Mazda CX-60 – What you need to know

Mazda has been in the habit over the past several years of launching lavish SUVs in an ambitious move to woo luxury buyers to the Japanese brand.

The latest is the mid-size, five-seat, Mazda CX-60 with a nine-model lineup and prices ranging from $60,550 to $86,800 (plus on-road costs).

With an all-new platform configured for rear- and all-wheel drive, the Mazda CX-60 is powered by a new, mild-hybrid, six-cylinder turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engine, as well as a four-cylinder, plug-in hybrid petrol/electric (PHEV) powertrain.

If what you’ve read so far takes your fancy, lets go and explore the range and find the right one for you.

Entry to the Mazda CX-60 range is the $60,550 (plus on-road costs) G40e Evolve, featuring the turbocharged, mild hybrid, six-cylinder petrol engine, coupled to an eight speed auto for autonomous drive to all four wheels.

This variant of CX-60 has the following features as standard:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- 10.25-inch infotainment screen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio
- Head up display
- 360-degree view monitor
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Adaptive cruise control
- Wireless phone charger
- Mazda CX-60 options

Several option packs are offered across the Mazda CX-60 range, starting with the Luxury Pack which comprises black leather trim, heated, power adjustable front seats, memory door mirrors and driver seat to add $4000 to the Evolve variants.

There’s also a Vision Technology Pack for the CX-60 Evolve, bundling a 360-degree monitor with see-through view, a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument display, front cross-traffic alert and cruising & traffic support, along with driver attention detection, adding $2000 to the bottom line.

If you go for a Mazda CX-60 GT, the Vision Technology Pack for this model adds 360-degree monitoring with see-through view, adaptive LED headlights, cruising & traffic support and front cross traffic alert for an extra $2000.

The Takumi pack is a $2000 option on Azami models and combines pure white nappa leather seat trim, bright decorative panels, a cloth dashboard panel with Kakenui stitching, white maple wood console and door trim inserts.

If you want your CX-60 Azami with the lot, fork over another two grand and add the SP pack encompassing tan nappa leather trim, 20-inch black alloy wheels and exterior accents, gloss black on the grille and door mirrors, tinted LED headlights, a suede finish on the dashboard and a two-tone steering wheel.

Seven colours make up the palette, with the metallic hues attracting a $995 premium.

As you’d expect from a near premium vehicle, the latest safety and driver assist technology can be found in all Mazda CX-60 variants.

A total of eight airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control systems are fitted to all models, along with blind-spot monitoring with vehicle exit warning, emergency brake assist, lane-keeping with road and blind-spot assist, forward obstruction warning, and autonomous braking with front pedestrian and cyclist detection.

Autonomous rear braking with rear traffic crossing alert, driver attention alert, emergency braking assist and G-Vectoring control-plus, for smoother steering, are all standard.

Also standard across the lineup are the 360-degree monitor, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, hill launch assist and descent control, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, tyre pressure monitoring, auto-on/off wipers and auto LED headlights with auto high beam, auto dimming driver door and interior mirrors, plus driver attention alert.

In addition to the usual dash display, all Mazda CX-60 models come with head-up display and, for hassle free driving, adaptive cruise control.

Step up to the GT models for driver monitoring while another rung up the spec ladder to the CX-60 Azami brings adaptive LED headlights, cruising and traffic support, and front cross traffic alert to the specification.

The Mazda CX-60 has earned a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

While the CX-60 Evolve makes do with a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, from the GT up it offers a 12.3-inch screen.

All models provide multi-function command control to access wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android auto, and an AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio piped though eight speakers in the CX-60 Evolve. There are 12 speakers in the CX-60 GT and Azami.

Satellite navigation is another range-wide feature, along with wireless phone charging, steering wheel mounted controls, USB-C ports front and back, Bluetooth music and phone connectivity.

All Mazda CX-60 variants are equipped with head-up display, and the Plug in Hybrid variants add the 12.3-inch digital dash that’s over five inches larger than the counterpart in the other Evolve variants.

Forking out extra cash for a CX-60 GT scores the larger digital dash, a Premium Bose audio system with an amplifier and auto restoration of pre-set settings, and if you sign up for a CX-60 Azami there’s also easy entry and exit function.

Every Mazda CX-60 has a leather-wrapped gear shift knob and steering wheel with shift paddles and multi-function controls. There’s also lighting for the cargo area, plus map reading lights, illuminated vanity mirrors in the sunshades, auto up/down power windows, and cup and bottle holders in both rows.

