The Mazda CX-60 is the brand’s first-ever plug-in hybrid, and is designed to go head-to-head with premium SUVs such as the BMW X3.
Update: Pricing and specifications for the full CX-60 range in Australia has now been announced.
With the new CX-60, Mazda is placing Audi and BMW squarely in its sights. The company is moving upmarket to face premium German brands, and the CX-60 brings a sumptuous cabin, hybrid power, and a sleek design to the table to rival the BMW X3. The flagship SUV is on sale now in Europe and will be on sale in Australia later this year.
The CX-60 is larger than the CX-5 crossover and features an evolution of Mazda’s ‘Kodo’ design language that majors on simplicity and cleverly reflective surfacing. The bluff front end features a large, winged radiator grille that blends into the headlights with slim LED running light strips (which double as indicators), in keeping with Mazda’s current family face.
Sharp grooves pick out the wheel arches and side sills, although the rest of the design is mostly clutter free. There’s a subtle twist in the bodywork along the flanks, with a pair of elongated tai-llights, quad exhaust tips and a roof spoiler finishing off the rear end – fitting for what will be Mazda’s most powerful series production car ever.
The CX-60 features brand-new powertrains across the range. From launch, it will be offered only as a plug-in hybrid, pairing a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for a total of 241kW. Drive is sent to all-four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, allowing the CX-60 to sprint to 100km/h from rest in just 5.8 seconds.
The electric motor is powered by a 17.8kWh battery which can be topped up in four hours from a home wallbox. Mazda claims that the CX-60 can drive up to 60km in pure-electric mode, at speeds of up to 100km/h, while the brand quotes efficiency of 1.5L/100km and 33g/km of CO2.
At the end of this year, Mazda will launch a 3.3-litre in-line six-cylinder diesel with 48V mild-hybrid tech. A 3.0-litre straight-six petrol model will follow in 2023, again with a mild-hybrid system and Mazda’s Skyactiv X spark-compression-ignition technology. These engines are compatible with both rear and four-wheel drive configurations.
The CX-60 uses Mazda’s Skyactiv Scalable Architecture, and adopts the Kinematic Posture Control system from the MX-5 sports car. This applies the brakes to the inside rear wheel to contain body roll, and the batteries for the hybrid system are mounted between the CX-60’s front and rear axles for more composed handling. The driver can choose between Normal, Sport, Off-Road, Towing and EV modes depending on the scenario, and Hill Decent Control allows the car to creep down steep, slippery slopes.
The CX-60’s cabin continues the premium theme, with top-spec cars trimmed in high-quality fabric, wood and leather. The multi-layered dashboard design features metal accents, too, along with a set of physical climate controls. A click wheel-operated widescreen infotainment display is joined by a fully digital instrument panel.
Despite the packaging complications of the hybrid system, the CX-60 offers 570 litres of boot capacity, which is on par with its rivals.
The car can be specified in three trim levels (overseas, Australian specification is yet to be confirmed): Exclusive-Line, Homura, and the top-spec Takumi model. Exclusive-Line cars start from £43,950 (AUD$79,000), with the Homura and Takumi variants priced at £46,700 (AUD$84,000) and £48,050 (AUD$86,500) respectively.
The base car gets 18-inch wheels and black body cladding, with Homura spec adding black 20-inch wheels, body-coloured wheel arches, black door mirrors and darkened front grille trim. Inside, the second-tier model gets additional kit including heated rear seats, ambient lighting and an automatic seat adjustment system.
The range-topping Takumi gets body colour door mirrors, along with a gloss black grille mesh and chrome trim for the grille surround and side window trim.
The cheapest CX-60 Exclusive-Line is the only version available with the Comfort Pack, which brings 20-inch alloys, electric, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. The automatic driving position function is also included.
A panoramic sunroof can be specified with Homura and Takumi models, along with two option bundles. A Convenience Pack brings tinted glass, wireless phone charging and a ‘see-through view’ 360-degree parking camera, allowing the driver to view the position of the car from the inside-out on the infotainment screen. A Driver Assistance Pack adds a host of active safety technology.
The above specifications are an indication of what is available on overseas market versions but Mazda Australia is still a way from confirming the local line-up, prices, and what specifications each trim level will have.
The Mazda CX-60 is expected to arrive in Australia later this year. So far, the company has said: “Mazda Australia is confirmed to release the First-Ever Mazda CX-60 in 2022. Further details including price and local specification will be unveiled closer to launch.”
Yousuf Ashraf