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Mazda’s quickly proliferating SUV vary should confuse punters, even when the corporate’s native division thinks it doesn’t.
Let’s make it easy, then.
Driving a brand new platform and providing rear-biased all-wheel drive and a spread of recent powertrains, comprising turbocharged inline six petrol and diesel engines and a plug-in hybrid, the Mazda CX-60 is a wholly completely different beast to the equally sized, equally styled CX-5.
The place the CX-5 is a rival for mass-market fare just like the Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander, the CX-60 is focused extra at premium fashions just like the Lexus NX and Audi Q5.
Sure, Mazda is gunning for the massive boys, and it’s doing it with no fancier badge on the grille. It has tried that previously with the Eunos model, and it even deliberate a extra direct Lexus-rivalling nameplate known as Amati within the Nineties. Neither labored out, clearly.
So in contrast to Hyundai with its Genesis model or Toyota with Lexus, the CX-60 will share showroom area with extra humble fare from the corporate. Meaning you’ll see this parked on the store ground subsequent the entrance/all-wheel drive CX-5.
In case you didn’t already know what the distinction between 5 and 60 is, although, you do now.
How a lot does the Mazda CX-60 D50e Azami value?
The CX-60 vary opens at $59,800 earlier than on-road prices for the petrol-powered G40e Evolve, and tops out at $87,500 earlier than on-road prices for the P50e Azami plug-in hybrid with both the SP or Takumi package deal.
Three trim ranges can be found – Evolve, GT and Azami – and every of those can be found with three powertrains: a six-cylinder turbo-petrol, a six-cylinder turbo-diesel, and a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid.
Our tester is a top-spec Azami powered by a diesel (D50e in Mazda parlance), and geared up with the optionally available SP package deal. That makes it one of many priciest CX-60s, with a earlier than on-roads value of $77,000, or a drive-away value north of $80,000.
There’s a bevy of rivals for the CX-60, all of which put on a luxurious nameplate, however the diesel powertrain has fewer direct rivals. As anticipated of one thing with a mass-market badge, this absolutely loaded CX-60 is nearer to base mannequin luxury-brand rivals on value.
These embrace the Audi Q5 40 TDI quattro ($75,500) and Genesis GV70 2.2D Sport Line ($77,388).
Lexus doesn’t supply a diesel-powered mid-sized crossover, however its hybrid NX 350h could be had in all-wheel drive Luxurious guise for $73,850 earlier than on-roads, or in Sports activities Luxurious or F Sport trim for $81,350 earlier than on-roads.
Throughout the mid-sized premium SUV section, solely the BMW X3 can match the CX-60 in providing an inline-six turbo-diesel, however this xDrive30d variant is priced at $104,300 earlier than on-road prices. Even the X3’s four-cylinder xDrive20d turbo-diesel prices greater than this straight-six CX-60, with a earlier than on-roads value of $86,100.
Diesel variations of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Porsche Macan and Volvo XC60 haven’t been out there for a couple of years, the diesel Land Rover Discovery Sport was axed extra just lately, and the brand new Mercedes-Benz GLC has been launched in Australia solely with petrol energy.
What’s the Mazda CX-60 D50e Azami like on the within?
The CX-60 is immediately recognisable as a Mazda inside, but it surely incorporates a extra fashionable look than the cheaper CX-5 – and in top-spec Azami trim with the SP package deal, it has some critical wow issue.
The daring two-tone tan and black inside elevates the CX-60’s good-looking cabin, with suede trim utilized liberally to the sprint and doorways. The 2-tone steering wheel can also be a horny and tactile tiller.
Contact factors are typically wonderful, from the plush leather-based wrapping on the edges of the centre console to the notably squidgy sprint prime. The cabin can also be bereft of gloss black trim, with brushed metal-look trim used as a substitute.
The decrease half of the dashboard and the decrease reaches of the doorways are arduous plastic, neither of which is uncommon for this section. However there are a few gadgets we really feel want enchancment.
The steering wheel switchgear, for instance, is a bit plasticky and the transmission shifter, from the Mazda elements bin, is a bit clunky.
Then there’s the infotainment dial, which feels plasticky and could be simply rocked. Whereas it really works properly, for one thing you’re going to be touching continuously, the rotary dial must really feel of upper high quality. Mazda designers ought to take a look at a Genesis GV70 to see how this half ought to feel and look.
Total, nonetheless, the CX-60’s inside is mostly fairly elegant. It gives a contemporary design that’s arguably extra elegant than an X3 and with out the ocean of gloss-black trim you’ll discover in an NX.
The digital instrument cluster is a chic affair, all the way down to the typefaces chosen. Whereas there’s no map performance like in varied Volkswagen Group and Stellantis merchandise, it has an aesthetic, legible presentation, and has a simulation of Mazda’s conventional analogue devices.
