Mazda CX-60 2022: BMW X3 and Audi Q5 rival revealed in full

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The covers have officially been ripped off the all-new Mazda CX-60 premium midsize SUV, with the Japanese brand specifically targeting more luxurious, higher-priced competitors such as the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, as well as the Volvo XC60 and all-new Lexus NX.

Based on Mazda’s new scalable Large Product Architecture, the CX-60 is the first model out of a four-model CX line-up to be launched over the next 12 months, including a CX-80 and larger, US-focused CX-70 and CX-90 SUVs. 

Mazda has said it wants to tailor a car to every type of buyer and the CX class of vehicles will help the Hiroshima-based company to achieve this.

Compared to the existing second-generation Mazda CX-5, the CX-60 measures 4745mm long (170mm more than CX-5), is 45mm wider at 1890mm and rides on 170mm-longer wheelbase (at 2870mm) The CX-60’s height is nearly identical to the CX-5 at 1680mm.

When equipped with the new plug-in hybrid powertrain, the CX-60 is no lightweight, with its kerb weights spanning 1980-2072kg – much more than a CX-5 Akera Turbo at 1720kg. 

The Mazda CX-60 is expected to launch in Australia in the later half of 2022. 

Model grades and standard specification

The European CX-60 line-up consists of four model grades beginning with the Prime-line and followed by the Exclusive-line, the Takumi and top-spec Homura.

Standard features available on every European CX-60 include six-way electric adjusted front seats, an eight-speaker sound system and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Prime-line also boasts LED headlights and tail-lights, a black honeycomb grille and 18-inch grey-metallic alloy wheels. 

Stepping up to the Exclusive-line trim adds a piano-black grille design, larger 20-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and steering wheel, and eight-way electric seat adjustment for the driver. 

A Comfort pack can be added to the Exclusive-line which adds black leather upholstery, vinyl material on the dashboard and roof pillars, fan-cooled ventilation for the front seats and heated rear seats. 

Tying it all together is Mazda’s new Driver Personalisation System that can adjust areas such as the driver’s seat, heads-up display and door mirrors to suit the preference of the driver. Over 250 pre-determined settings can be automatically accessed by the system to tailor a seating position for the driver, and it can do this for up to six different drivers.

Jumping to the Takumi brings a new front bumper design and 20-inch black-metallic alloy wheels. It also gets a Nappa leather interior, natural wood inlays and white ambient lighting.

The top-of-the-range CX-60 Homura also features a unique bumper design as well as full body colour-coding and 20-inch ‘aerodynamic’ black metallic alloy wheels. Inside, the Homura gets black leather upholstery with contrasting red door trim, as well as white ambient lighting. 

Australian specification grades are yet to be revealed to the public, however Mazda Australia will release a full set of specifications (and model names) closer to the CX-60’s launch later in 2022. 

Powertrains and performance 

Debuting in the CX-60 is Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid powertrain – a 2.5-litre ‘e-Skyactiv’ four-cylinder petrol with an additional 100kW electric motor and a 17.8kWh lithium-ion battery, taking total outputs to 241kW/500Nm – enough to make the CX-60 PHEV the most powerful production Mazda ever produced. Mazda claims the AWD CX-60 PHEV can do the 0-100km/h sprint in just 5.8 seconds. 

The CX-60 will also feature new in-line six-cylinder engines for the first time. Petrol and diesel powertrains will use ‘M Hybrid Boost’ 48-volt mild-hybrid technology and could produce around 200kW/600Nm for the turbo-diesel and 230kW/350Nm for the ‘SkyActiv-X’ petrol. 

Mazda has spent considerable time developing these new six-cylinder engines for the CX-60. The petrol six, which is 3.0-litres in displacement, goes without the use of a turbocharger and relies upon the extra boost provided by the mild-hybrid system, as well as combustion efficiencies from its spark-controlled compression-ignition system Mazda claims the six-cylinder ‘SkyActiv-X’ petrol is as fuel efficient as the four-cylinder SkyActiv-X 2.0-litre.

Meanwhile, the diesel is a 3.3-litre unit and features egg-shaped combustion chambers that result in a leaner burn and less unburnt residue. Mazda says the diesel six-cylinder weighs a similar amount to a conventional diesel four-cylinder, and no aspiration has been specified, you can expect it to be turbocharged. 

These powertrains will be paired to a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that Mazda says acts like a traditional torque-converter auto. The company states that the transmission “offers drivers smooth and responsive gear shifting with clear, smooth gear steps”.

Power will be sent to a rear-biased all-wheel drive system across the range that Mazda calls ‘i-Active’, though rear-wheel drive will also be available on six-cylinder CX-60s.

Five drive modes will be available on the Mazda CX-60 plug-in hybrid (with the fifth being a PHEV-exclusive EV mode), including Normal, Sport, Off-road and Towing modes.

Using the EV-only mode, the plug-in hybrid can travel up to 60km on electric power alone. 

Will the CX-60 be a safe car?

Although it has not yet been tested by European NCAP or Australian ANCAP, the Mazda CX-60 has plenty of features to keep occupants safe. 

Standard safety features include a see-through 360-degree camera (that enhances the front and rear sections obscured from the driver’s viewpoint), hill-descent control, vehicle-exit warning and radar cruise control that can also work in conjunction with speed-sign recognition.

Also standard on the CX-60 is autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with cyclist and pedestrian detection, junction AEB, rear AEB with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assistance with steering assist, and driver drowsiness detection. 

The CX-60 has been designed with pedestrian safety in mind, with the bonnet specifically sculpted to reduce injury in the event of a crash. 

When can we expect to see the Mazda CX-60 in Australia?

Mazda Australia says that production will begin on 11 March, 2022 for the CX-60 at Mazda’s Yamaguchi Hofu plant No.2.

The Japanese-specific model will be introduced in early April this year, however all Mazda Australia will say is that the launch of the CX-60 in our market will take place sometime this year.

Pricing is also yet to be confirmed, however Chasing Cars has estimated that the all-new CX-60 may start somewhere around the $70,000 mark in order to compete with cars such as the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 premium midsize SUVs.