Mazda CX-60 Review & Prices

The Mazda CX-60 is a large SUV that has sharp looks and is a stylish alternative to German models like the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC. Think of it like a Matalan jacket rather than Superdry or Patagonia – it still does the same job and looks smart, but doesn't quite have the brand cachet.

But just like that jacket, look past the badge and there's a lot to like. It looks a little awkward at the front, with the small headlights pulled to the edges of the wide grille, but the overall design is great. There are sleek lines and some cool design touches, with the body-coloured cladding and 20-inch wheels of top-spec models just a couple of highlights.

It’s a similar story inside, with top-spec models in particular giving the likes of Audi and Mercedes a run for their money, even if lower-spec models look a little less exciting. Regardless, there are high-end materials used throughout, and the design is pleasingly simple and easy on the eye.

You get two 12.3-inch displays – one for the infotainment and one for the driver’s display. The main screen is crisp and clear, but it’s mildly annoying that it’s not touchscreen, which would be easier to use when stationary. At least the rotary wheel in the centre console makes navigating menus simple on the move.

Moving to the back seats and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Headroom is great even with the optional glass roof, but you get more kneeroom in an Audi Q5 and it’s a bit of a squeeze to fit three adults.

Boot space is better, though, with the 570 litres being a bit more than you get in the Q5 and BMW X3, but a bit smaller than the Mercedes GLC. It’s even better news if you want the plug-in hybrid, because you don’t lose any boot space for the batteries, so it’s much bigger than the plug-in versions of the BMW and Mercedes.

Speaking of which, the plug-in hybrid is the most powerful engine choice and only comes with all-wheel drive. If you can keep it charged it will be the most economical, too. Can’t charge the batteries or do a lot of long motorway drives? One of the two diesels would be a better option.

When you are out on the motorway the CX-60 is generally quite comfortable, but you do get a bit more tyre and wind noise than you do in a BMW X3.

The plug-in hybrid will cost less than the diesel to run in town, but it’s a bit heavier and this causes it to be a bit less comfortable over bumps. Its electric range of 39 miles is also less than you get in the Mercedes.

These negatives are more than made up for on a twisty road, though. The Mazda CX-60 has great steering and there’s not much lean in the body, so it feels really sporty. With all-wheel drive there’s loads of grip so you get a great push out of corners, too.

Although it’s not the most comfortable large SUV and the plug-in hybrid could have a more useful electric range, there’s lots to like about the Mazda CX-60, which looks great and has a lovely, upmarket interior and practical boot.

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The Mazda CX-60 starts at around £45,000 for Exclusive-line models and rises to about £50,000 for Takumi versions. Considering the improved ambiance of the interior and the excellent equipment levels, that’s not a huge difference in price, though the mid-spec Homura trim feels like a good compromise.

However, it’s a little less clear cut when you look at the price of alternatives. Both the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 have similar starting points, and it’s only when you get up to the sportier models that the prices really head north from the Mazda, with a Lexus NX also hovering around a similar price point. The BMW and Audi in particular feel a bit more posh for the cash. That said, a basic Mercedes GLC will set you back more than a fully specced CX-60.

Although it’s not as comfortable as alternatives around town, the trade off is that the Mazda CX-60 is great fun on a twisty road

In town

If you’re planning on using the Mazda CX-60 as a city car, the plug-in hybrid model should offer you the best fuel economy (providing you can keep the batteries topped up, of course). It can travel up to 39 miles on electric power alone, which is similar to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 but less than half what you’ll get from a Mercedes GLC.

Low running costs are good, but the hybrid is the least comfortable over bumps and potholes, because the batteries make it heavier than the diesel versions and therefore it needs stiffer suspension. It’s not unbearable, and will be comfier in the diesel, but either way, the CX-60 is not as relaxing to drive as the Lexus NX.

