Mazda SUV expansion tempered

For the first time Mazda Australia has tempered expectations about how many SUV models from the new Large Product Group (LPG) it will sell.

While the all-new Mazda CX-60 is already confirmed to go on sale in Australia later this year, the local distributor has proudly claimed it is virtually alone in the Mazda world in having a shot at the other three models so far confirmed to come from the LPG rear/all-wheel drive architecture, the CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90.

Most markets are being oriented toward either the narrow-body CX-60 five-seater and stretched CX-80 seven-seater or the wide-body CX-70 five-seater and CX-90 seven-seater.

The narrow-body cars come with a focus on plug-in hybrid four-cylinder engines to suit stricter emissions levels and narrower roads in places such as Europe, while the wide-body cars have been linked with inline six-cylinder engines and are aimed at markets with more room such as North America.

Mazda Australia’s CX-60 line-up – expected to be announced in early April – will come with both PHEV and mild-hybrid I6 drivetrains.

The CX-60 PHEV will be the first plug-in hybrid model from Mazda Australia, which released its first EV in the MX-30 Electric last year, but in the absence of an electrified version of the updated 2022 CX-5 it remains without an answer to Australia’s top-selling petrol-electric model, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Mazda has gradually transitioned into an SUV company in Australia, where it now offers the CX-3, CX-30, CX-5, CX-8 and CX-9 in addition to the Mazda 2, 3, 6 and MX-5 passenger cars and the BT-50 ute. The CX-60 is expected to slot in above the CX-5 on pricing.

The SUV strategy has paid off for Mazda, which has locked itself into second place on the sales ladder behind Toyota in the Australian market, consistently selling more than 100,000 vehicles per year to make it one of the Japanese company’s most lucrative export markets.

But speaking at last week’s launch of the updated CX-5, Mazda Australia marketing boss Alastair Doak was noticeably cautious in his language about just how many LPG variants would eventually turn up in Australia.

“I know we have been saying we are considering all four and we still are,” said Doak. “But we can’t say if we are taking or not taking them at this point. As soon as we can, we will.

“It’s not guaranteed we will take all four. We would be the only big market to do that.

“You just need to make sure there is enough demand and stuff. You need to have a business.”

“You can get carried away and say ‘we want all four and take all four’ and then say later ‘well what are we going to do with them?’.”

Doak said local clarification of the prospects for the 70, 80 and 90 would coincide with their global reveals.

At the same event Mazda Australia chief Vinesh Bhindi made a point of telling media the new CX-60 was unlikely to seriously chew into the sales of the CX-5.

Bhindi was no doubt attempting to pre-empt articles similar to those that have popped up previously predicting adding SUV models such as the CX-30 could cannibalise CX-3 and CX-5 sales.

“The CX-60 will compete in the medium SUV segment, which remains the dominant segment behind utes,” he said.

“We see strong potential for another player in this segment in CX-60 alongside CX-5.

“And yes, before you ask me, as we have seen with CX-3 and CX-30, or CX-8 and CX-9, yes there is appetite for choice and room for all without totally cannibalising our own product sales.

“CX-60 will be a very different model, it is our next big step.”

Doak said the CX-60’s powerful PHEV drivetrain may not make it into Australia as part of this year’s launch line-up, but is expected to be here by early 2023. He said all drivetrains and pricing would be announced at the same time, allowing orders to be placed.

He revealed potential buyers were emerging for the CX-60, which is the latest model to underline the brand’s push to a more premium positioning.

“We have the register your interest page on the website and there has been strong interest expressed there,” he said. “We have been very pleased with the numbers.”

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