Mazda

CX-60

The Mazda CX-60 is a flagship SUV that will be vying for sales with the premium German marques. It looks dynamic in its styling, is packed with high-end tech and really delivers when it comes to performance too.

The good

Styling, quality, performance and handling

The bad

Will the price scare off the customers?

Tech Specs

Price from

£42,990

Combined Fuel up to

188.3mpg (39 EV miles)

0-62 from

5.8 seconds

max speed up to

124mph

co2 from

33g/km

Test Drive

Mazda CX-60 3.3 Diesel AWD Homura(2024)

There’s nothing quite so reassuring as getting behind the wheel of a diesel-powered car when you are facing a four-hour journey and that, for me, was exactly where the Mazda CX-60 scored its first points.

That’s because, unlike many other manufacturers that are totally focused on electric or hybrid technology, Mazda has not given up hope on diesel. In fact, quite the opposite as the Japanese company has developed an all-new 3.3-litre diesel engine that will drive its larger models further down the line.

The flagship CX-60 SUV was the first vehicle to gain the new engine and it is available in trim levels called Exclusive Line, Homura and Takumi. We opted for the CX-60 Homura with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, costing £50,720. The price was increased to £53,270 with the introduction of specialist paint, along with a Convenience and Driver Assistance Pack.

With 254PS and 550Nm of torque, the test car could complete the 0-62mph sprint in a very respectable 7.4 seconds and topped out at 136mph while delivering combined fuel economy of 54.3mpg under WLTP testing with carbon emissions of 138g/km.

There’s no denying the fact the CX-60 has a really strong road presence  with its muscular styling. Eye-catching features on the five-door model include a gloss black honeycomb-effect grille, body-coloured wheel arch mouldings, sweeping light clusters, gloss black wing mirrors, tinted windows and 20-inch black metallic alloys.

Moving inside, the interior is modern, clutter-free and very driver focused. Designed with high-end fixtures and fittings throughout, expect to find fully powered seats and an electrically-adjustable steering wheel, front seats that can be heated or cooled, plus heat settings for the steering wheel and outer rear seats.

There is a chunky gear lever along with a practical dial to navigate the features on the 12.3-inch infotainment screen. Separate buttons offer quick access and the tech available includes sat nav, wireless smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a 12-speaker Bose surround sound system, DAB radio, Bluetooth and plenty more besides.

There is a separate panel to easily access and control all the climate settings, and behind the steering wheel, the 12.3-inch driver information display features three clear circular dials where all the vital driving data is easily viewed. The car also boasted a head-up display.

A Driver Personalisation System makes its debut on the CX-60 and it uses facial recognition to identify the driver when they take their seat behind the steering wheel. If activated, it will automatically adjust the seat, steering wheel, temperature, mirrors, head-up display and radio station to all the stored favourites for that person.

When it comes to performance, the CX-60 is deceptively agile for a family SUV that stretches 4.75 metres in length and weighs in at just under two tonnes. It fizzes through the twisting B roads with excellent grip and minimal sign of body roll. The acceleration through the eight-speed gearbox is both smooth and responsive and there are steering wheel mounted paddles for added driver engagement too.

Drive modes (or Mi Drive as Mazda calls them), alter the driving characteristics of the vehicle and these are called Sport, Normal and Off-Road, the latter of which benefits from the car’s all-wheel drive set-up.

The CX-60 is a confident motorway cruiser sitting comfortably at 70mph and that fuel gauge drops a fraction at a time thanks to the highly efficient diesel powertrain.

Excellent driver visibility and impressive agility make the vehicle ideal for city driving too and there are all manner of sensers, cameras and driver assistance aids to help squeeze into a tight bay.

Refinement levels impress with barely a sound filtering into the cabin and the vehicle’s effective suspension set-up does a very worthy job of smoothing out the uneven road surfaces along the way.

With active families in mind, the CX-60 needs to cover all the practicality bases and it does exactly that. There is bundles of room up front for a couple of six-foot-plus adults and rear passenger space is ideal for a trio of occupants.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and can swallow 570 litres of luggage – a capacity that increases to 1,726 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. Elsewhere there is a glovebox, deep central cubby, front and rear cup holders, door bins with room for a bottle, seat back pockets, trays, a sunglasses holder and a small hidden compartment next to the driver’s door.

And with its towing limit of 2.5 tonnes, along with that AWD, caravan holidays will be a popular option.

When you also factor in the comprehensive list of safety systems that helped the CX-60 secure a maximum five-star rating from Euro NCAP, this range-topping Mazda is quite the all-rounder.