When you’ve adaptive cruise management activated, you see a graphical depiction of the automotive in addition to the vehicles round you. The wi-fi smartphone mirroring proved dependable, however the wi-fi cellphone charger didn’t.
The infotainment display screen lastly consists of contact performance, one thing Mazda had walked away from, however that is solely out there for smartphone mirroring. In any other case it’s basically the identical interface as in different Mazdas, which is not any dangerous factor – it appears to be like modern, and it’s simple to navigate with the rotary dial and shortcut buttons.
Talking of buttons, Mazda has stored an array of them and resisted the temptation to maneuver key capabilities to the infotainment display screen. There’s a full array of switchgear for the local weather management, in addition to precise buttons for the heated and ventilated entrance seats.
The ambient lighting has just one color, so you possibly can’t make the CX-60’s inside appear like a Macau on line casino as you possibly can with a Mercedes-Benz. You possibly can, nonetheless, toggle between low, medium and excessive depth.
Excessive-resolution cameras take away any ambiguity once you’re parking your CX-60, with a transparent view from every of the a number of cameras on the automotive’s exterior.
Storage is so-so. There’s no shelf below the centre console, although the bottle holders can simply swallow 1L bottles. However what’s up with the CX-60’s centre console bin? After I first opened the softly padded cut up lid, I initially thought there was some form of split-level ground for the bin. Why else, I contemplated, would it not seem so shallow at first look?
Seems it’s merely that shallow. Inside, you’ll discover two illuminated USB-C ports, however don’t count on to suit way more than a pair of telephones.
Step into the rear and also you’ll discover area that, whereas not class-leading, is aggressive. There’s adequate legroom and knee room, with the entrance seatbacks scooped out for extra room and completed with smooth padding and map pockets.
Headroom can also be ample for occupants round 180cm tall, regardless of the presence of a panoramic sunroof, and the centre tunnel isn’t so massive as to markedly impede leg room.
There are two USB shops and a 220V/150W outlet within the second row, plus a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. Youngster seats could be secured utilizing the ISOFIX factors on the outboard seats, or the three top-tether factors.
Open the tailgate and also you’ll discover one other 120V outlet, in addition to levers to drop the rear seats and a netted space on one facet to assist hold small gadgets contained. Beneath the boot ground sits a space-saver spare.
Boot area is a claimed 477L together with the underfloor cupboard space with the rear seats upright, and 1726L with the 40/20/40 folding rear bench sitting flat.
The bench doesn’t fold fully flat, nonetheless, and boot area is decrease than in rivals just like the X3, GV70 and NX.
What’s below the bonnet?
The CX-60’s 3.3-litre turbocharged inline-six diesel engine produces 187kW of energy and 500Nm of torque.
It’s mated with a newly developed eight-speed automated transmission, known as Skyactiv-Drive, which substitutes a traditional torque converter for a moist clutch.
As with the CX-60’s inline-six petrol, the diesel incorporates a 48V mild-hybrid system and engine idle cease/begin. The claimed 0-100km/h time is 7.3 seconds.
As anticipated of one thing with better displacement, the CX-60 shades equally priced four-cylinder rivals with regards to energy and torque, if not by fairly as a lot as you may count on. The GV70 has 154kW and 440Nm, the X3 xDrive20d has 140kW and 400Nm, and the Q5 40 TDI has 150kW and 400Nm.
The CX-60’s solely inline-six turbo-diesel rival, the X3 xDrive30d, has it beat on paper with 195kW, 620Nm, and a 0-100km/h time of 5.8 seconds. It’s significantly costlier, although.
Unusually, the CX-60 diesel is rated to tow lower than the petrol mannequin. It has a braked towing capability of 2000kg, whereas the petrol powertrain has 2500kg of capability.
It’s critically thrifty. The official mixed cycle declare is 4.9L/100km and over a loop comprising inner-city, suburban and freeway driving, we averaged 5.5L/100km.
For reference, in an X3 xDrive30d over an nearly similar loop we averaged 7.3L/100km in opposition to a declare of 6.4L/100km.
Over the course of per week, we didn’t see gasoline consumption within the CX-60 rise above 6.0L/100km; on one largely freeway commute to our workplace, we averaged simply 5.2L/100km.
The petrol six’s gasoline economic system is nothing to sneeze at both, with a mixed cycle declare of seven.4L/100km.
So whereas the CX-60 doesn’t supply a smaller four-cylinder possibility like most of its rivals (aside from in Japan, the place a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre is obtainable), whether or not in petrol or diesel guise that is environment friendly.
Think about this: a CX-5, Mazda’s smaller however extra mainstream mid-sized SUV, makes use of a claimed 5.7L/100km when geared up with a twin-turbo diesel 4, and eight.2L/100km when geared up with a turbo-petrol 4.
