For many car manufacturers, the nomenclature on their cars can mean very little, or for others, it can mean a lot. My favourite roadster, the Mazda MX-5, is called the MX-5 because it stands for Mazda eXperimental project number 5.

The Mazda MX-5 was innovative when released in 1989, and it was Mazda's single-minded determination to produce a fun car of the rarest quality. Above all else, it can involve the driver intimately in every way, making it a joy to drive.

So it is not surprising to see Mazda using the MX nomenclature on their new offering, the all-electric Mazda MX-30. A tribute to the experimental attitude Mazda had when developing the MX-5. But unlike the MX-5, it is less about the Zoom Zoom drivability and affordability but more about whether it can deliver real-world efficiency with reductions in fuel consumption and emissions.

The Mazda MX-30 has a distinctive design that's a nod to Mazda's history, such as the freestyle doors inspired by the RX-8. The vehicle will initially be sold in Australia as MX-30 Hybrid and then be joined by an all-electric model towards the end of 2021 or early 2022. 

If you go into an MX-30 test drive expecting it to feel like you're behind the wheel of an MX-5, you won't get quite what you expect, but it will impress. It's not a sports car, but it does have that connection with the road feel that Mazda takes pride in, enough to make the drive enjoyable.