Mazda MX-30 R-EV

Range-extending option for MX-30 EV marks the rotary engine's return, bringing much-needed updates The limited 124-mile range of the Mazda MX-30 electric crossover has been addressed in the eccentric kind of way that only Mazda knows how.The new Mazda MX-30 R EV has been introduced to sit alongside its electric-powered stablemate, and is the third iteration in a series of ‘Mazda Experimental’ cars - hence the name ‘MX'.When we first drove it, we liked the electric MX-30 for its unrivalled uniqueness, but the pithy range and lacklustre pace made it feel suited only to urban environments, making it a compromised machine you could only really choose if you had another car.However, Mazda promises that it has fixed this issue with the help of an unusual ally. The MX-30 R EV is a range-extended EV with an 830cc rotary petrol engine under the bonnet, which acts as an electricity generator only, it never drives the wheels directly. The pure EV remains on sale alongside it.The rotary engine provides power to a 17.8kWh battery, it drives an electric motor which in turn powers the front wheels for a (claimed) driving range of around 400 miles.But do you actually want to go 276 miles further? In other words, how well does this new-age tech work in practice?