CAR magazine UK drives the Mazda MX-30 R-EV rotary-powered range extender with pictures, specs and verdict
As you may have been too, we got quite excited when Mazda quietly confirmed that it was looking into how it could deploy its rotary engine technology in new cars. The engineering tech has always been something of a novelty as well as a Mazda specialty, finding itself in models like the cutesy Cosmo, as well as the well-liked RX-8 and iconic RX-7 among others.
Mazda hopes to change the MX-30’s fortunes with its rotary range extender which, visually, looks no different to the electric model.Instead of pistons sliding up and down within individual cylinders, a rounded-yet-triangular rotor spins inside a chamber. The rotary engine is famed for its smooth power delivery, small size and dainty weight – but can be thermodynamically inefficient compared to conventional engines and prone to higher oil consumption and more serious wear in a shorter timeframe.
On a full battery charge, Mazda says the R-EV claims a range of 53 miles out of its dinky battery, which is even less than the MX-30 EV. But, obviously, the battery can be charged on the move using the rotary engine, maintaining and even increasing charge while you’re driving. And that state of charge is something you can maintain yourself with the three drive modes on the R-EV: Normal, EV and Charge.
That infotainment display is clear enough to read and simple enough to operate, with easy-to-read mapping and a function layout. The R-EV model even comes with its own version of the energy flow monitor where you can see a little rotor icon under the bonnet that glows when the engine is active. Power delivery is smooth and assured rather than punchy and Mazda’s clearly worked to finesse the throttle response through that sweet, floor-hinged pedal. The brakes, meanwhile, are a little more unpredictable. There’s about an inch-worth of travel that’s a little soggy and soft before the brakes really kick in the harder you push – it can take a little getting used to when you’re pottering around town as the sensation feels most obvious at slower speeds.
It’s mixed when it comes to fuel economy, however. Prior to a German autobahn run, we clocked around 3.1l/100km over around 43 miles of driving on our test route out of Munich, which equates 91.1mph. After an autobahn blast, that dropped to about 56.5mpg. It’s best, then, to treat the MX-30 REV like a proper plug-in hybrid then – use the available e-range when you can, and rely on the rotary over long journeys or when you’re away from a plug for a longer period of time.
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