On a positive note, visibility is pretty good, with large mirrors and a big rear window. You also have a tight turning circle so it’s really easy to navigate small spaces despite being a big SUV. The 360-degree camera makes things simpler still, but it’s only included as part of expensive option packs.

On the motorway

Hit the open road and the Mazda CX-60 handles higher speeds really well. The plug-in hybrid’s performance is particularly useful when pulling off overtakes or accelerating down a motorway on-ramp. You get an initial kick from the electric motors, and the gearbox drops gears quickly to give you extra oomph from the engine.

Regardless, if you do a lot of motorway miles, you will want to go for one of the diesels. Both offer similar economy and should have enough power in reserve for when you need to put your foot down.

Whichever engine you go for, the Mazda CX-60 isn’t quite as quiet and refined as some of its alternatives, particularly the BMW X3. There’s just a bit of tyre and wind noise noticeable when you’re cruising at 70mph.

Although the CX-60 is generally well-equipped, it’s a bit of a shame that you have to pay extra for adaptive cruise control, which can maintain your speed and distance to the car in front. It makes long drives more relaxing, and seems like a shame to pay extra when this Mazda is quite pricey to start with.

On a twisty road

The slightly uncomfortable ride does have an upside, and that’s that it helps make the Mazda CX-60 good fun to drive down a winding road. Head out into the countryside and this big SUV takes bends in its stride.

The body doesn’t lean much and the steering feels great, so you have confidence in the fact that you are placing the car exactly where you want it. Your passengers might not appreciate it, but you’ll have a big smile on your face.

The plug-in hybrid is great here, too. Although it feels heavy, the all-wheel drive and punchy performance give you the confidence to accelerate quickly out of corners.

Boot space is good and you don’t lose any capacity in the hybrid, but rear seat space isn’t brilliant

The Mazda CX-60 feels great from the moment you sit in the big, comfortable driver’s seat, helped by the fact it has an excellent driving position with good adjustability of the seat and steering wheel.

It feels pretty spacious inside and has fairly good storage, with the door bins particularly useful as they can hold a large water bottle. The cubby hole beneath the arm rest is okay if a bit shallow, and has a couple of USB-C slots inside. There are two cupholders beside the gear shifter, which can be hidden beneath a cover with a lovely, smooth opening mechanism. There’s also a slot for your phone beneath the dashboard, and the glovebox is a good, if not exceptional, size.

Space in the back seats

Although the front feels quite big and airy, it’s not quite as impressive in the back. Headroom is great, even with the optional glass roof, but kneeroom is merely adequate. It will be fine for most passengers, but those over six foot might find their knees press into the back of the seat in front. The middle seat is a bit cramped too, because the CX-60 isn’t the widest SUV. An Audi Q5 is more spacious.

That said, those in the back are well catered for in terms of large door bins, two USB-C slots and even a three-pin plug socket. Another lovely touch for driving in winter is heated outer rear seats from the middle specification upwards.

Boot space

The Mazda CX-60 gets a 570-litre boot, which makes it bigger than the BMW X3 and Audi Q5, both of which have 550 litres, and the Lexus NX’s 545 litres. It only trails the Mercedes GLC’s 600 litres.

However, if you’re looking at plug-in hybrids, the Mazda is tempting because you don’t have to sacrifice any boot space to make way for the batteries. In the BMW it drops down to 450 litres and in the GLC just 400 litres, making the CX-60 the most spacious of the PHEV models.

Further ticks in the Mazda’s box come from the fact you get an electric tailgate on all models and there’s no load lip, so it’s easy to lift heavy items in and out. Folding the rear seats down is a breeze too, thanks to latches in the boot, with a separate one for the middle seat, so you can quickly drop it to load long, narrow items through. Once the seats are down they don’t lie fully flat though, which can make it difficult to push big, heavy items in.

