Hot car deal: corking Mazda MX-30 for just £156 per month

Mazda is the kind of car company that never knowingly does things by the book. Reinventing the two-seater roadster for a global audience? No problem. Bored with the usual four-cylinder engine? You’ll love Mazda’s latest rotary invention. Truth is, Mazda succeeds as much as it fails, but it’s always willing to try something different – and it’s that pioneering ethos that has brought us the MX-30 small electric SUV.

The MX-30 has a unique style; its rear-hinged half-size back doors are an interesting talking point rather than being hugely practical, and access to the rear is cramped. But interior quality is a definite plus point, and even features trim accents made from cork and recycled plastic. It’s good to drive, too, which is another typical Mazda trait, although the Japanese manufacturer clearly doesn’t want you to enjoy it too much, because it’s engineered the MX-30 to offer just 124 miles of range from a full charge.

There’s no point pretending that the MX-30 is going to be all the car you ever need, but if it fits with your lifestyle – taking in mostly shorter journeys, or operating as a second family runabout – then it’s well worth considering. When you take into account this appealing three-year personal leasing deal we found via Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, the MX-30 looks even better.

Offered in Exclusive Line specification, this particular MX-30 features 18-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors, rear privacy glass, keyless entry, cruise control, heated front seats and Mazda’s Connect multimedia system with an 8.8-inch colour display and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity.

A total power output of 143bhp provides a reasonable 0-62mph time of 9.7 seconds, while the relatively small battery means topping up at a charge point doesn’t take too long – just 25 minutes from 20-80% at a public rapid charger.

For our full verdict on the Mazda MX-30, read our complete in-depth review here…