From a cabin perspective, you could call Mazda's first EV a tale of two cars.

Up front, it’s typical Mazda in its design and layout, but it progresses what the brand has done over recent years, with a palpable up-step in quality and detailing.

There's plenty of room, even for taller people. They can stretch out, on comfortable and enveloping front seats offering a wide range of support. The layered lower centre console – even with its floating-like design – offers up a sense of space as well as style.

The MX-30’s driving position is first class; ventilation is ample, storage is adequate and there isn’t much that’s strange or intimidating in here – and this is not always the case with EVs.

Mazda3/CX-30 owners will recognise the company’s latest multimedia system, elegant instrumentation and standard head-up display.

The cork-like trim harks back to the company’s distant past, however, while the electronic touch-display climate control system is new for the brand.

But the new electronic shifter – a thick yet stubby T-bar item that requires a hefty sideways shove to slot it from Reverse across to Park – is annoying. And the MX-30’s side and rear vision is dreadful.

Which leads us to the back half of the Mazda EV.

Those Freestyle doors make entry and egress delightfully theatrical as the fixed centre (or ‘B’) pillar is eliminated, but you cannot open the rear doors without first opening the fronts (fiddly on the outside and a real stretch trying from the inside).

The back seat is tight, with limited knee room. And even though you’ll find a centre armrest with cupholders, as well as overhead grab handles and coat hooks, there’s no lighting back, directional air vents or USB outlets.

At least it’s all nicely finished, with interesting colours are textures, briefly distracting you from how cramped and hemmed-in the MX-30 is for an SUV. And you're peering out of porthole windows, which may make it all seem a little bit claustrophobic for some.

Among the usual array of luxury, functionality and multimedia features like power windows, keyless entry/start, power folding electric mirrors that dip when put in reverse, Bluetooth audio streaming/telephony and climate control air-conditioning, you’ll find adaptive cruise control with full stop/go functionality, auto high beams, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 360-degree view monitor, an electric sunroof, heated and powered front seats, a heated steering wheel and a leather-like synthetic upholstery dubbed “Vintage Brown Maztex”.

Buyers will also likely appreciate an 8.8-inch widescreen colour display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, a Bose premium audio system with 12 speakers, digital radio, satellite navigation and even a 220V domestic plug outlet (perhaps for a hair dryer?), while an elegant head-up display for speed and GPS info is reflected on the windscreen.

The MX-30 Electric will speed up from standstill to 100km/h in 9.7 seconds, on its way to a (speed limited) 140km/h.

The MX-30 Electric's front seats are richly textured, finished in a synthetic leather called Maztex, and feature full electric adjustment, height adjustment and lumbar support. Behind the driver's side backrest are two buttons that the rear occupant can use to move or recline the seat to help egress.

While the MX-30's back area is disappointingly tight for a small SUV, its seats are actually quite comfortable, even if they don't slide or recline like in some rival crossover alternatives. They seat three at a pinch, and have a 60/40 split backrest, for added versatility.