While many so-called experts are often heard claiming diesel engines are a thing for the history books, Mazda has proved that further development is still worth exploring. And that’s a move that anyone driving thousands of motorway miles every year will be applauding and welcoming with open arms.

Test Drive

Mazda CX-60 3.3 254PS AWD Takumi Auto (2023)

Mazda has a reputation for developing vehicles that deliver on the performance front, while still keeping a watchful eye on the environment.

Over recent years, the Japanese carmaker has introduced us to all manner of clever initiatives designed to improve the driver’s experience behind the wheel, yet still achieving class-leading economy and efficiency along the way.

So, fair to say, the introduction of a brand new six-cylinder, 3.3-litre diesel engine at a time when most engineers are giving that technology a swerve, came as a little surprise. But this is Mazda and that engine, which has been specifically built for the larger vehicles in the company line-up, is the most efficient and cleanest unit in production globally.

There are two power outputs available offering either 197bhp or 250bhp. While all-wheel drive is standard, the smaller engine can also be specified with rear-wheel drive. Plug-in hybrid technology with a 2.5-litre petrol engine and 17.8kWh battery is also available, along with the promise that further petrol versions will be introduced a little later on.

Customers gets a wide choice of generously-equipped trim levels to choose from called Exclusive Line, Homura and Takumi and we opted for the range-topping CX-60 in Takumi specification powered by the mighty 3.3-litre diesel engine with 250bhp. This all-wheel drive model cost £50,730 but the price increased to £53,530 with the addition of Soul Red Crystal paintwork that really looked the business, along with a Convenience and Driver Assistance Pack.

With 550Nm of torque, the test car could reach 62mph from a standing start in 7.4 seconds and maxed out at 136mph. According to official figures, under WLTP testing, it achieves a combined 54.3mpg with carbon emissions of 139g/km. Those stats are all the more impressive when you take into account the CX-60 can tow a caravan or trailer weighing up to 2.5 tonnes.

The CX-60 is a five-door, five-seat, full-sized SUV that boasts a strong road presence, especially if spotted with the stunning Soul Red Crystal paintwork that seems to change shade according to the sunlight. Striking design cues include powerful curves, a distinctive honeycomb-effect gloss black grille, LED headlights with high beam assist, a large sculpted bonnet, panoramic sunroof, chrome window surrounds, twin tailpipes, privacy glass and 20-inch black machined alloy wheels.

Moving inside, the interior is beautifully designed with the finest fixtures and fittings throughout. Mazda takes its inspiration from its Japanese heritage, so expect to find soft Nappa leather seats, woven fabric with white Maple wood accents, door fabrics that react differently to varying light, heated and ventilated front seats that are powered, a heated and electrically-adjustable steering wheel, heated rear seats and lots more besides.

On-board tech is plentiful and includes a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, 12.3-inch driver information screen, a 12-speaker Bose surround sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, sat nav, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and Mazda Radar Cruise Control amongst other systems.

There is also a Driver Personalisation System making its debut in the CX-60 that uses facial recognition to identify the driver when they take their seat behind the steering wheel. If activated, it will automatically adjust the seat, steering wheel, mirrors, head-up display, temperature and radio station to the stored favourites for that person.

Comfort levels are sublime and this is a diesel-powered car you will happily clock up high motorway mileage in and still arrive refreshed at the other end.

The acceleration through the eight-speed automatic gearbox is sharp with a constant stream of power on tap and the road holding is confident through twisting country lanes with barely any sign of body sway.

A Mi-Drive switch allows you to choose your drive mode with Normal and Sport available on rear-wheel drive models and the AWD cars gaining Off-Road and Towing settings.

With great all-round visibility and impressive agility, the CX-60 also deals with more congested town centre driving with all manner of parking assist systems to help you squeeze safely into the tightest of gaps.

Passenger space is impressive with plenty of room in the back for three occupants and, as this car is billed as a family SUV, it needs to tick all the right practicality boxes. It does exactly that with a boot, accessed via an automatic tailgate, that can accommodate 570 litres of luggage, increasing to 1,726 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats folded forward.

Elsewhere there is a glovebox, door bins with room for a bottle, a deep central cubby box, front and rear cup holders, trays, seat back pockets, a sunglasses holder and a small compartment hidden beside the driver’s door.

When you also factor in the comprehensive list of safety equipment and driver assistance aids that helped the CX-60 secure a maximum five-star rating from Euro NCAP, this range-topping model is definitely the complete all-rounder.

