New Mazda CX 60 Performance – Mazda’s most powerful road car to date is something entirely different than a sports car variant of the Mazda RX-8 or a supercharged MX-5. To put it mildly, the Mazda CX-60 plug-in hybrid power is incredible.
The CX-60 features a 323bhp petrol engine and an electric motor in the event that you need them. Consumers may now choose from a variety of 3.3-liter diesel engines, with a pure-petrol engine becoming available in the future, while the plug-in hybrid was your only option at first.
The Mazda CX-60, like high-end competitors such as the BMW X3 and Audi Q5, compares favorably to any powertrain in terms of pricing.
The CX-60 is compared to SUVs like the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, and Ford Kuga in order to determine which you would choose.
Despite the fact that they are equipped with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology and offer respectable fuel economy numbers, the new 3.3-liter six-cylinder diesel may seem outdated at first glance.
In contrast, the plug-in hybrid version is stunning and should attract company car drivers. The CX-60 comes close to the 38 miles provided by the Hyundai Tucson PHEV, with a range of up to 39 miles promised.
The CX-60 has a high-quality interior that matches up with the aforementioned German automobiles, with the fit and finishes being quite nice.
The crisp screen can be adjusted by a handy rotary dial, and the switchgear has a satisfying feel. Too, technology is a plus.
In addition, there is a driver profile system that can automatically change to your preferred settings based on your height, and it may also recommend the best driving posture.
That feature is initially available on the third trim level, which is in the center of the three. The CX-60 can be ordered in Exclusive-Line, Homura, and Takumi grades, rather than Mazda’s recent tradition of using SE-L and Sport grades.
The Exclusive-Line is well-outfitted with heated seats, automatic LED headlights, a reversing camera, and a windshield-projected head-up display.
Homura comes equipped with bigger wheels, body-colored wheel arches, and a Bose sound system. Among the design and trim enhancements for top-spec Takumi are White Nappa leather and a maple console.
The CX-60 is a little longer than the CX-5, providing enough rear seat and luggage space despite the packaging required for its plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The CX-60 isn’t intended to replace the CX-5. It is the second phase of Mazda’s indignant electrification campaign, following the debut of the quirky but flawed Mazda MX-30 EV in 2021.
Engines, and Performance
The Mazda CX-60 will soon be offered a 3.0-liter petrol engine option, but for now, the SUV is only offered with a 3.3-liter mild-hybrid diesel or plug-in hybrid powertrain from Mazda.
The CX-60 is comparable to the BMW X3 and Jaguar F-Pace in terms of driving pleasure, but it isn’t as engaging as an Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLC.
The steering feels precise and keen at slower speeds, as it incorporates some of the same chassis technology as the Mazda MX-5 sports car. At faster speeds, there is tire noise and understeer, which reminds you of the CX-60’s hefty weight (it weighs roughly two tonnes).
The ride was firm but not uncomfortable on our test car’s 20-inch wheels, the biggest available, despite the fact that we’ll have to wait to see how it performs on UK roads.
Mazda CX-60 Diesel Engine
All Mazda CX-60 diesel variants are equipped with a 3.3-liter six-cylinder petrol engine with 48-volt mild hybrid assistance and an automatic gearbox.
With 197bhp going to the rear wheels, the basic version appears to be underpowered for a car of this size; Mazda has not yet released 0-62mph numbers for this model, but we estimate it will take roughly nine seconds.
The 251bhp version, which comes with all-wheel drive by default, may be more suitable for a two-tonne luxury SUV. Mazda claims that this car will reach 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds, despite the fact that it has a significant 550Nm torque number.
Mazda CX-60 Hybrid Engine
The Mazda CX-60 plug-in hybrid features a 2.5-liter petrol engine and an electric motor with a combined power of 323 hp. They match the Hyundai i30 N and Cupra Leon hot hatches in terms of acceleration, with a 5.8-second 0-62mph time.
