Mazda CX-60 Review 2024

You could dismiss the new Mazda CX-60 as yet another attempt from a mainstream manufacturer to tap into the premium car market. But, with its lovely interior, bold exterior design and interesting engine line-up, we think it's worthy of a top spot on your family SUV shortlist.

The Mazda CX-60 is the biggest car in the brand's line-up, positioned above the Mazda CX-5 and intended to rival premium SUVs like the BMW X3, Volvo XC60 and Lexus NX. It has a few tricks up its sleeve to make a splash amongst such esteemed competition - the first being value for money. Prices start from around £44,000 so, while we wouldn't call it a budget SUV, it does significantly undercut posh competitors.

You get a lot for your money, too. There are just three trim levels available (Exclusive-Line, Homura and Takumi). Even the most affordable Mazda CX-60 Exclusive-Line is comprehensively equipped with heated leather seats, a heated steering wheel and a user-friendly 12.3-inch navigation system. The CX-60 Homura looks a bit more stylish, with its gloss black exterior highlights and 20-inch alloy wheels, while inside you get Mazda's Driver Personalisation System (we'll come onto that) and a 12-speaker Bose surround sound system.

The top-spec Mazda CX-60 Takumi feels properly la-di-da with its white Nappa leather seats and white maple wood interior trim. It doesn't attract a top-drawer price tag, though - the range currently tops out at around £49,500.

Despite sitting above the CX-5 in Mazda's range, the CX-60 doesn't provide a great deal more interior space. It's only available with five seats, while its spacious boot isn't actually that much bigger than in the CX-5. You sit high up, which is great for that 'SUV feel', but its headroom is hindered slightly (especially when combined with the optional panoramic sunroof).

Being a Mazda, the CX-60 forges its own path in the technical department. Following the brand's 'right-sizing' approach, entry-level models are powered (amusingly) by a 3.3-litre diesel engine available with two outputs and a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive. This burbly six-cylinder engine is not without its charm, while its extra grunt could make it a good choice of tow car - but we reckon the plug-in hybrid will prove to be a more popular choice.

Combining a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and 17.8kWh battery pack, the Mazda CX-60 plug-in hybrid has an official electric range of 39 miles. That doesn't sound a lot compared to pure-electric alternatives like the Volkswagen ID.4 but, like all PHEVs, it will suit buyers looking for a car that can commute in silence during the week yet still has the ability to travel long distances at the weekend with minimal faff.

With 327PS and 500Nm of torque, the Mazda CX-60 PHEV is amusingly quick. It sounds it, too - but that's not necessarily a good thing. The engine roar can get a bit tiring when you just want to arrive at your destination in peace.

Mazda has a reputation for selling cars that can out-handle the best in their class. It's certainly true that the CX-60's steering is as direct and communicative as you'd expect from a brand that also sells the MX-5 sports car, but it hasn't worked miracles here. You're well aware that you're driving a large, heavy SUV - especially when you clout a pothole.

Still, the Mazda CX-60 is a very appealing SUV that slots neatly between cars like the Toyota RAV4 and more premium alternatives like the Audi Q5. We don't envy Mazda's marketing department for having to turn the heads of traditional premium car buyers but, with its bold looks and superb interior, there's a distinct appeal to the CX-60.

Mazda has always positioned its models at the sportier end of the market, and the CX-60's positive, precise steering and tight body control reflect that again. It's less wallowy than a Volvo XC60 and better controlled than a Mercedes GLC, leaning more closely towards the BMW X3 in the way it feels on a twisty road.

There's only so much engineers can do to defy physics, however, and the slightly smaller (and, crucially, lighter) Mazda CX-5 feels more nimble on rural roads. The CX-60's ride is on the firm side, too - the PHEV in particular feels quite fidgety over pockmarked tarmac.

While the entry-level diesel CX-60 is rear-wheel drive (meaning 100% of its power is sent to the rear wheels), you'd be hard pushed to tell during day-to-day driving. There's loads of grip available and it feels like a very safe family SUV.

Both the more powerful diesel and CX-60 plug-in hybrid are sold exclusively with four-wheel drive. This might be a bit overkill for some drivers, but it provides a boost in confidence on slippery surfaces. We doubt it'd be as capable as a Land Rover Discovery Sport in true 'off road' conditions, but it should cope with a damp caravan site.

