For a while now, Mazdas have sometimes provided a extra upmarket really feel than rival manufacturers.
Mazda is making an attempt to construct on that with its new household of Massive Platform structure SUVs, the primary of which was the CX-60 launched right here in 2023, which sit at the next value level than the equally sized SUVs they substitute or complement within the lineup.
Mazda’s Massive Platform SUVs are as near clean-sheet as doable, using a brand new rear/all-wheel drive chassis structure, that includes new inline six-cylinder engines and a brand new eight-speed computerized and mild-hybrid system developed in-house.
These specs make them sound extra like rivals for the likes of BMW than, say, Toyota, although Mazda Australia has averted referring to those as luxurious SUVs.
Whereas the CX-60 vary normally opens at $60,550, or $5550 greater than a top-spec model of the additionally mid-sized CX-5, present promotional pricing places the brand new SUV even nearer to its older stablemate.
WATCH: Paul’s video assessment of the Mazda CX-60 G40e and D50e
Deal or no deal, is it value the additional money to step up from a CX-5?
Strolling to the carpark to select up the CX-60 for the primary time, I mistook it for the CX-5, not helped by its use of Mazda’s lustrous however ubiquitous Soul Pink Crystal paint.
Come across the entrance and you’ll see the lengthy bonnet that, greater than the rest, distinguishes the CX-60 from the CX-5. Nevertheless, Mazda missed a trick by not giving this new mannequin extra distinctive styling.
The nameplate is already alphabet soup, little question complicated patrons, so some extra distinctive styling would have been a smart alternative to differentiate the CX-60. However whereas this extra bold Mazda SUV seems like its extra humble showroom-mate, the driving expertise couldn’t be extra completely different.
How does the Mazda CX-60 examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Mazda CX-60 towards equally sized automobiles.
Mazda
CX-60
How a lot does the Mazda CX-60 price?
The Mazda CX-60 is obtainable with a alternative of mild-hybrid petrol (G40e), mild-hybrid diesel (D50e), and plug-in hybrid petrol (P50e) powertrains, all three of that are provided in base Evolve, mid-range GT and top-spec Azami trims.
Our base CX-60 wasn’t precisely base, with Mazda specifying the elective $4000 Luxurious Package deal.
Nonetheless, present promotional pricing obtainable in all states bar Western Australia sees the Evolve G40e – already essentially the most inexpensive CX-60 – price $56,990 drive-away.
Choosing the diesel powertrain provides an additional $2000, whereas the plug-in hybrid model is at the moment being provided for $70,040 drive-away.
You possibly can view all present presents on the Mazda Australia web site.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| Mazda CX-60 G40e Evolve | $60,550 |
| Mazda CX-60 D50e Evolve | $62,550 |
| Mazda CX-60 G40e GT | $68,550 |
| Mazda CX-60 D50e GT | $70,550 |
| Mazda CX-60 P50e Evolve | $73,600 |
| Mazda CX-60 G40e Azami | $73,750 |
| Mazda CX-60 D50e Azami | $75,750 |
| Mazda CX-60 P50e GT | $81,600 |
| Mazda CX-60 P50e Azami | $86,800 |
To see how the Mazda CX-60 strains up towards its rivals, try our comparability instrument.
What’s the Mazda CX-60 like on the within?
The CX-60 has a pleasant inside, however given how excessive the CX-5 units the bar for the mid-sized SUV phase we would have anticipated the CX-60 to purpose just a bit bit increased.
Nonetheless, the CX-60 holds its personal towards the likes of the Lexus NX. Materials high quality is spectacular, with the sprint high among the many softest on the market.
Gentle padding may be discovered on the perimeters of the centre console, too, whereas the tops of the doorways entrance and rear are soft-touch; the bottoms of the door playing cards aren’t, however that’s frequent for even premium mid-sized SUVs.
There’s mercifully no gloss black trim inside. The centre console as a substitute makes use of a mix of matte black plastic and metal-look trim, the latter of which has no actual texture and is finally unconvincing.
There are additionally metal-look accents throughout the dashboard, however these don’t look particularly genuine both.
The entrance of the sprint is completed in a particularly gentle materials, which is good, but it surely has a unique graining to the remainder of the sprint, leading to a considerably disjointed look. On some dearer CX-60s this part of the sprint is completed in suede or fabric.
The Evolve is the one member of the CX-60 vary to characteristic a ten.25-inch infotainment display, with the GT and Azami that includes a 12.3-inch unit.
Whereas each screens may be managed with the rotary dial on the centre console, which proves intuitive, solely the bigger display presents contact performance for smartphone mirroring.