Thanks to its decent electric range, the CX-60 PHEV is ideal for driving around town on electric power alone. In reality, the battery will continue to use while driving at slightly higher speeds as long as you’re gentle with the throttle.
The petrol engine starts up sooner, but the noise it generates, particularly at high revs, isn’t particularly noteworthy. It’s not bad, but it’s a bit dreary and stands out from a similarly priced BMW or Audi.
The CX-60, at least, can surge ahead when you want it to because of the power it generates – it holds the distinction of being Mazda’s most powerful production car ever.
The transmission is not the nicest PHEV yet, although it does a good job of blending shifts with the eight-speed automatic gearbox. There are some jerks when the automobile decides how to split its electric and petrol power.
The CX-60 is an all-wheel-drive vehicle, much like many plug-in hybrids, however, rear-wheel drive variants will be available with future petrol and diesel engines.
MPG, Running Costs, and CO2
Despite its electrification, the Mazda CX-60 is one of the least expensive to operate of any current Mazda on the road.
The driver has the same responsibility as any plug-in hybrid to make sure the battery is kept topped up, otherwise, you’ll never achieve its advertised performance.
Two mild-hybrid diesel engines are now available, with a petrol version to be introduced later. The PHEV, on the other hand, will almost certainly be the most efficient.
Mazda CX-60 MPG and CO2
The new Mazda CX-60 starts with two 48-volt mild-hybrid diesel models, despite the plug-in hybrid being the star of the show.
The basic version is able to return 56.5mpg on the combined WLTP cycle, while the more powerful all-wheel-drive variant is just slightly behind, using rather huge 3.3-liter six-cylinder engines. The 197bhp engine emits 129g/km of CO2, whereas the 256bhp vehicle emits 137g/km.
Mazda’s official 2.5-liter plug-in hybrid economy rating of 188 mpg is very excellent. A 17.8 kWh battery is employed, giving a complete charge of 39 kilometers.
Those figures are extremely close to those of the Audi Q5 TFSI e, making it possible for many drivers to travel without spending a lot of gas.
The CX-60 comes with two charging cables: a Type 2 connector for public chargers and unattended wall boxes, and a three-pin adaptor for residential sockets.
With a 7kW wall box and a good charging battery, you might get back on the road with a full battery in just over 2.5 hours after going out for groceries or work.
It’s the best of the bunch for company car drivers because of its 33g/km CO2 emissions, which put it in a nice and low Benefit-in-Kind tax band.
For 20% of taxpayers, that translates to a monthly tax obligation of less than $100, or less than $200 for higher-rate payers.
But, it is unfortunate that the CX-60’s EV driving range could not be decreased by just one mile, since this would put it in an even lower BiK band.
Annual road tax will cost more than $500 in years two to six, with the PHEV benefiting from a $10 discount because all versions of the CX-60 cost more than $40,000.
Running Costs
The Mazda CX-60 PHEV has not been released with fuel economy numbers but based on the official combined figure of 56.5mpg and its estimated 11 miles of EV range per charge, running costs of about $50 a month are likely.
Annual operating expenses of $1,200 would be substantially lower than those of more expensive alternative vehicles like the Audi Q5 TFSI e or BMW 740i xDrive Gran Coupe. A plug-in hybrid’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances makes it an excellent long-distance travel vehicle.
With a fuel economy of over 60mpg on the combined cycle, the CX-60 might easily cover most journeys without having to refuel for up to 800 miles. The CX-60 has a few downsides, the most notable of which is its restricted driving range.
This vehicle has an insufficient range to cover more than 80% of journeys, making it unfit for long-distance travel at a charge of 11 miles per charge. Running costs are estimated to be $50 per month, which is more than the other cars in its price range.
Warranty
The Mazda CX-60 PHEV has a standard three-year warranty, which is identical to that of the petrol and diesel counterparts.
