Mazda MX-30 2021 electric car owner review

George McGinlay drives a Mazda MX-30 30kWh 2021 electric car.

This is George’s first electric car, he’s owned the Mazda MX-30 from new and drives under 5,000 miles annually. The current mileage is between 5,000-10,000 miles and he achieves 100 miles range from a full charge.

Why did you choose the Mazda MX-30?

I liked the look of the car so booked a test drive. Honestly, the car drives very well. But it is the worse car I’ve purchased for value for money. Regrettably, I traded in a self-charging hybrid, the Toyota CH-R. In addition to the MX-30, I’ve now bought a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV which is brilliant and I hardly put any petrol in it. The MX-30 is now our second car.

Also, the MX-30 was £30,090 new and I recently did an online valuation for it and got offered £10,750!
I am stuck with this car because of the value, hence why it’s my worst car ever. I would buy another fully electric car but will do a lot of research on the range beforehand!

Positives

Remote charging etc.
tracker included
not having to put petrol in
no road tax.

Negatives

The range is rubbish
I have hassle with my Shell Recharge home charger as it doesn’t charge sometimes causing major anxiety and another reason I had to buy the Outlander.

Compared to when you first bought the car, does your battery still charge at the same rate & do you still get the same range?

In summer, yes, in winter, never.

Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?

No faults

What are the standout technological features of the car?

Remote features are good
keyless start
quiet when driving
ideal for short distances
safety equipment e.g. lane control warnings when anything is nearby.

Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about this electric car

It can be tracked from your phone app.

What electric car(s) are you interested in next and why?

Any make except Mazda.

Home charging unit

It was installed with the car purchase. The charger was Newton who make quality chargers but Shell Recharge took over the charger and I’ve had bugs and niggles ever since. They keep sending me a credit and then a couple of days later they take the money back?! It’s so frustrating that I am fed up of contacting them. This started in February.

Also, the other night I’d set the timer to charge remotely on my Outlander in order to charge at the cheap rate from 00:30am to 4:30am (9p) but when I went out to the car in the morning it hadn’t charged. If it had been the MX-30 we would’ve been stranded!

Electricity supplier & tariff

I am with Octopus Go tariff and we get 9p per kW between 00:30am to 4:30am and 26.50p per kW at all other times. Ideally, I would like to get onto the Octopus Intelligent tariff where it’s 7p per kW from 11:30pm to around 6am but they don’t cover my car and charger.

Do you use public charging networks?

Insurer

I was with LV= last year at £390 and the renewal came in at a ridiculous £700! As I usually do, I compared prices and got it at £533 from low mileage, no claims or convictions and with 14 years NCB. Scandalous prices!