Test drive

Mazda CX-60 Diesel – First Drive (2023)

It’s always nice when someone bucks a trend and moves away from the norm and that’s exactly what Mazda has just done.

While the majority of manufacturers are charging headlong into a greener, cleaner future with plug-in hybrids and EVs, Mazda has just invested in the development of a massive 3.3-litre diesel engine that will be suitable for its larger models.

The first car to gain this powertrain is the flagship CX-60 which was launched last year with PHEV technology. We were told at the time, more traditional engines would follow and, true to their word, we are starting to see them.

The five-door, five-seat CX-60 has a really strong road presence and now it has the engine to match with the newly-developed straight six, 3.3-litre, 48-volt mild-hybrid diesel engine with an option between two power outputs.

At the lower end of the line is the 197bhp E-Skyactiv D unit and this can be matched to the entry level Exclusive Line car which is rear-wheel drive only. At the higher end of the scales is the 250bhp E-Skyactiv D unit with all-wheel drive and this will be available across the CX-60 range with trims called Exclusive Line, Homura and Takumi. Prices range from £42,990 to £50,730.

We tested the lower-powered car, costing £42,990, on a challenging route around Barcelona, incorporating motorways, twisting mountain roads and busier town centre driving. At the end of a 200km run, we were seeing an impressive average of 53.0mpg.

The acceleration through the eight-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and responsive with steering wheel-mounted paddles for added driver engagement. And this car with 450Nm of torque, has notable performance stats with a 0-62mph sprint time of 8.4 seconds and top speed of 131mph. Officially, it can deliver a combined 47.0mpg with carbon emissions of 128-130g/km, but we did see better without trying too hard.

You will notice a little body movement if driven particularly hard into tighter bends, but considering the car’s high-sided design, it’s not really surprising. The road grip is impressive and so is the refinement with the finely tuned suspension set-up smoothing out any bumps and dips along the way. It’s worth remembering though, we were driving in Spain where the road surfaces are far smoother than here in the UK.

The challenging steep mountain climbs posed no issue for the car and its all-round agility, along with good driver visibility, was great in busier settings with cars and pedestrians darting out from all angles.

There is an Mi-Drive switch that allows you to choose the drive mode with Normal and Sport available on rear-wheel drive models and the AWD cars gaining Off-Road and Towing settings.

As we mentioned, the CX-60 is a great looking car boasting a powerful design with muscular lines, a honeycomb-effect gloss black grille, a panoramic sunroof, LED light clusters, tinted windows and 20-inch black alloys.

Moving inside, it’s difficult to ignore the high-end build quality with premium fixtures and fittings throughout. The seats, along with the steering wheel, are power-adjustable and the seats can also be heated or ventilated. The chunky gearstick looks fabulous and there is a separate control panel to access all the climate settings.

The main focal point is a 12.3-inch central infotainment display with features accessed and controlled via a rotary dial. There are buttons to offer quick access to the likes of the radio and navigation system and expect to find a first class audio system, sat nav, wireless smartphone connectivity, over-the-air updates and lots more besides.

The driver display, behind the steering wheel, features three clear circular dials displaying the main driving data, including speed and fuel efficiency. All very simple, but effective too.

And special mention to the clever Driver Personalisation System that makes its debut in the CX-60. It identifies the driver via facial recognition when they take their seat behind the steering wheel and, if activated, will automatically adjust the seat, steering wheel, mirrors, temperature, head-up display and radio station to all the stored favourites for that person.

The CX-60 needs to cover all the practicality bases and certainly ticks all those boxes. Rear passenger space is ideal for a trio of occupants and the headroom impresses thanks to the car’s high roofline. The boot can swallow 570 litres of kit, increasing to 1,726 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats folded flat. Elsewhere there is a deep central cubby box, front and rear cup holders, trays, a glovebox, door bins with room for a bottle, seat back pockets, a sunglasses holder and a small compartment hidden next to the driver’s door.

And when you factor in the wealth of safety equipment and driver assistance aids that helped the CX-60 secure a maximum five-star rating from Euro NCAP, this range-topping Mazda is quite the all-rounder.

While many would say the diesel engine is dead in the water nowadays, Mazda has proved that further development is still worth exploring, especially as this new powertrain is 24 per cent more efficient than the diesel engine in the smaller and lighter Mazda CX-5.

Test Drive

Mazda CX-60 – First Drive (2022)

Mazda has launched a direct attack on the German marques with the arrival of its striking five-door flagship model, the CX-60.

While the Japanese carmaker has always been renowned for building top-quality vehicles, this latest model takes things to a whole new level.