Like other Mazdas, the CX-60 comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. The Hyundai Sportage PHEV and Toyota RAV4, on the other hand, provide coverage for seven and ten years, respectively.
Servicing
The Mazda CX-60 must be serviced every year or 12,500 miles whichever occurs first. Mazda’s service plans allow you to pay in monthly installments or a one-time fee, which standardized the cost of upkeep.
Interior and Comfort
Mazda’s CX-60 interiors are on fire right now; since the introduction of the current Mazda3, its latest efforts have been on par with premium rivals in terms of material quality and assembly.
Mazda’s intention to be compared with BMW, Audi, and Mercedes is signaled by the CX-60. The CX-60 has attractive trim and finish choices to emphasize that point.
Maple wood trim and white Nappa leather seat trim are standard on top-spec automobiles, but they are a higher grade of leather than the ordinary car.
The stitching pattern is also inspired by traditional Japanese binding methods, which contrasts sharply with the contemporary technology on board. Even the plastics look and feel high-quality, which is a pleasing surprise.
The show-stopper 20-inch alloy wheels of the top version may tank the ride, as may other big, luxury SUVs. Ride quality is comparable to the Volvo XC60, and as speeds rise, they become more smooth. They thump into potholes around town but ride OK.
Dashboard
You may think you’re in a BMW X3 if you tape over the steering wheel emblem. With a bank of physical buttons for climate settings and a widescreen infotainment screen sitting on top of the dashboard, the dashboard’s layout is fairly similar.
You get the sense that decisions were made to improve the user experience rather than simply make it look flashy, and it doesn’t immediately appear to be as eye-catching as some competitors.
The display isn’t eating up most of your vision, and the physical buttons are easier to operate while driving than sliders and touch panels.
The infotainment screen and digital clock cluster are both 12.3 inches in diameter, and they provide information in an easy-to-understand format.
To travel across the infotainment system, you’ll have to utilize the rotary controller, which is a piece of cake to get used to.
Equipment
Mazda CX-60s are available in three trim levels in the United States: Exclusive-Line, Homura, and Takumi. Even at this price point, the cheapest comes with a high level of standard features.
High-beam assists, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera, and heated front seats are all standard on the automatic LED headlights with high-beam assist. A head-up display that projects data onto the windshield is also available.
Homura trim comes with larger wheels, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, ambient lighting, and a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound system.
Face recognition technology is also used in Mazda’s Driver Personalization System, which allows the driver to be identified as soon as he or she gets into the vehicle.
Switching profiles is a one-click process that automatically updates all of your settings. There is no need to press a button. That’s a very helpful piece of technology.
The most prevalent Takumi (Japanese meaning craftsman) is design and material upgrades. Chrome is used to accent the window line, grille, and wheels, as well as high-grade leather and wood.
Options
If you don’t want the basic Arctic White solid paint, there are six additional paint options available for an extra fee.
The Convenience Pack ($1,000), which includes more interior lighting, outlets, a 360-degree camera, privacy glass, and wireless phone charging, may be added to each trim level.
The adaptive headlights, adaptive cruise control (which may provide semi-autonomous driving capability), and cross-traffic alert front and rear are all part of the $1,100 Driver Assistance Pack on all three models.
Practicality and Boot Space
The Mazda CX-60 is a hard five-seater, however, Mazda may introduce its seven-seat CX-80 to the United States.
With a substantially larger wheelbase (the distance between the front and back wheels) than the Mazda CX-5, the CX-60 is around 20cm bigger in size.
Since the two automobiles are essentially similar in height, the CX-60 appears to be a bit sleeker. Its sportier appearance is also aided by the lack of roof rails.
Interior Space and Storage
The front seat’s center console is unusually large. The Mazda’s and Mercedes GLC’s footwells seem to be rather narrow.
Those in the rear have a bit more legroom than the CX-5, as one would anticipate given the longer wheelbase, although it isn’t significant.