Despite its size, the Mazda CX-60 is easy to place around town. Forward visibility is good, while all CX-60 models come with a high-res reversing camera and parking sensors (front and rear) which help when negotiating tight parking spaces.

In true Mazda form, there's a wide range of engines available in the CX-60 and most of them are a bit unconventional in their approach.

The range starts with a huge 3.3-litre six-cylinder turbodiesel, available in two flavours: 200PS with rear-wheel drive and 254PS with all-wheel drive. With 450Nm and 550Nm respectively, we reckon a diesel Mazda CX-60 could make an ideal tow car - a hefty caravan shouldn't weigh it down too much, while those chunky torque figures mean the eight-speed gearbox doesn't get bogged down easily.

We've tried both diesels and, while the entry-level model makes the most sense from a financial point of view (it's not exactly slow, either, accelerating to 62mph in 8.4 seconds), the extra grunt from the 254PS makes for a more effortless drive. It's not the most refined diesel we've ever sampled, but there's an element of charm to its distinctive six-cylinder burble.

You can also buy a plug-in hybrid Mazda CX-60. This mates a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to a 136PS electric motor and a 17.8kWh battery. Total system output is 327PS, with 500Nm of torque.

It'll pootle around town in electric mode pretty nicely, and if you're gentle with the throttle it'll just about get you to motorway speeds before the engine fires up. It's not as polished as hybrid systems used in premium competitors, though - there are some strange whirring and whoosing noises in EV mode under acceleration. When the engine kicks in, it announces its presence quite markedly.

The new multi-clutch eight-speed automatic gearbox (note: not a CVT like in most PHEVs) does a good job of slurring ratios and keeping things smooth in most circumstances. It's certainly better than Mazda's old torque converter auto in the CX-5. But as is often the case with plug-in hybrids, go from cruising to asking for full power and it takes an age to juggle the power sources.

Give it the beans and the hybrid CX-60 is surprisingly brisk. 0-62mph is taken care of in 5.8 seconds, which feels like plenty to us. It rears up and gets a real lick on under full throttle, with quite a throaty (and slightly intrusive) growl.

If you're looking for a conventional petrol SUV, that's on its way. The Mazda CX-60 will soon be available with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol - but don't expect any small-capacity turbocharged units like you'll find in rivals like the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The Mazda CX-60 has been awarded a full five stars for safety by independent body, Euro NCAP. That includes some pretty impressive ratings: 88% for adult occupants, 91% for children and 89% for vulnerable road users.

Standard safety kit includes autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, rear-cross traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring. It's a shame that adaptive cruise control with intelligent speed limit assist is part of the optional Driver Assistance pack, but it's a reasonable £1100 and comes with other kit including adaptive LED headlights. 

All Mazda CX-60s are capable of towing up to 2500kg, which is up there with the top tow cars of this size. That figure's especially true for the plug-in hybrid - PHEVs usually have a lower towing capacity than equivalent diesel SUVs. It comes with a special towing mode, too, which optimises the CX-60's power delivery and its all-wheel-drive system.

The Mazda CX-60's exterior dimensions make it around 190mm longer, 50mm wider and a similar height to the CX-5. That puts it roughly on a par with the BMW X3. 

There shouldn't be too much to complain about regarding space up front. The CX-60's extra width mostly goes into the centre console and transmission tunnel, so it doesn't really feel any roomier than the CX-5, but it still offers plenty of room for larger adults to get comfortable. 

Of course mid-spec models get electric seats, while this is the first Mazda to get an electrically adjustable steering wheel. But the headline feature on mid-spec Homura trim and above is the new 'Driver Personalisation System'. Tell the CX-60 your height and it'll scan your eye position and adjust the seats, the wheel, the door mirrors and even the head-up display to suit. You can then save multiple profiles and it'll scan your face on entry and set it up to suit.

Moving into the rear, and wide opening doors allow decent entry and space to fit child seats (of course there are also Isofix points back there). You also get 40/20/40 seat folding with handy levers in the boot, and reclining seats. But there are some issues.

For starters, on the plug-in hybrid, Mazda has mounted the hybrid's batteries under the cabin floor, rather than under the boot like many other plug-in SUVs. That means the floor sits fairly high, limiting your ability to slide your feet under the seat in front and meaning headroom isn't exactly generous for six-footers with the panoramic sunroof fitted.

