Mazda goes ‘premium’ with the new CX-60 PHEV.
Mazda goes ‘premium’ with the new CX-60 PHEV.
The CX-60 is the first new Mazda model built on the company’s ‘Large’ architecture, and it comes with a focus on more luxurious features and trims than any other Mazda passenger car – ever. The CX-60 sits proudly in the large SUV market, and it is available exclusively (for now) by Mazda’s very first petrol/electric Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, with a 3.3-litre diesel engine due to make an appearance later this year.
Impressive Power & Torque.
The plug-in hybrid combines a 2.5-litre non-turbo, four-cylinder petrol engine with a 100kW electric motor, a 17.8kWh battery and an eight-speed automatic transmission, for combined outputs of 327PS and 500Nm of torque – more than any previous road car in Mazda’s history. The battery can be charged from 0-100 percent in under two and a half hours via a 7.2kW AC home wallbox, and a full battery is capable of providing the CX-60 with up to 60km of electric driving, at speeds up to 145km. With a ground clearance of 170mm, an overall length of 4745mm, and a height of 1680mm, the CX-60 cuts an imposing dash on the road, and its rivals include the Volvo XC60, Jaguar F-Pace, Audi Q5, Land Rover Discovery Sport, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Stunning Design – Inside & Out.
The exterior design of the new CX-60 takes lots of inspiration from the Japanese brand’s smaller SUV, the CX-5, and that is no bad thing, as the CX-5 compact SUV has consistently been a worldwide top-seller for Mazda every year since 2014. In fact, as of March 2022, cumulative sales of the CX-5 had reached 3.5 million vehicles. The all-new platform that the CX-60 sits on has enabled Mazda to create lots of space so that up to five occupants can travel with the upmost of space and luxury. The high quality cabin has an upmarket look and feel that is worthy of Mazda’s marketing slogan: ‘Crafted in Japan’, and the gorgeous intricate weave on the dash is a novel Japanese feature that is sure to draw admiration from passengers. Overall fit and finish in the cabin is excellent, and the physical switches on the dash and centre console feel solid and durable in their operation. The digital screens provide requested information in a quick, crisp and clear manner, and the rotary controller for the infotainment system is very intuitive to use. Best-in-class boot space of 570-litres behind the rear seats will be welcomed by growing families, and this space can be expanded to a massive 1,726-litres by dropping the split-folding rear seats when needed.
Highly-Specified Trim Variants.
Trim variants in the new CX-60 consist of Prime-Line, Exclusive-Line, Homura and Takumi, and all variants enjoy the benefit of an all-wheel drive drivetrain for outstanding off-road ability, and impressive on-road stability. Entry-level Prime-Line trim comes with key standard features such as: 18-inch grey metallic alloy wheels, LED headlights, integrated Mazda Navigation with a 12.3-inch TFT colour centre display and Multimedia Commander featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Traffic Sign Recognition and Smart City Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring with Vehicle Exit Warning, reversing camera, cruise control, and Smart Keyless Entry with Power Door Lock, along with many more comfort, convenience, safety and infotainment features. Exclusive-Line trim adds such features as a power liftgate with hands-free function, front parking sensors, heated steering wheel, windscreen-projected colour Active Driving Display (Head-up Display), signature LED rear combination lights, and reclining rear seats, while Homura trim brings with it additional features such as: 20-inch black metallic machined alloy wheels, a 12-speaker BOSE surround sound system with BOSE CentrePoint, Bass-Match and AutoPilot technology, ambient lighting, black honeycomb signature grille with black exterior styling, Gloss Black exterior door mirror casings, and a Driver Personalisation System with Ingress/ Egress support & automatic driver position guide, along with dual-zone climate control air-conditioning with rear air vents. Upgrading to top-spec Takumi trim will enhance the driving experience even further with features such as: white Maple Wood interior accents, and white Nappa leather trim with heated and ventilated seats. Additionally, all trim variants come with a Mazda Mi-Drive System as standard, and this allows drivers to select from Normal, Sport, Off-Road, Towing or EV driving modes.
Test Car Facts & Figures.
My CX-60 PHEV Takumi test car was finished in striking Rhodium White metallic paint with contrasting 20-inch black metallic machined alloys (standard). The luxuriously-appointed and ergonomically-designed cabin of the CX-60 is a lovely place to spend time, and the comfort on offer genuinely enhances the driving experience, regardless of whether it is motorway of country lane driving. The heady mix of power and torque available from the hybrid powertrain means this large SUV can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 5.8-seconds, making it fun to drive in the process. The CX-60 is packed with cutting-edge technology, and one such feature that really impressed me was the Driver Personalisation System. This ingenious system uses a camera facing the driver to enable physique-estimation technology. After the driver has entered their height manually with the commander control dial (this only needs to be done on the very first set up), the system then calculates and offers the best placement for that person based upon the position of their eyes. When the driver switches off the engine and releases the seat belt buckle, the seat and steering wheel automatically reset, allowing them to get out of the car more easily. However, drivers can over-ride the settings selected by the system if they so wish, but I did find the seating, door mirror, head-up display and steering wheel positions selected for me to be comfortable, accurate and of great benefit. The CX-60 performs any task asked of it with poise and precision, and it is handles twisty back roads with terrific agility. The body stays remarkably flat through corners, and the steering has a perfectly-weighted feel to it – even during quick changes of direction, lane changing and the likes.
Verdict.
The hugely-impressive, multi-talented new Mazda CX-60 PHEV may be Mazda’s first ever plug-in hybrid, but it certainly has been well worth the wait. With the CX-60, Mazda has produced a large SUV that is sure to pose a serious threat to established premium SUV manufacturers. The CX-60 PHEV is capable of towing a trailer up to 2,500kg – once there is braking on both wheels on at least one axle of the towed load. The all-new Mazda CX-60 PHEV is on sale at Mazda dealership nationwide now, with prices starting from €54,100 for the Prime-Line version. The range-topping Takumi variant I tested is priced from €60,950 and all trim variants are available with a choice of optional accessory packs, interior and exterior styling upgrades, and other accessories for ultimate personalisation. A low Co2 emission rating of 33g/km means that an annual road tax disc will cost just €140. All Mazda passenger cars now come with a comprehensive 6-year/150,000km manufacturer’s warranty. The CX-60 PHEV also comes with an 8-year battery warranty for total peace of mind motoring into the future.
Visit www.mazda.ie for further information.
