Mazda enters the larger section of the mid-sized SUV segment with this very premium-feeling CX-60. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

The Mazda CX-60 aims to establish Mazda in the premium part of the upper mid-sized SUV segment. In this, it'll be aided by sharp driving dynamics, a refreshing different and rather classy cabin and the option of a PHEV powertrain with a 39 mile driving range. It's more affordable than obvious rivals, better equipped - and really rather different.

Background

Mazda thinks differently - and continues to do so with this car, CX-60. This SUV is the largest model the brand has made in recent times and in this Plug-in Hybrid form, the fastest too. The platform's all-new and there's a hand-finished 'Crafted in Japan' design ethos that the company hopes will propel this car into contention with premium rivals.

Previous Mazda followers will be interested to see if the brand's usual sharp handling has been preserved by this 2.1-tonne SUV; the company promises it's snappily-titled 'Skyactiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture' platform will help deliver that. It's a chassis that's made possible the introduction of a PHEV powertrain - the company's very first. And a pair of more conventionally-electrified 'M hybrid' mild hybrid petrol and diesel units. So, Mazda is going up-market, in product size, image quality and luxury. Can cars like this one support that move?

Driving Experience

Mazda has correctly identified that, with a couple of exceptions, upper mid-sized SUVs are generally pretty uninspiring to drive. So enormous efforts have been made here to deliver something a bit more engaging. This CX-60's stiff new 'Skyactiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture' platform helps here. Plus to that new chassis, the engineers have built in a clever corner-stabilising system lately added to the MX-5 sports car - Mazda calls it 'Kinetic Posture Control'. It all sounds quite promising, particularly as the engines are new too, all of them, in typical Mazda style, bucking the industry trend for low capacity sizing and turbocharged tech. All are linked to a freshly-developed 8-speed auto gearbox, which ditches the usual torque converter in favour of a multi-plate clutch and an integrated electric motor/generator.

Most customers will want the Plug-in Hybrid model we tried, which mates a 2.5-litre petrol engine to a 175PS electric motor powered by a 17.8kWh battery which, when fully charged, offers an EV driving range of up to 39 miles. The system output is 327PS, the highest of any Mazda yet made and enough to get you to 62mph in just 5.8s. It's also enough to give some credence to the brand's claim that this car puts the 'Sport' back into SUV. If you don't want your CX-60 to be a PHEV, two other engines are available, both of them non-plug-in powerplants, the 3.0-litre e-Skyactiv X petrol and the 3.3-litre e-Skyactiv D diesel, the latter available in rear-driven as well as AWD forms. Both are large capacity six cylinder units and each also features electrification but it's of the much less significant mild hybrid kind.

Design and Build

You'd certainly recognise this as a Mazda - which might not necessarily be a good thing for this car's premium aspirations, particularly as it might be mistaken for the company's mid-sized CX-5 SUV at first glance. It's actually quite a lot bigger than one of those. The styling is heavily influenced by the brand's 2017 'Vision Coupe' concept, but features a flatter treatment for the front end and, obviously since it's a crossover, quite a different profile silhouette.

Inside, Mazda's usual 'Jinba Ittai' ('horse and rider') driver-focused design philosophy prevails, but here it's been upgraded with higher quality materials and greater attention to detail. Pricier trim levels get you niceties like a facial recognition feature that uses a camera to adjust seat and steering wheel position based on the driver's physique. What we like most about Mazda cabins though, are the exemplary ergonomics, enhanced here by the way that the new slim 8-speed auto gearbox has minimised transmission tunnel width, allowing for near-ideal pedal and seat placement.

As usual for the class, a decent-sized boot that’s 477-litres in size.

Market and Model

The CX-60 PHEV variant is offered in the UK in three well specified trim grades: 'Exclusive-Line' (priced from around £45,500), 'Homura' (priced from around £48,000) and 'Takumi' (priced from around £49,500). If you'd prefer the 3.3-litre mild hybrid diesel model, prices start from around £43,000 for the 200PS model with base 'Exclusive-Line' trim and rear wheel drive. You can also have a CX-60 diesel with the same 'Exclusive-Line' trim and AWD, plus a higher-output 254PS engine, priced from just over £45,500 - or from just under £51,000 in top 'Takumi' trim.

Across the range, customer choice is further enhanced with the ability to add two option packs - the 'Convenience Pack' and the 'Driver Assistance Pack', with a further 'Comfort Pack' available with base 'Exclusive-Line' trim. There's the additional option to specify a Panoramic roof on 'Homura' and 'Takumi' models. To give you some class perspective, rival Lexus NX 450+ and BMW X3 xDrive30e models start at around £50,000.

Cost of Ownership

The CO2 efficiency figures for the PHEV version are rated between 33 and 37g/km, which entitles owners to a low 12% Benefit-in-Kind tax banding. The combined cycle fuel figure - 188.3mpg - is as real world-irrelevant as it is with any other PHEV. Indeed, if you don't regularly plug the thing in, you'll just be driving about in quite a heavy petrol-powered SUV, which isn't a very frugal thing at all. But if you make use of the 39 mile all-electric driving range, then you can expect this car to be about as frugal as a good SUV diesel in this class. Charging time from a 7.2kW garage wallbox (20-80%) should be about one and a half hours.

We should additionally mention the warranty, the usual unremarkable Mazda three year / 60,000 mile package. You can manage maintenance with a useful 'My Mazda App', which can give you reminders about servicing and through which you can book your car in at your local dealership and access a digitally-stored record of your model's service history.

Summary

This Mazda is considerably more affordable than its more established premium segment mid-sized SUV rivals, particularly in the PHEV form that most customers here will want. It'll be a pity if all of this worthy effort is shipwrecked on the rocks of badge snobbery. The CX-60 deserves better. Over to you.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Mazda CX-60

PRICES: £45,420 - £49,520 {PHEV}

CATEGORY: SUV – PREMIUM (D SEGMENT) / PLUG-IN HYBRID COMPACT

INSURANCE GROUPS: 39A

CO2 EMISSIONS: 33g/km

PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph 5.8s / Max speed 125mph

FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 188.3mpg

BOOT CAPACITY: [litres] 477

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4745/1890/1675 mm