With the fast-arriving advent of many electric vehicles (EVs) on the market, there was always a risk that, in some characteristics, they would all become a tad samey.
Make no mistake: we’re big fans of well-executed EVs. Based on our star ratings, the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi E-tron are among our favourites, both achieving 4.5 stars in our road test. Most do, however, have some notably similar elements: instant torque, one-pedal driving and silent motoring, to name a few.
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How refreshing that Mazda, which has just revealed its first EV at Tokyo motor show, has chosen a very different path.
Talking about its first EV, the MX-30, Mazda’s European boss Yasuhiro Aoyama said: “It had to have standout design, be great to drive – something we believe many manufacturers have forgotten in their rush to launch EV products – and, most importantly, make a positive contribution to reducing emission across the entire lifecycle of the product.”
There’s a strong opinion if ever you needed one. While we reckon existing EVs have plenty of scope for enjoyable driving (just read Matt Prior’s take on the Porsche Taycan), Mazda’s decidedly different approach should be applauded.
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EVs don't offer silent
EVs don't offer silent motoring; like ICE cars they generate tire/road noise and windnoise. You hear ICE engines when they accelerate, but that can actually be nice, as opposed to whirrreeeeee. Once you are cruising, ICE engine noise tends to disappear in the white noise generated by everything else, which you get in EVs too. I like EVs but let's be fair.