Anyone who has tried to make use of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on a display with out contact performance can attest it’s way more cumbersome than controlling these programs by contact.
The shortage of contact performance additionally underscores Mazda’s chopping and altering of its display technique.
The model has gone from providing screens that could possibly be touched whereas stationary, to banishing contact performance altogether, to as soon as once more providing restricted (however this time in another way so) performance. All three sorts of screens can nonetheless be present in Mazda’s present lineup.
There’s a standard array of buttons for the local weather management, whereas a quantity knob may be discovered on the centre console together with shortcut buttons for the infotainment system.
As our tester had the elective Luxurious Package deal, it featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Whereas there’s no skill to view maps on this display, it options engaging graphics simulating a standard analogue cluster.
Commonplace on all CX-60 fashions is a head-up show, and this is a wonderful unit with all the data you want clearly seen. We additionally recognize the fashionable typefaces discovered right here and elsewhere within the CX-60, a delicate differentiation from lesser Mazdas.
Surprisingly, the bottom CX-60 lacks energy adjustment and heating for the entrance seats, however our tester’s Luxurious Package deal addresses these omissions.
The newest era of cameras utilized in Mazda merchandise are impressively high-resolution, with the elective Luxurious Package deal bringing a see-through perform for the usual surround-view digicam.
By way of storage, there are bottle holders within the doorways plus a shallow centre console bin with a pair of USB-C retailers inside and a softly padded, split-opening lid.
Step out of the automotive and the walkaway locking perform proves irritating – I might virtually hug the automotive as you stroll round to the opposite facet and it will nonetheless lock, and but on different events I’d stroll away from the automotive and it wouldn’t lock. Greatest to simply flip this perform off.
Entering into the again is straightforward, with the rear doorways opening 90 levels. As soon as inside, you’ll discover loads of headroom and legroom, and it does really feel extra spacious than a CX-5.
The driveline hump can be comparatively flat, so legroom for the centre-seat occupant isn’t constricted an excessive amount of.
By way of facilities, there are rear air vents, two USB-C retailers, and a 220V/150W energy outlet.
Youngster seats may be secured utilizing the ISOFIX factors on the 2 outboard seats, or through one of many three top-tether factors.
Open the (power-assisted) tailgate and there’s a claimed 477L of cargo house together with the underfloor space for storing. This expands to 1726L with the 40/20/40-split rear bench folded flat or, somewhat, as flat as it may be.
There are useful levers within the again that let you drop the seats, in addition to a netted compartment to maintain objects from rolling away.
| Dimensions | Mazda CX-60 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4740mm |
| Width | 1949mm (mirrors folded) 2134mm (mirrors prolonged) |
| Top | 1675mm |
| Wheelbase | 2870mm |
| Cargo capability | 477L (incl. under-floor house) 1726L (incl. under-floor house; second row folded) |
| Floor clearance | 170mm |
To see how the Mazda CX-60 strains up towards its rivals, try our comparability instrument.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The CX-60 on check right here is powered by the inline-six petrol engine with mild-hybrid help.
| Specs | Mazda CX-60 G40e MHEV |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.3L turbo inline six with 48V mild-hybrid system |
| Energy | 209kW @ 5000-6000rpm |
| Torque | 450Nm @ 2000-3500rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto |
| Pushed wheels | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1921kg (kerb) |
| Gasoline economic system (claimed) | 7.4L/100km |
| Gasoline economic system (as examined) | 9.5L/100km (inner-city, suburban and freeway loop) 11.7L/100km (over every week, with city skew) |
| Gasoline tank capability | 58L |
| Gasoline requirement | 91 RON common unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 171g/km |
| Emissions normal | Euro 5 |
| Braked tow capability | 2500kg (150kg tow-ball obtain) |
Petrol CX-60s are rated to tow 500kg greater than their diesel counterparts.
They’ve 22kW extra energy than diesel fashions, however are down 100Nm of torque. In addition they use extra gas – diesel fashions have claimed gas consumption of 4.9L/100km.
How does the Mazda CX-60 drive?
The Mazda CX-60 may appear like a CX-5 but it surely certain doesn’t really feel like one to drive.
Push the beginning button and there’s a beefy sound from the inline six beneath the bonnet. A inexperienced ‘Prepared’ icon flashes a couple of instances earlier than you possibly can transfer the clunky shifter, whereas the surround-view digicam offers a crystal-clear view of your surrounds as you pull out of your parking house.