The interior looks great and there are lovely materials throughout, but the entry-level trim looks a bit dark and plain

Style isn’t exclusive to the exterior, as the CX-60 gets a cool layered dashboard design with some interesting materials. Top-spec models have fabric running across the middle of the dashboard and wood trim in the centre console, which add character and feel lovely.

The light-coloured upholstery, especially when paired with the optional glass roof, make the cabin feel light and airy, though lower-specced models have dark trim and it makes the CX-60 feel a bit more plain inside.

Atop the dashboard sits a 12.3-inch infotainment display and, curiously, it’s not a touchscreen when using the Mazda system. Instead, you use a rotary dial on the centre console, which works great on the move. It is just a bit of a shame you can’t quickly type in sat nav destinations, for example, when stationary.

Well, actually you can, but only when using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both are included wirelessly as standard, but the touchscreen only works when you’re stopped or moving very slowly. Odd.

The lack of touchscreen does have one advantage, which is that the climate controls are physical buttons, placed on a panel in the centre of the dashboard. It looks really classy with chunky chrome switches, even if the display screen looks a bit old school.

The driver’s display uses another 12.3-inch screen and, like the infotainment, is crisp and clear. The dials change designs too, such as having a red background when you put the car in sport mode, and it’s easy to flick through the menus.

There are three engine options in the Mazda CX-60, with two diesels and one plug-in hybrid. Starting with the hybrid, it uses a 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor and 17.8kWh battery. The result is 327hp and an electric-only range of about 39 miles, which is about the same as the Audi Q5, but some way off the Mercedes GLC’s 80-mile range.

The official fuel economy figure is 188mpg. This is achievable if you can keep the battery topped up and do a lot of driving around town, but if that’s not possible and you do a lot of motorway miles, you will get better economy from the diesels.

There are two to choose from, both of which are mild-hybrids with 3.3-litre engines. The first is rear-wheel drive, has 200hp and hits 56.5mpg on the combined cycle. The second has 254hp and all-wheel drive with fuel economy of 54.3mpg.

The hybrid’s ultra-low emissions of just 33g/km make it the go-to choice for those who want to reduce their first-year road tax to nearly nothing, though it’s worth noting that because all CX-60s cost more than £40,000, they are subject to an extra annual charge in years two to six. The low emissions also mean the hybrid is the most affordable option for company car buyers.

The Mazda CX-60 has been given the full five-out-of-five stars in Euro NCAP safety testing, excelling in child occupant protection in particular, with a score of 91%. It scored highly across the board, though, getting 88% for adult occupants, 89% for vulnerable road users and 76% for its safety systems.

Although the driver assistance rating is lower than the rest, you get some decent kit as standard, including a system that can warn of a stationary car ahead and apply the brakes before an impact if required. Although you only get regular cruise control as standard, rather than adaptive, you do get lane-keeping systems with this to stop you drifting across the white lines. Mid-spec Homura cars also get a blind spot monitoring system.

If you want more safety equipment, there’s a Driver Assistance Pack (£1,000) for hybrid models that includes adaptive cruise control that can also keep you moving in stop-start traffic. Diesel buyers can only get this bundled in with the Convenience Pack, which adds a 360-degree parking camera among other features, costing nearly £2,000.

Japanese car brands are usually a good bet for reliability, and that’s certainly true of Mazda. While it doesn’t quite have the bulletproof record of Toyota and Lexus, it’s one of the more reliable brands you can opt for.

The CX-60 is a new model, so it’s not possible to get a specific picture of how likely it is to go wrong, but based on reputation it should be more reliable than the Audi, BMW and Mercedes you might also consider.

Mazda offers a three-year/60,000-mile warranty as standard, which is fairly typical among its alternatives but the minimum you will find. Mercedes also offers three years, but over unlimited mileage, for example. Only the Lexus NX comfortably beats it, with up to 10 years warranty if you service it annually.

Other than this, Hyundai and Kia have the longest warranties, making the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento potential options, though both cost less than the Mazda CX-60 and feel a bit less posh inside.