How does the Mazda CX-60 D50e Azami drive?
The CX-60’s trip is so tense, it feels prefer it wants a vigorous therapeutic massage.
There’s no adaptive suspension so that you’ve acquired one trip setting: stiff. It will get busy on patchy roads, and street imperfections may end up in tight bursts of rebound.
The CX-60 subsequently can show an inclination to hop round when there are successive floor modifications and street imperfections. One part of Melbourne’s M8 noticed the CX-60 springing round uncomfortably.
We all know Mazda is thought for engineering its autos with a sporty really feel, and this can be a extra inexpensive rival to the likes of athletic SUVs just like the BMW X3, but it surely’s a bit of an excessive amount of.
One small comfort is the shortage of a pointy, brittle really feel reverberating by the construction once you hit bumps, an issue that always plagues autos with a stiff trip.
The CX-60 handles properly, although I ought to count on as a lot given how agency its trip is.
On a winding mountain street, it does a reasonably good impression of a BMW X3. It feels planted and poised, with little in the best way of physique roll.
The rear bias of the all-wheel drive system is clear, too. Even turning from a cease with a heavy throttle enter can have you ever chirping the rear tyres.
It’s fairly involving to drive, aside from a relative lack of steering really feel. The weighting of the tiller, nonetheless, is spot-on for a sporty SUV.
Torque supply from the turbo-diesel engine is sweet and meaty, and the CX-60 is loads fast: the 0-100km/h dash is dispatched in a claimed 7.3 seconds, simply 0.4 seconds behind the petrol.
It’s a burly-sounding motor too. It’s sonorous – notably for a diesel – although it does appear noisier than an X3 xDrive30d, with a bit extra diesel clatter.
Settle right into a cruise on the freeway, nonetheless, and the cabin is serene. Little in the best way of wind noise enters the inside, and whereas there seems to be barely extra tyre roar than in an X3, that is nonetheless a really quiet cabin.
The CX-60 will make the occasional odd sound at low speeds, and the mild-hybrid system built-in with the transmission could also be accountable.
We noticed some slight jerkiness when slowing and at decrease speeds, and whereas the powertrain permits the car to coast to a cease, you’ll often really feel a shunt. Taking off, we additionally often skilled some hesitancy from the powertrain.
The mild-hybrid system will help you coast not solely whereas slowing down, but additionally whereas travelling at excessive speeds. You’ll be travelling alongside the freeway when unexpectedly the tachometer drops to zero and the i-Cease icon seems within the instrument cluster. There isn’t a jerkiness with this slicing out and in of energy, nonetheless, in contrast to the CX-60’s low-speed behaviour.
The transmission, too, is clean, and shifts rapidly. Our major drawback with the transmission is the shifter itself, which comes from the Mazda elements bin and has a clunky operation and a considerably low cost really feel.
It’s very simple to activate adaptive cruise management. It takes only one button press, when you can change the set pace to a newly detected restrict with one other easy button press. The visitors signal recognition, whereas not flawless, total works properly.
Likewise, the adaptive cruise management and lane centring work properly to supply the CX-60 with Stage 2 autonomous driving functionality. Light lane markings may have the system beeping repeatedly, nonetheless.
Different observations: the adaptive LED headlights are excellent; the CX-60 annoyingly doesn’t keep in mind your heated/ventilated seat and auto maintain settings once you restart it; and the mirrors don’t dip down once you put it into reverse.
What do you get?
