - they will always move on electric power, outputting 168bhp and a 0-62mph time of 9.1 seconds (0.6s faster than the EV).​

How long does charging take?

Charging the R-EV is quite simple: for a 20-80% charge, this should only take 1 hour and 30 minutes on a 7.2kW charger, around 50 mins on an 11kW charger or around 25 mins on a 36kW DC charger. This full charge should be paired with a full 50 litres of fuel to get the best performance out of the R-EV and achieve “over 400 miles of range” according to Mazda.

The rest of R-EV copies of the BEV. The bold and unique design, the premium interior crafted with high quality materials and the suicide door set up remains the same, as well as having an extensive equipment tally onboard which you would expect from a Mazda. Even the specifications and pricing structure matches the BEV. The only thing that sets this version apart from its all-electric sibling is some rotary emblems on the exterior and differing alloy wheel designs, as well as being around 150kg heavier.

The Mazda MX-30 R-EV is for people who like the MX-30 BEV but aren’t convinced by the limited range. The addition of the rotary engine reminds customers of Mazda’s heritage with rotary technology whilst providing an option for long distance travel which the BEV is less suited for. The 53 miles of pure electric range beats a lot of its Plug In Hybrid competitors in the UK market, especially for the starting price of £31,250 so the Mazda MX-30 R-EV is a great option for those who aren't quite ready to buy a fully electric vehicle.