Yet still they come; the SUV craze shows no sign of slowing down even if the term ‘sport utility vehicle’ has pretty much lost its original sense. Also, in the push to fully electric driving, hybrids still seem to be the way most buyers are choosing to go: And why not? They reduce emissions and don’t bring on any range anxiety.
The Japanese brand Mazda has always chosen a different path to the mainstream, utilising their ‘SkyActiv’ engine technology rather than falling back on the use of turbo-charging. This remains the case with their latest, and potentially greatest SUV to date: The CX-60.
About The Mazda CX-60
This new family-sized car is the brand’s first fully hybrid power-train plug-in, representing everything Mazda has incorporated into its design philosophy from the exterior and interior design to the most refined Japanese craftsmanship. Intelligent and elegant is how Mazda like to describe this car which, they say, combines the toughness of SUV architecture with front engine, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive options.
As can be seen from the images, the CX-60 has a deeply sculpted front face and long nose with a truncated rear silhouette which creates a powerful and dynamic shape. There’s a higher aspect front grille than previously seen, a signature wing with indicator and vertically stacked front lamp design. A choice of colours obviously and of 18 or 20 inch aluminium alloy wheels.
About The Power
There’s a choice of plug-in power options:
The Skyactiv-G 2.5 litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 100 kW electric motor and a 17.8 kWh high-capacity battery is primary. This combination we learn delivers a total system output of 327PS (322bhp) and an abundant torque output of 500Nm, making it the most powerful road car Mazda has ever produced. Official tests of the combined fuel consumption arrive at 188 miles per gallon and combined CO² emissions of only 33g/km. The former figure needs to be tempered by real-world driving obviously, but consumption does seem to be impressively frugal, driven properly.
There’s also a new generation of straight-six, 3.3 litre ‘e-Skyactiv D’ diesel engines offers a choice of two different power outputs – 200 PS (197bhp) and 254 PS (254bhp). Featuring ‘M Hybrid Boost’ - Mazda’s own 48V mild hybrid system - it combines high output with excellent fuel economy and emissions performance. A straight-six three litre petrol engine will likely be offered in due course; one for the purists. All the engines drive through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
About The Interior
The interior is typically Mazda, a brand noted for fit and finish. There’s a wide instrument panel which features continuous lines running through the sides air vents into the door trim, reinforcing the spaciousness of the interior. The strong, clean and minimal shape of the centre console takes its line through the cabin space from front to back.
There’s never a problem getting comfortable behind the steering wheel of a Mazda. The seats always seem to provide an ergonomically excellent, natural and supportive driving position. Seat height adjustment can be made in the CX-60 without occupant posture change and the steering wheel has options for rake and reach adjustment.
Mazda say that their new ‘Driver Personalisation System’ recognises the driver and automatically adjusts seat position, steering wheel, mirrors, Active Driving Display, even the sound and climate control settings. HMI (that’s Human Machine Interface to we lay people) features a full TFT-LCD driver’s instrument binnacle, a large window Active Driving Display and a 12.3 inch infotainment centre.
Mazda’s Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) offers a choice of four drive modes (plus EV mode for the PHEV versions). Fuel-power is delivered via a conventional front-engine, rear-wheel drive mechanical layout augmented by the electric motor to provide a full-time all-wheel drive system that preserves the neutral cornering characteristics of a rear-wheel drive system but balances it with the stability and traction of an AWD set-up.
The CX-60 is a fine addition to the reliable and versatile Mazda range of vehicles. Find out more about this car from us here at MHH Japanese Cars and also about our comprehensive service.