Right here’s the place the CX-60 hits its first hurdle. At low speeds, the steering doesn’t appear to loosen up, which makes navigating a carpark a little bit of a chore. The steering is just too heavy and that, mixed with the sound of the engine and the delay off the road (extra on that later), makes this automotive really feel large, heavy and boring.
There’s an annoying low-speed jerkiness to the transmission, with the CX-60 heaving repeatedly and dramatically on one event as I drove up my sloped driveway onto the road.
This jerkiness continues as you creep by visitors, with the automobile audibly thunking as you decelerate to cease at, for instance, a set of visitors lights.
The automated idle cease/begin perform isn’t notably easy both, although turning it off doesn’t resolve these low-speed driveability points.
Getting again into my very own automotive after driving this, I discovered myself ready for the clunk as I slowed down earlier than realising my automotive’s eight-speed auto is a a lot better unit…
When the sunshine turns inexperienced and also you punch it, you’ll discover the CX-60 actually doesn’t really feel all that fast for one thing with a turbocharged six, even when it does weigh over 1900kg.
Plant your proper foot and let the engine come on tune, although, and the CX-60 proves to have good mid-range response and the transmission appears to ultimately pull itself collectively.
Drive the CX-60 alongside any floor in need of, say, the world’s largest billiard desk, nevertheless, and also you’ll discover it rides very stiffly.
Mazda rolled out an replace earlier this yr to suit a revised rear shock absorber, with present CX-60 house owners additionally capable of benefit from this at its sellers.
With out driving pre- and post-update automobiles back-to-back, it’s onerous to inform precisely how a lot the experience has improved. The CX-60 nonetheless, nevertheless, transmits each stumble upon the cabin.
No SUV ought to experience this stiffly until it has, say, M Competitors badging on the tailgate. The CX-60 has the power to make what seems to be a easy floor really feel scarred, as if the suspension is doing a topographical research of the roadway.
It squirms like a cat you’re making an attempt to decorate in pyjamas, and by no means feels settled. Hit an growth joint and also you get a thunk. Floor modifications are keenly felt.
Right here’s one particular instance. There’s a street I check vehicles on the place the floor dips down barely for a low bridge throughout a creek, after which dips up once more ever so barely when the bridge ends; the pace restrict right here is 80km/h.
On most comparable vehicles, the transition from street to bridge sees them take a second to settle, with one rebound movement. The CX-60, nevertheless, was massively upset, rebounding sharply and markedly round two or 3 times.
The Mazda additionally typically feels unsettled on the rear, with sharper bumps showing to jostle it not solely up and down however facet to facet.
The experience might finest be described as stiff however bouncy – not a great mixture.
Round city, this doesn’t really feel like a premium mid-sized SUV and, maybe extra gallingly, it doesn’t really feel like a Mazda both. Take the CX-60 to a winding mountain street, nevertheless, and it begins to shine.
That steering that felt so cumbersome within the carpark? The weighting feels satisfying, if nonetheless heavy, and the street really feel it transmits is most welcome.
The brake pedal really feel is missing, however in any other case this was a delight to drive alongside switchbacks and thru hairpin turns.
The CX-60 feels planted in corners, with a centre of gravity that seems so low chances are you’ll neglect you’re driving an SUV.
A number of the roads had been slick from current showers, however the CX-60 by no means felt missing for grip even in the event you can really feel the delicate rear bias of this all-wheel drive system.
With the CX-60’s excessive stage of noise suppression, knocking it into Sport mode – the place it can maintain gears for longer, as is typical of those modes – didn’t see the cabin dominated by engine noise. Which means you possibly can take pleasure in a spirited drive in relative peace.
Get onto the freeway and also you’ll discover the cabin to be fairly serene. There’s minimal wind and tyre noise at excessive speeds, with engine noise effectively suppressed.
The suite of lively security and driver help programs is a blended bag.
The lane-keep help does an excellent job of nudging you again in your lane, although the lane centring isn’t as spectacular. Some rivals characteristic programs that do a greater job of conserving you centred, and on one curve within the street it simply gave up and mentioned Steering Help Not Out there.
We just like the neat graphics within the digital instrument cluster, nevertheless, which features a graphical depiction of the automobile and surrounding visitors, with inexperienced outlining your lane.
Entrance cross-traffic alert works effectively, however I’ve nonetheless but to search out when that is helpful until you’re a very oblivious driver, with the chimes simply sounding each time somebody drives previous you within the carpark or whilst you’re ready to show.
The visitors signal recognition could be very intelligent. Not solely does it present you the present pace restrict, it additionally warns you effectively forward of time what the pace restrict is about to alter to.