The dual-zone climate control features rear vents and an ambient temperature display. A 12-volt auxiliary plug, and AC-power outlets, a centre console armrest, a fold-down rear centre armrest and sunglasses holder are part of the specification for all models.

Are leather seats on the wish list?
Head straight to the CX-60 GT models for black leather trim or optional revera stone leather. And if you want the more sumptuous nappa leather, shimmy over to the Azami variants. You can select from the standard black leather or upgrade your Azami with optional pure white or quilted tan nappa leather.

Would you like the seats to be power adjusted?
The CX-60 GT models offer a 10-way power adjustable driver seat with two memory positions, and an eight-way front passenger seat.

Heated seats?
The CX-60 GT is the pivotal point for the extra seating refinements and it’s here you get heated front and outboard rear seats, and lumbar adjustment for the driver’s seat. If you want ventilated or cooled seats, select any Azami variant. All models have a 40/20/40 split-fold rear seat with adjustable head restraints and centre armrest.

Powered steering wheel adjustment?
Adjusting your steering wheel to the right position electrically is a premium feature and comes with the CX-60 GT and above.

Are you after selectable drive modes?
The good news is all CX-60 variants have what Mazda calls Mi Drive, providing Sport, Off-Road and Towing modes, with the Plug In Hybrids also featuring an EV mode.

Stepping outside, every Mazda CX-60 variant boasts auto-on/off LED headlights, LED day running lights, and LED tail lamps, green tinted glass all round, and a rear spoiler.

Powered door mirrors with folding and heating functions come standard. They’re body colour on the Evolve and gloss black on all other models. From the GT up the driver mirror has two position memory settings. Body colour door handles and bumpers feature across the range.

How about a tilt and sliding sunroof?
Sign up for a CX-60 GT and a panoramic power sliding sunroof is yours.

A powered tailgate is very handy, and all Mazda CX-60s have this. The CX-60 GT and above also come with a remote open/close function as well.

Setting each model apart are its wheels, with the basic CX-60 Evolve wearing 18-inch alloy wheels while the GT and Azami variants roll on 20-inch alloys. The Plug-in Hybrids make do with a tyre repair kit, while other variants are fitted with a temporary steel spare wheel.

Three engines complete the Mazda CX-60 lineup.

First up is a 3.3-litre, inline, six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with mild hybrid assistance. It produces peak output of 209kW and 450Nm.

Next is the inline turbo-diesel six-cylinder engine, also displacing 3.3 litres. Like the petrol six, the diesel embraces mild-hybrid assistance and pumps out 187kW and 550Nm. Then we have the plug-in hybrid and its 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 241kW and 500Nm. Auto-stop/start for when you’re waiting for a green light is standard for all powertrains.

All models feature an eight-speed automatic transmission and all are rear wheel drive with autonomous (automatic on-demand) all-wheel drive.

Running a tape measure over the Mazda CX-60 reveals it’s 4740mm long and 2134mm wide. The CX-60 Evolve measures 1675mm high with the GT and Azami stopping the tape at 1690mm. All models sit on a 2870mm wheelbase and provide up to 175mm of ground clearance.

Gross vehicle mass ranges from 2500kg to 2683kg, depending on the variant, while kerb weight similarly spans from 1921kg to 2139kg.

The maximum braked towing capacity is 2500kg, and 750kg for an unbraked trailer, with the towball download rated at 150kg. Cargo capacity in the five-seater Mazda CX-60 is 477 litres, with the 60/40 rear, split-fold seat upright, swelling to 1726 litres when it’s dropped down.

Slip behind the wheel of the CX-60 and you immediately notice the premium feel, relative to other Mazdas. Both turbo twins – petrol and diesel – deliver plenty of performance and, in the case of the diesel, a long range between drinks.

So which one to buy? For me, the ten grand slug for the plug-in hybrid rules it out of the equation.

Keeping a close eye on the budget, and planning on many long journeys, take the CX-60 D50e Evolve. But if the budget isn’t the primary driver, how about the top-spec Azami with the petrol turbo, and Takumi option pack.

How much does the 2024 Mazda CX-60 cost?
G40 e Evolve petrol turbo – $60,550
D50e Evolve diesel turbo – $62,550
P50e Evolve plug-in Hybrid – $73,600
G40e GT petrol turbo – $68,550
D50e GT diesel turbo – $70,550
P50e GT plug-in Hybrid – $81,600
G40e Azami petrol turbo – $73,750
D50e Azami diesel turbo – $75,750
P50e Azami plug-in Hybrid – $86,800
* Prices exclude on-road costs

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