CX-60 Evolve highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels, Gray
- Auto LED headlights
- Auto high-beam
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Physique color exterior mirrors
- Aspect mirrors with:
- Energy adjustment
- Auto folding
- Heating
- Auto-dimming
- Honeycomb grille design
- Black wheel arches and decrease cladding
- Distant operated energy tailgate (open/shut)
- G-Vectoring Management Plus
- 10.25-inch Mazda Join infotainment system
- 7.0-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster (G40e, D50e)
- 12.3-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster (P50e)
- Head-up show
- DAB+ digital radio
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- 8-speaker sound system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- Entrance USB-C charging factors
- Rear console incl. USB-C, 150W AC shops
- Rear 1500W AC energy outlet socket (PHEV)
- Keyless entry, push-button begin
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Electrical park brake with auto-hold
- One-touch energy home windows
- Leather-based steering wheel
- Leather-based shift knob
- Black Maztex upholstery
- Handbook entrance seat adjustment
CX-60 GT provides:
- 20-inch alloy wheels, Black metallic
- LED headlights with ‘darkish signature’
- Rear mixture lights incl. signature illumination
- Energy sliding panoramic sunroof
- Gloss black exterior mirrors
- 2-position reminiscence, facet mirrors
- Physique color wheel arches, decrease cladding
- Gloss black honeycomb grille
- Exterior mirror place reminiscence
- Palms-free distant operated energy tailgate (open/shut)
- 12.3-inch TFT LCD digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch infotainment system
- 12-speaker Bose premium sound system incl. amplifier
- Driver monitor system
- Personalise system
- Electrical steering wheel adjustment
- Heated steering wheel
- Black leather-based upholstery
- 10-way driver seat energy adjustment with lumbar adjustment
- 8-way entrance passenger seat energy adjustment
- 2-position driver reminiscence
- Heated entrance seats
- Heated outer rear seats
- Encompass-view cameras
CX-60 Azami provides:
- 20-inch machined alloy wheels
- Adaptive LED headlights with ‘brilliant signature’
- Physique color exterior mirrors
- Entrance bumper with bar-type grille
- Cruising & Site visitors Help
- Entrance cross-traffic alert
- Encompass-view cameras with see-through view
- Personalise system with ‘Straightforward Entry & Driving’
- LED ambient lighting
- Frameless inside mirror
- Black Nappa leather-based upholstery
- Ventilated entrance seats
- Leather-based facet door trim civilly lamp
SP Bundle: $2000 (Azami)
- 20-inch alloy wheels, Black metallic
- Darkish-coloured facet signature
- Gloss black honeycomb-type grille
- Gloss black exterior mirrors
- LED headlights with darkish signature
- Suede dashboard panel
- Tan Nappa leather-based upholstery
- Two-tone steering wheel
Takumi Bundle: $2000 (Azami)
- Vibrant ornament panel
- Material dashboard panel with ‘Kakenui’ stitching
- White Maple Wooden console panel
- White Nappa leather-based upholstery
Is the Mazda CX-60 protected?
The CX-60 wears a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on exams performed by Euro NCAP in 2022
Normal security options embrace:
- 10 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Ahead incl. Pedestrian, Bike owner detection
- Reverse
- Junction help (Flip-across Site visitors)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Ahead obstruction warning
- Excessive Beam Management (auto high-beam)
- Lane-keep help
- Parking sensors entrance, rear
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Encompass digicam system
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Tyre strain monitoring
- Automobile exit warning
CX-60 Azami provides:
- Adaptive LED Headlights
- Cruising & Site visitors Help
- Adaptive cruise + lane centring
- Entrance cross-traffic alert
- 360-degree cameras incl. See By View
The Azami’s further security gear could be optioned in each the Evolve and GT grades by the Imaginative and prescient Know-how Bundle.
How a lot does the Mazda CX-60 D50e Azami value to run?
The CX-60 is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee like each Mazda mannequin supplied domestically.
Diesel fashions keep on with shorter servicing intervals of 12 months or 10,000km, although petrol and plug-in hybrid fashions require servicing each 12 months or 15,000km.
Mazda gives 5 years of capped-price servicing. These companies are capped at $478, $643, $975, $643 and $478, respectively, for a complete value of $3217 over 5 years. That makes it barely cheaper than the petrol, which prices $3360 over 5 years.
Service pricing for the CX-60 is greater than the X3 ($2400 with a pre-paid Service Inclusive Primary package deal) however cheaper than a Q5 ($3520 with a pre-paid plan). The GV70 has all of them beat, nonetheless, with 5 years or 75,000km of free servicing.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mazda CX-60 D50e Azami
Mazda has executed the CX-60 no favours by making it appear like a CX-5 with an extended bonnet.
The Giant Structure SUVs are a few of the most bold merchandise from Mazda in years with their environment friendly new inline-six powertrains and premium aspirations, and but they’ve all been designed to look a bit of too acquainted.
Even contained in the cabin, there are a couple of too many gadgets borrowed from extra inexpensive Mazdas. Not less than in Azami guise with the SP package deal, the CX-60 can boast an inside that stacks up in opposition to premium mid-sized SUV rivals.
The place Mazda has actually burnished the CX-60’s premium credentials, nonetheless, is with the graceful, sonorous turbo-diesel below that lengthy bonnet and the sharp dealing with from its new platform with rear-biased all-wheel drive.
Additionally sharp, nonetheless, is the trip. Even for one thing with sporty aspirations, it’s just too stiff, and there’s no adaptive suspension possibility that might mitigate this.
We surprise what number of premium-brand customers will wander into Mazda showrooms, notably contemplating CX-60 patrons get the identical after-sales therapy as even a base-model Mazda 2 purchaser.
Ought to they achieve this, they’ll discover a car that actually stacks up properly on value, efficiency, gasoline economic system and luxurious appointments. Alas, premium-brand rivals have it beat on trip high quality.
Click on the photographs for the complete gallery
MORE: Every part Mazda CX-60
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