The first in line of many new SUV products from Mazda, the CX-60 holds the weight of the Japanese brand on its shoulders. We get an early look-in at this latest entrant to the Mazda line-up in Portugal.
- Upmarket cabin a glimpse into Mazdas of the future
- Impressive noise suppression inside the cabin
- Frugal and powerful powertrain gives the best of both worlds
- Low-speed jerkiness
- Only marginally more space than a CX-5
- Switch between petrol and electric not the most refined
Introduction
According to Mazda the new 2022 Mazda CX-60 is one of the most important cars for the Japanese manufacturer in the last decade. Perhaps even more so than the ever-popular CX-9, and even above the brand’s first-ever electric car, the MX-30.
So the 2022 CX-60 is a big deal. It’s the first model to be underpinned by an all-new platform, which will go on to form the basis for three extra SUVs in the near future.
Like its CX-5 stablemate, the CX-60 is a mid-size SUV. However, it will sit above the known-and-loved CX-5 as a more premium offering in the Mazda line-up.
There could be some pricing overlap between the two cars – we don’t know the full pricing and specification yet – but it will elevate above Mazda’s current CX-5 by featuring nicer materials, frugal new powertrains, and strong levels of standard equipment.
Also interesting for the CX-60 is a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, which Mazda was keen to show off at the car’s European launch. Billed as the flagship powertrain offering of the range, the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine stocks suitably impressive outputs thanks to its pairing with a 17.8kWh battery.
Although Mazda has released a full electric car before, the CX-60 PHEV is Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid. This is said to return a fuel consumption rating as low as 1.6L/100km, according to European testing.
Not only is it frugal, but this powertrain is a performance powerhouse! It pumps out combined outputs of 241kW and 500Nm which is sent to all four wheels by a new eight-speed multi-clutch transmission developed by Mazda itself.
These outputs propel the CX-60 PHEV from zero to 100km/h in a scant 5.8 seconds, while the car can also do 60 kilometres on electric power alone, according to Mazda.
Put simply, it’s the most powerful production Mazda car ever.
While we didn’t expect Mazda’s most powerful car to come from the SUV variety, it certainly makes for an interesting proposition which is why Mazda flew us to Portugal to attend the European launch of the vehicle.
| Key details | 2022 Mazda CX-60 PHEV |
| Price (MSRP) | Starting from $55,000 (estimated) |
| Colour of test car | Soul Red Crystal |
| Rivals | Lexus NX450h+ | Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | BMW X3 xDrive 30e |
Inside
Slotting into Mazda’s SUV line-up above the CX-5, the CX-60 features slightly more space inside its cabin and feels a higher tier in terms of presentation and equipment. While not the flagship top-specification Takumi variant, the Homura variant on test is also a high model grade of the CX-60 range and features leather upholstery, ambient cabin lighting, power-adjustable steering column, hands-free power tailgate, heated/ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof, and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
While the above items may not be available in every CX-60 in Australia, it does give you an idea of what you your CX-60 could look like. Australian specification cars will be named under a more familiar scheme, forgoing the Prime-line, Exclusive-Line, Homura, and Takumi grades of international markets.
But materials and finishes used on the whole were of a high quality and feel great to the touch. Dash, door cards, and glovebox were all covered in soft-touch materials, while metallic-effect accent trim livens up the cabin. An expansive sunroof lets in a lovely light in the day time, while ambient lighting features brighten up the cabin in the dark.
Space-wise the CX-60 is a comfortable SUV with adequate space, whether you’re driving about town or on longer journeys. There is room about the front row and you do feel a fair way from the passenger in the opposite side, while there’s good adjustability between the seats and steering wheel to find the perfect spot.
The caveat to this is the wide centre console which does cut into legroom for taller occupants. This wouldn’t be the worst aspect in the world if the CX-60 featured a larger amount of storage, but there is a fair bit of wasted space that could have included one or two extra slots. There is a handy spot in front of the shifter for small items while the centre console is a dual-door space with a deep cavity for larger bits and pieces.
Second row space is accessed through a wide-opening rear door which reminds of the MX-30. In any case this tester was happy with the room on offer in the back seats. Knee room is decent, headroom is fair, and there’s a good amount of space side to side. The outboard rear seats were heated in the test car, while it also featured a mains power port.
Further back you’ll find a 570-litre boot space which is very square in its shape, not overly impeded by wheel wells or body panels. The load lip is low enough that you don’t have to lift items too high.
| 2022 Mazda CX-60 PHEV | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 570L seats up / 1726L seats folded |
| Length | 4745mm |
| Width | 1890mm |
| Height | 1680mm |
| Wheelbase | 2870mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
The CX-60 gets a 12.3-inch fully-digital instrument cluster – a first for the brand – and an equal-sized infotainment screen which runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The infotainment system is the same Mazda Connect system which runs in cars such as the CX-30 and Mazda 3. It’s simple to use thanks to a rotary dial controller, and the enlarged 12.3-inch screen displays all information well.
