The future is at hand, and more electric cars and SUVs are rolling off the production line from most automakers’ manufacturing plants. It won’t be long, and these previously expensive models will become much more affordable. One particular version, the Mazda MX-30 isn’t sold on U.S. soil yet, but it’s on its way in a year or two.

InsideEVs showcases the MX-30 and shares their thoughts on the electric SUV. How well does it perform, and will it be worth it when it gets here?

What’s holding the Mazda MX-30 back?

The Mazda MX-30 comes with a pretty small battery, considering the size of the vehicle the MX-30 is. Because of the size, the SUV doesn’t offer much for driving range. In fact, Mazda reports it to be around 124 miles for long-distance driving and about 161 miles for city driving. 

The problem gets worse, though. The IndsideEVs reviewer reports that he wasn’t able to get anywhere near those figures. Of course, he did test-drive the vehicle when it was really cold out, but still, it’s disappointing enough that you don’t get more than 124 miles on the battery. Shortening that time more for the outside temperature isn’t helping its case anyway. 

You’re also not going to get a fast acceleration time with the MX-30. Mazda offers a 35.5 kWh battery pack, which puts its usable power at 30.5 kWh instead. It takes almost 10 seconds to accelerate to 62 mph, which is pretty slow compared to other electric SUVs in its class. 

What Mazda does right with this SUV

What the Mazda MX-30 lacks in battery range, Mazda makes up for it with its interior. The seats are more than comfortable to ride in, even on long-distance trips. You can adjust them to your liking in almost any way you can imagine. 

The driving position, according to the reviewer, is more like you’re driving inside the car and not on top of the car. You sit low enough to really experience the smooth suspension system, which makes driving this SUV a thrill. It also handles with ease with little body roll as it goes through curves and turns.

You’ll find that it comes with plenty of modern technology features. Its infotainment system doesn’t exactly stand out from others on the market, but it offers everything you would likely need in your vehicle. InsideEVs reports that if you should find it lacking, you’ll likely find what you need using the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto apps. 

The MyMazda feature is pretty helpful when you need to know statuses concerning the charging of your EV SUV. It will inform you of where the charge is at, range time, and it allows you to lock or unlock your vehicle. 

Is the Mazda MX-30 a good electric SUV or not?

The range and the slower acceleration time in the Mazda MX-30 can be dealbreakers for some people. However, this SUV just might be a good deal anyway despite those annoying drawbacks. When you look at the whole picture of what this electric SUV offers, you might start seeing a bit of a gem instead. With some tips, you might even make the battery last longer, buying you a little more time in between charges. 

When it arrives here in the U.S., there will be a few different variants to choose from. Reportedly, there will be an all-electric SUV, hybrid and even a fuel-powered rotary engine, which will bring back a classic motor. 

Its tall stature can give the illusion of a heavy vehicle, but surprisingly, it’s not. It actually only weighs about 3,790 lbs. Because of that, it’s pretty agile on the road. A good portion of the weight is from the battery pack, but Mazda made it a positive feature instead of a negative one. 

You’ll find it’s installed lower in the vehicle, which brings the center of gravity lower as well. This pulls the SUV to the road, making it grip better to the road’s surface. This is what keeps the vehicle planted and stable while taking curves and turns. 

The uniqueness of the SUV is another interesting feature of the MX-30. Not too many vehicles offer rear-hinged doors. It also comes with the brand’s longer front section, which doesn’t make it look overly odd at all. 

The Mazda MX-30 isn’t slated to come to America until 2022 or 2023. When it does, with the upgraded specs, it could compete quite well with electric SUVs here. With the announcement of a possible rotary engine in the works, it may be well on its way to being a winner.