MAZDA has long been a strong performer in the compact SUV space, with a long track record of success thanks to its CX-3 crossover, and more recently the slightly larger CX-30.

However the Japanese brand believes there is room for another small SUV entrant, the off-beat MX-30, which by mid-year will herald the arrival of Mazda’s first all-electric vehicle in Australia.

For now, however, the brand is launching the MX-30 with its M Hybrid powertrain, spread across three different variants.

So how does the latest member of Mazda’s compact SUV portfolio stack up?