Legroom is fine, but not as generous as you might expect, and the seats don't slide to improve things. At least the wider cabin means the middle seat is quite useable, and there's a fairly flat floor. 

The positive of moving the batteries under the boot floor is that the boot isn't compromised. With 570-litres it's bigger than almost every plug-in rival, with a nice square shape, a large opening and underfloor storage, plus an electric tailgate on most models. 

Mazda's recent interiors have looked and felt a cut above the mainstream - for example, we reckon the Mazda 3 is actually a bit nicer inside than the latest VW Golf. The same applies to the CX-60, it's actually comparable to the Audi Q5 in terms of quality (and that's a big statement).

Even the most affordable Mazda CX-60 Exclusive-Line doesn't feel like an entry-level car, with leather upholstery as standard as well as soft-touch finishes and nicely-damped buttons.

The top-spec Mazda CX-60 Takumi feels particularly posh, thanks to its white nappa leather and maple wood trim. It works really well and wouldn't feel out of place in a Volvo XC60.

Every Mazda CX-60 - regardless of trim - gets the same roster of infotainment tech, including a 12.3-inch central screen, as 12.3-inch digital dial display and a head-up display.

The base model gets sat-nav along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning it's easy to load Google Maps or Waze through the system. However, unlike pretty much every rival, it isn't a touchscreen system. Instead, Mazda uses a more traditional rotary dial control down by the gear lever, flanked by physical shortcut buttons. 

Touchscreens are the norm nowadays, so this might take some getting used to. Spend some time getting accustomed to it, though, and you'll soon realise it's actually a doddle to use. You can pick up muscle memory for certain features, meaning you'll spend less time looking away from the road. It's also a very responsive system, bar some lag in certain areas.

All models get connected services, DAB and USB-C inputs, plus five years of free European mapping updates for the navigation.

The cheapest Mazda CX-60 is an Exclusive-Line model with the lower-powered diesel engine. This starts from around £44,000, which is quite expensive compared to a Volkswagen Tiguan. But Mazda says it's aiming the CX-60 squarely at more upmarket alternatives - and £44,000 doesn't go quite so far in the BMW X3 or Audi Q5 market.

Prices for the Mazda CX-60 PHEV start from around £45,000, while it's possible to spend more than £50,000 on a high-spec model. We don't think there's much reason to, though - even base-spec cars are well-equipped with the impressive infotainment suite, heated seats and steering wheel and a full roster of active safety kit.

While pre-reg deals aren't as easy to find as they used to be, we have seen Mazda dealers offering significant savings off as-new Mazda CX-60s. A budget of £37,000 will get you into a basic Mazda CX-60 and allow you to skip the waiting list. That sounds much more palatable than paying full price.

Mazda rolled out the plug-in CX-60 in the UK first, expecting it to account for the majority of sales. Fleet buyers will certainly go for its low Benefit-in Kind rate, while private buyers will welcome its official ability to do up to 188mpg. 

As always with plug-in hybrids, that figure is simply for comparison. You won't do anything like that unless you spend most of your time in electric mode, but with a decent 39 miles of EV range it should be able to cover most commutes without burning a drop of fuel.

High-mileage drivers would be better looking at a diesel Mazda CX-60. The 200PS version officially returns 56.5mpg in WLTP tests, while the all-wheel-drive 254PS model is good for up to 54.3mpg. It'll be interesting to see how close to these figures the Mazda CX-60 returns in the real world (we haven't spent long enough with the car to tell), but Mazda says its 'right sizing' approach means you shouldn't be in for too much of a shock at the pumps.

Standard kit on the entry-level Mazda CX-60 Exclusive-Line includes 18-inch alloys, auto lights and wipers, LED headlights with auto high beam, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, leather upholstery with heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, a head-up display, plus the large infotainment screen and digital dials. 

Step up to the Mazda CX-60 Homura and you'll get 20-inch black alloys, a gloss black grille and wing mirrors, ambient lighting, electric front seats and an electric steering wheel, the Driver Personalisation system, ventilated front seats, heated outer rear seats and a 12-speaker Bose surround sound system.

Top-spec Takumi trim brings chrome window surrounds, machined alloy wheels, body coloured mirrors, a 'decoration panel' with detailed cloth stitching on the dashboard, white maple wood trim on the centre console and white Nappa leather upholstery.  

Options include wireless phone charging, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, AC power sockets and a panoramic sunroof.