At the moment, there is just one plug-in hybrid version mated to an eight-speed fully automatic gearbox, although there will be more traditional petrol and diesel variants to follow.

But buyers can select from generously-equipped trim levels called Exclusive-Line, Homura and Takuma with prices starting from £43,950.

We tested the mid-trim Homura all-wheel drive model which, according to Mazda, is likely to be the most popular. This car cost £46,700 although a few options saw the final price creep up to £50,700.

Driving the CX-60 is a powerful 2.5-litre petrol engine with a 17.8kWH battery feeding the electric motor. This results in 327PS of power and 500Nm of torque which, in turn, results in a 0-62mph sprint time of just 5.8 seconds with a top speed of 124mph.

With the battery positioned centrally and low down, the CX-60 is beautifully grounded and that makes for excellent driving dynamics through twisting B roads where the grip is unfaltering with no sign of body movement.

The eight-speed transmission is well-timed and there are paddles for added driver engagement. Drive modes can be accessed via the Mi-Drive switch and these are called Sport, Normal, EV and Off-road. No prizes for guessing that Sport is the most rewarding with sharpened up responses and a raspier engine note.

It’s a car that cruises with ease at 70mph making long motorway journeys all the more enjoyable and the nicely weighted steering, cushioned ride, balanced dynamics and punchy engine makes this another rewarding driver’s car from Mazda.

In addition, you can adjust the levels of regenerative braking to recoup energy that would otherwise be lost under braking, although even in its strongest setting, single-pedal driving is not possible.

On the downside and they were few and far between, there were a few unexpected jolts along the way. We couldn’t determine for sure whether it was the gearbox or the hybrid system being indecisive, but I’m sure these are just early pre-production model teething issues that will quickly be eradicated.

The CX-60 has a fully electric range of 39 miles provided the car is driven below 62mph and that should easily cover the average daily commute, with the added reassurance of that petrol engine if needed.

According to official figures, the car can deliver a combined 188.3mpg with carbon emissions from 33g/km. The fuel efficiency figure would only be achievable if the vehicle was driven a lot of the time in EV-only mode and charged regularly. Charging the battery takes two hours via a 7kW wallbox charger and all the necessary cables are included with the car.

However, the low carbon emissions figure will bring many financial rewards with low road tax and a generous 12 per cent Benefit in Kind rating for business drivers.

When it comes to styling, the CX-60 has a strong road presence with a honeycomb-effect gloss black grille, panoramic sunroof, LED light clusters, large sculpted bonnet, and 20-inch black alloys. It also featured Soul Red Crystal paintwork as a £900 option, but it helped it really stand out.

Mazda prides itself on its Japanese heritage and its craftsmanship is visible at every turn with the finest materials incorporated to create an elegant, upmarket and clutter-free cabin that is driver-focused.

Expect to find the likes of power-adjustable seats and steering wheel, a 12-speaker Bose surround sound system, a 12.3-inch colour touchscreen offering access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat nav and ambient lighting. A 12.3-inch tft driver information screen and head-up display clearly highlight all the vital driving data.

Although our car was packed with creature comforts, if you step up to Takuma trim it gets even more high-end with beautiful stitching along the dash, maple wood trimmings, along with additional technology.

One really clever feature is the Mazda Driver Personalisation System which works by identifying the driver using facial recognition. Then the system automatically adjusts the seat, mirrors, steering wheel, head-up display along with the climate and audio to your favourite settings when you take your seat.

All dials, controls and readouts are perfectly positioned for ease of use and, with excellent all-round visibility, city centre driving is a breeze.

And that clear visibility is really good news as the CX-60 will likely be a frequent school-drop vehicle with children, scooters, pushchairs and bicycles darting out from all angles.

There is bundles of room in the back of this full-sized SUV for two adults to sit comfortably or three at a bit of a squeeze. The boot can swallow 570 litres of kit, a limit that increases to 1,726 litres with the split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

There are lots of storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin and if camping holidays are your thing, the CX-60 can tow a caravan or trailer weighing up to 2.5 tonnes. The all-wheel drive set-up will come into its own when driving across water drenched campsites too!

Although the car has not yet been tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating, all models are packed with systems and driver aids to protect occupants and other road users alike.

And if the five-seater is not quite large enough for your needs, Mazda will be launching a seven-seater called the CX-80 within the next two years.

All in all, the Mazda CX-60 is a fabulous all-rounder and will be a very viable alternative to the offerings from Audi, BMW and Mercedes.