The automated high-beam is a bit delicate, and we discovered it dipping on roads with no avenue lights and no oncoming visitors.
What do you get?
There are three trim ranges. On check right here is the entry-level Evolve G40e.
Mazda CX-60 Evolve highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- House-saver spare (petrol and diesel solely)
- Tyre restore package (PHEV)
- Electrical parking brake
- Auto maintain
- Hill descent management
- Automated cease/begin
- LED headlights
- Automated high-beam
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- Energy home windows with auto up/down for all home windows
- Energy tailgate
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Proximity entry with push-button begin
- Head-up show
- 7.0-inch instrument cluster display (petrol and diesel solely)
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (PHEV solely)
- 10.25-inch infotainment system
- Wi-fi and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- 8-speaker sound system
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
- Maztex leatherette upholstery in black
- Manually adjustable entrance seats
- 40/20/40 break up fold rear seats
- 150W energy outlet (1500W in PHEV)
To see how the Mazda CX-60 strains up towards its rivals, try our comparability instrument.
Choices
Two elective packages can be found for the CX-60 Evolve.
The elective Imaginative and prescient Know-how Package deal (Evolve, GT; $2000) provides:
- Encompass-view digicam with see-through view
- Adaptive LED headlights (GT)
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (Evolve)
- Cruising & Site visitors Help
- Entrance cross-traffic alert
- Driver monitoring (Evolve solely)
The Luxurious Package deal (Evolve; $4000) options all the Imaginative and prescient Know-how Package deal additions for the Evolve, plus:
- Heated entrance seats
- Energy-adjustable entrance seats with driver’s reminiscence
- Black leather-based upholstery
- Exterior mirror reminiscence
Is the Mazda CX-60 protected?
The Mazda CX-60 has a five-star security score from ANCAP based mostly on testing carried out in 2022.
| Class | Mazda CX-60 |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 34.82 out of 38 (91 per cent) |
| Youngster occupant safety | 46.00 out of 49 (93 per cent) |
| Susceptible street person safety | 48.18 out of 54 (89 per cent) |
| Security help | 12.32 out of 16 (77 per cent) |
Commonplace security gear contains:
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Bike owner detection
- Rear AEB
- Rear crossing perform
- Flip-across visitors perform
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep help
- Secure exit warning
- Driver consideration alert
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Encompass-view digicam
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Twin entrance airbags
- Entrance and rear facet airbags
- Entrance and rear curtain airbags
- Driver’s far-side and knee airbags
GT provides:
- Driver consideration monitoring
Azami provides:
- Cruising and Site visitors Help
- Entrance cross-traffic alert
How a lot does the Mazda CX-60 price to run?
The CX-60 is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
| Operating prices | Mazda CX-60 |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5-year, unlimited-kilometre |
| Roadside help | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | Seven years |
| Complete capped-price service price | $4696 |
To see how the Mazda CX-60 strains up towards its rivals, try our comparability instrument.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mazda CX-60
The Mazda CX-60 is a missed alternative for the model, however I’m an optimist. This automobile could possibly be mounted and grow to be a very compelling different to premium mid-sized SUVs.
Whereas the thought of merely placing within the 2.5-litre turbo 4 and six-speed computerized from the CX-5 is tempting, we suspect Mazda engineers might recalibrate this transmission and mild-hybrid system to enhance refinement.
We additionally imagine these engineers might retune the suspension to make this extra snug. Tweak the steering for a lighter weighting at low speeds and the CX-60 could be within the hunt.
A turbocharged inline-six Mazda on a rear-biased all-wheel drive platform must be much more satisfying to drive than this, even when the CX-60 does boast an incredible chassis.
There’s no query the CX-60 handles effectively, it’s simply that switchbacks and hairpin turns make up such a small portion of the typical proprietor’s driving. What issues extra is powertrain smoothness and experience consolation for the city grind, and in each areas the CX-60 falls quick.
If it looks as if I’m being onerous on Mazda, it’s as a result of I do know the corporate is eminently able to constructing automobiles which can be dynamic but additionally easy and refined – its personal CX-5 G35 is only one instance.
Proper after I returned the CX-60, I obtained behind the wheel of a top-spec CX-5 with the turbo 4 and was struck by simply how responsive the powertrain is and the way the suspension, whereas nonetheless agency, doesn’t crash over bumps.
Given the CX-5 G35 additionally presents many of the house and an inside solely barely much less posh for a cheaper price, that’s the place my cash could be going.
Let’s see what Mazda has in retailer for the CX-60’s eventual replace.
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