Adults will not be uncomfortable back there, even with the panoramic sunroof, because headroom is sufficient. The back seats should offer a nice view out, and the sunroof helps to replicate a light and airy sensation.
The center console storage area is big enough to hold things, the door bins are adequate in size, and there’s a phone tray ahead of the gear lever. The Interior storage on the CX-60 is very good.
Boot space
Plug-in hybrids generally take up less room than regular vehicles. Mazda has yet to announce updated boot dimensions for the diesel models, so we’ll have to wait and see if that’s the case with the CX-60.
The Q5 TFSI e has a capacity of 570 liters when the back seats are in place, which is some way north of the Q5 TFSI’s 450-liter cargo bay; Mazda does include the underfloor storage area in that figure.
The Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6 Tourer estate both provide around 520 liters of boot space, making it the biggest boot in any current Mazdas. A 1,726-liter space is accessible when the seats are removed. The boot cover rises up with the tailgate, and there’s a mesh partition that may be utilized as a dog barrier.
We believe there should be more hooks and straps to keep your stuff in place when the back seats are collapsed individually using levers placed in the trunk. If you’re in a CX-60, you can fire unrestricted items around corners.
Towing Capacity
Regardless of which Mazda CX-60 you choose, a medium-sized caravan or car trailer will suffice, since all may tow a load of 2,500kg. One of the CX-60’s five driving modes is a special towing mode.
Reliability and Safety
The Mazda CX-60 is a completely new platform, and it is the first plug-in hybrid from the Japanese brand. As a result, judging how dependable the CX-60 will be is difficult, although Mazda has put as much effort into its engineering as it has its interior, so owners should have few issues.
We were informed that by the time customer automobiles were ready to be delivered, the creaks and rattles in our early test automobile would have been fixed; there were no additional worries about the automobile’s construction quality.
Mazda has a chance to beat its rivals by making hybrids more dependable. Mazda owners praised the cars’ dependability in our 2022 Driver Power survey, and its petrol engines have a good reputation for longevity.
Reliability
The Mazda CX-60 has not yet been included in our Driver Power data, but the indicators point to yes. With top-10 rankings for exterior design, ride, and handling, dependability, and infotainment, our readers voted the Mazda CX-5 the second-greatest vehicle to own of all new vehicles on sale.
Mazda was ranked seventh out of 29 brands in terms of brand performance. In the first year of ownership, over 25% of owners reported problems, although these may have been minor problems that were quickly resolved given the CX-5’s high score in this area.
Safety
After crash-testing, Euro NCAP gave the CX-60 it’s five-star rating, with a particularly high score of 91% in the child occupant category.
Only the safety assist category was disappointed with a score of 76%, but both adult and pedestrian safety scored highly.
Despite the fact that there are lots of safety tech incorporated, such as blind-spot monitoring, speed limit assist, autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, and lane-keeping assistance.
The car can practically drive itself on a highway or dual roadway thanks to the optional Driver Assistance pack, which includes even more safety features.
The car may nearly drive itself on a highway when specs the Driver Assist package, which adds even more safety functions.
Final Verdict
Overall, the Mazda CX-60 is a reliable and safe car. With good scores in our exterior design, handling, ride, and dependability categories as well as crash tests that are especially favorable for child occupants, it would be hard to find a better vehicle on the market.
Mazda CX-5 was voted the second greatest car to own of all new vehicles on sale. With good scores in our exterior design, handling, ride, and dependability categories as well as crash tests that are especially favorable for child occupants, it would be hard to find a better vehicle on the market.
Owners Comments
Mazda CX 60 Performance: “I adore my CX-60 PHEV. The ride and handling of the automobile are superb. Anybody looking for an inexpensive luxury automobile should definitely consider this vehicle.”
“The Mazda CX-60 is a fantastic vehicle in every way: comfortable, useful, and efficient!” The plug-in hybrid feature is something that I really like!”
