Mazda CX-60 Review

Read Caroline’s Mazda CX-60 review for everything you need to know about buying Mazda’s new flagship SUV in Ireland.

The new Mazda CX-60 is a new model from the Japanese car brand and now crowns the Mazda range in Ireland. The CX-60 is bigger than the CX-5 and for now it’s Mazda’s largest SUV on sale.

The new CX-60 is priced from €54,100 in Ireland. It’s also the first Mazda ever to use plug-in hybrid technology and the most powerful production Mazda ever built.

Excited? Let’s take a closer look.

What’s so special about the Mazda CX-60?

Mazda has been slowly moving their brand upmarket with new models like the Mazda3 and Mazda CX-5. But it’s the new CX-60 that looks set to really deliver on Mazda’s premium aspirations with a stylish design and expertly crafted cabin, as well as powerful engines and new plug-in hybrid technology.

The new Mazda CX-60 has a lot of presence so it can rub shoulders with other high-end SUVs like the BMW X3, Volvo XC60 and the Audi Q5. The CX-60 is longer and wider than a CX-5, though it still only manages seating for five. Buyers looking for a seven seat SUV from Mazda will have to wait for the upcoming CX-80.

The CX-60 is very much a Mazda with the brand’s trademark large grille flanked by LED headlamps. The long bonnet can house some big engines and gives it an even more stately presence than your average SUV. The sheet metal along the side of the SUV features sleek surfacing that looks great in Mazda signature Soul Red Crystal paint. Rhodium White also joins the range as a new signature colour.

There are four trim levels but it’s the top of the range Homura (from €59,350) and Takumi models (from €60,950) that look the most premium. The standard fit 18-inch alloy wheels are replaced with a 20-inch set. The grey cladding around the wheel arches and sills is swapped for a cleaner and more upmarket body-painted look.

Inside the Mazda CX-60

The cabin of the CX-60 feels a step up from the CX-5 with more modern features like a full digital driver display and different materials and textures such as maple wood, nappa leather, Japanese textiles, chrome details, and special instrument panel stitching.

You sit higher behind the wheel and it certainly feels like a flagship SUV from this viewpoint. Mazda’s new Driver Personalisation System adjusts the steering column and driver’s seat for your height for the perfect driving position.

Leather seats come as standard on all but the entry model. The Homura model on test has a lovely black leather interior. Top of the range Takumi models get an even more luxurious white nappa leather interior.

In the centre of the dashboard there’s a 12-inch screen that allows touch control of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while the car is stationary. The classic Mazda rotary dial on the centre console allows simple intuitive control while driving to limit distraction. Some versions also get a head-up display and wireless smartphone charging.

The rear doors open wide making it easier to get in and out or fix child seats. There is more legroom than in a CX-5 thanks to a longer wheelbase and it should be more comfortable to seat three because of the extra width of the car.

The 570-litre boot is good for a plug-in hybrid SUV, though only about 50 litres more than the boot in the CX-5 – but the opening is wider and higher. A powered tailgate is standard on all but the entry level model.

Driving the CX-60

The CX-60 will be available with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines. At launch, just the plug-in hybrid is available and it uses a 2.5-litre petrol engine, battery and electric motor to boost efficiency and offer an all electric driving range of up to about 63 kilometres. It has a towing capacity of up to 2.5 tonnes.

The plug-in hybrid will later be joined by a 3.0-litre six cylinder petrol engine and 3.3-litre six cylinder diesel engine (200hp and 254hp). All versions come with a new 8-speed automatic gearbox.

The CX-60 plug-in hybrid is Mazda’s most powerful production model ever with 327hp and 500Nm of torque. On the road, you’ll need to pop it into Sport mode to really experience the CX-60’s performance. This mode is certainly more sporty biased and the CX-60 will sprint from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.8 seconds, with quite a sporty tone from the 2.5-litre petrol heart of the plug-in hybrid. Not bad for an SUV that weighs close to 2.1 tonnes.

This SUV is relatively agile from behind the wheel no matter which driving mode you opt for and the standard fit all wheel drive adds extra grip. But the downside is quite a firm suspension so the CX-60 is not the most comfortable large SUV, particularly in town.

Being a plug-in hybrid, the CX-60’s battery needs to be charged, otherwise consumption will be high. There are smoother and more efficient plug-in hybrid SUVs on sale. The transition between the hybrid and electric drive can be quite noticeable at low speeds around town but becomes less of an issue once cruising, where the CX-60 is otherwise impressively refined.

Did you like it?

The Mazda CX-60 is the brand’s most premium model to date with classy styling and a stunning interior that will delight Mazda fans. The CX-60 does feel like a step up from the CX-5 and is more spacious too.

With more car brands offering plug-in hybrid SUVs to attempt to give buyers a more environmentally-friendly power option, the Mazda CX-60 plug-in hybrid is a timely addition to the Mazda range. It’s not the best plug-in hybrid on the market for smoothness and efficiency, but it is one of the most driver-focused in that classic Mazda way.

Compared to premium rivals, the Mazda CX-60 is well-priced, offering all the space and prestige of a large SUV, and a gorgeous interior design. Yet for now, buyers seeking a seven seat large family SUV will have to look elsewhere, though Mazda does have one in the pipeline that should share a lot with this CX-60.

The CX-60 is not the perfect match for a competitive market for large SUVs, but there’s still a lot to like about this upmarket SUV.

Model tested: Mazda CX-60 Homura PHEV
Price: €59,350
Engine: 2.5-litre petrol electric plug-in hybrid
Power: 327hp
Torque: 500Nm
Top speed: 200 km/h
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 5.8 seconds
Motor Tax: €140 per year

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Written by Caroline Kidd

Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year