Like earlier Mazda systems, the CX-60 re-introduces touchscreen functionality when stationary, making it easier to input addresses or flick through CarPlay when stopped, reverting to the rotary controller when on the go.
Two new interesting aspects – making their debut with the CX-60 – regard its Driver Personalisation and See-through View camera systems. The former involves cameras which identify a driver’s eye-line and address a suitable driving position, while the latter makes it easier to see through the car when manoeuvring it into a parking space.
Safety & Technology
It’s too soon in the CX-60’s life for it to have been crash-tested by any regulatory body, but Mazda is eyeing a five-star safety rating.
It expects to achieve such a score with equipment such as autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian/cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, and safe exit warning.
With regard to driveability the CX-60 equips a full EV mode accessed by a new Mi-Drive selector which changes the car’s character. It also has hill descent control and a battery control mode which can preserve the car’s battery for a later date and run on petrol for the interim.
Value for Money
Without the car launching in Australia we can’t comment on what the CX-60 will be like in terms of service cost or price comparison with other vehicles. We can say that the CX-60 is targeting a new premium space which could include the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, and Lexus NX. However, price will play an important role in how this move upmarket is perceived.
On test the CX-60 returned a 1.9L/100km fuel rating on a rural drive loop. Mazda claims 1.5L/100km officially, with the 60km electric range helping minimise fuel use for the first 100km of travel.
Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp
| Fuel Usage | Fuel Stats |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 1.5L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 1.9L/100km |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel tank size | 50L |
Driving
Mazda is intent that despite the car’s luxurious push upmarket, the CX-60 should remain as dynamic as Mazdas have become known for. Heading-up that claim is the car’s 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine, bolstered by a 17.8kWh battery. It certainly feels like you get the whole 241kW/500Nm outputs delivered to the ground, with excellent traction and grip thanks to a reassuring all-wheel drive system.
It does take some time for the car to acknowledge a full kick-down acceleration so overtakes should be timed accordingly, though once you’re in the power band there is a solid shove of power. Of course, as a 2070kg (kerb) SUV, it can only be so agile, but the CX-60 does make the best of its big body in terms of dynamism.
Mazda’s new eight-speed transmission, (with a multi-clutch pack, in place of a more traditional torque converter, like some AMG cars) does exhibit some nervousness at lower speeds, as it tries to figure out what to do. This is exacerbated by the switch between petrol and battery power which isn’t the most refined hand-over, though this goes away at higher speeds.
In addition to this there were a few subdued clunks and squeaks from the driveline but we’re assured these issues will be ironed out in production models. Mazda only provided pre-production cars for this early test drive.
Ride control errs on the side of firm, a common trait of Mazda vehicles. With that said, the new dual wishbone front/multilink rear suspension can dispatch speedhumps and larger impacts easily. It only really annoys over smaller road imperfections which feel a bit brittle as they’re translated through to the cabin. Steering weight has a heavier feel which is lovely to wield once on a backroad.
The CX-60 grips incredibly well through corners and is a fun thing to peddle around when you’re on the right road. It employs the same Kinematic Posture Control as the 2022 MX-5 which applies brake force to opposing wheels through corners to counteract body roll. This recovers the car’s posture when going around bends and gives better traction.
The result is a car which feels very driver-centric in its abilities.
Despite its larger size, it’s still quite simple to manoeuvre in suburbia. Vision out through the cabin is good with a nice glasshouse and handy cameras to help you place the car. Seat comfort is plush for longer drives, but it could do with some more bolstering to hold you in through corners.
One thing Mazda should be commended on is the impressive quietness of the cabin when on the move. It feels suitably high-end at all speeds, with next to no wind noise or vibrations felt inside the cabin.
| Key details | 2022 Mazda CX-60 PHEV |
| Engine | 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol with 17.8kWh battery |
| Power | 141kW @ 6000rpm petrol 100kW electric 241kW combined |
| Torque | 261Nm @ 4000rpm petrol 250Nm electric 500Nm combined |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Eight-speed multi-clutch automatic |
| Power to weight ratio | 116.4kW/t |
| Weight (kerb) | 2070kg |
| Tow rating | 2500kg braked |
Conclusion
At first look, the new Mazda CX-60 is an interesting prospect for the brand in Australia. It occupies a new space in the market for Mazda, elevating it to compete against high-flying rivals such as the Lexus NX and BMW X3 plug-in hybrids. They are some impressive cars in their own right, so pricing will play an important role in how we view the CX-60 PHEV in the future.
With an impressive cabin featuring a new design and nice materials, as well as its frugal powertrain, this CX-60 is an impressive first-entry for the Japanese manufacturer. Provided Mazda can clean-up some of those quirky noises and awkwardness of the powertrain, this will be a convincing car in a plug-in hybrid SUV segment which is only set to gain in popularity.
We’ll know more about the CX-60 in due course as it makes its way to Australia later in 2022, but for now it’s a promising first look at not only the CX-60, but the Large Architecture in general – which we hope Australia will garner more Mazda products from.
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