Mazda CX-60 review

You would be forgiven for thinking that the only car you'll be able to buy in the very near future will be fully electric. However, not every brand feels that way; Mazda does have an electric car in the MX-30, but it is firmly sticking with combustion engines for the rest of the line-up. Such is the level of commitment to traditional engines, Mazda has developed a new 3.3-litre six-cylinder diesel for its latest flagship SUV, the CX-60.

Mazda's SUV line-up now features three models, with the CX-60 positioned above the CX-5. It has been available as a plug-in hybrid since last year and the range is expanding with this new diesel.

While the CX-60 is only a five-seater, it has a generous 570-litre boot capacity (expanding to 1,726 litres when the rear seats fold) and, later this year, Mazda will bolster its line-up with a slightly longer seven-seat version called the CX-80. The interior layout of the CX-60 is a step forward for Mazda, signalling the company's intention to compete with established premium brands. Both the switchgear and materials have a solid, well-made feel, with nicely damped controls and a wide touchscreen atop the dashboard's centre.

There's plenty of in-car tech, too, including a system that automatically configures the steering wheel and driver's seat to the optimum position when you input your height.

Meanwhile, an infrared camera built into the touchscreen monitors the driver's face to ensure they aren't tired or distracted, such as looking down at a phone while driving. If it detects the driver looking away from the road for even a short time, it will sound an alert to focus your attention back on driving.

The CX-60's cab-rearward profile ties in with the approach BMW takes with its cars, but that long bonnet is also needed to accommodate its new engine. The straight-six produces 254hp and 550Nm, sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic all-wheel-drive transmission.

The rationale for such a large-capacity engine is that it allows it to operate at its most efficient, even at higher speeds, and Mazda has even developed a new combustion technique to maximise performance. Added to that is a mild-hybrid system that enables the engine to momentarily deactivate for the CX-60 to coast on electric power. A small battery then powers an electric motor that maintains propulsion and keeps all of the car's ancillary systems operating.

As soon as you thumb the big Engine Start button, there's no mistaking that this Mazda is a diesel. It has a boomy sound that big diesels often produce and right from the off you get a sense of how much torque this engine produces. Easing away to drive in urban environs does little to labour the engine, as it produces its peak torque output from just 1,500rpm. The eight-speed auto shifts gear smoothly and, so long as you aren't trying to summon all of its power, the engine purrs along quite nicely.

It drives well thanks to that all-wheel-drive system, while the weight is lower than the plug-in hybrid model’s – a car previously criticised for its lacklustre performance. You almost always have plenty of performance  in reserve, easily dispatching quick overtakes. The engine switches up to a guttural and booming soundtrack when you push the accelerator pedal further, though it sounds more potent than coarse.

You can select from three different drive modes, though there isn't such a pronounced difference between the settings. Engaging Sport also turns the digital instrument cluster red and seems to put the eight-speed auto into a keener mode. However, the overall handling characteristics of the CX-60 tend not to encourage you to want to start hustling it down a winding back road. Instead, this Mazda is more adept at providing its occupants with comfortable, long-distance cruising, and with that diesel engine it should be reasonably economical, too. During a long day of driving, we saw it average of 5.8 litres/100 kilometres, which is fair but short of the official combined figure of 5.3 litres/100km.

That’s helped by a 48-volt mild hybrid system. During motorway driving, it decouples the engine at times, but this tends to last only a few seconds before the engine re-engages with a slight lurch. During city driving, it did occasionally step in but not with the type of frequency we have experienced using other similar systems. The brake pedal feel could be improved, too, as it doesn't offer much movement or feedback to the driver.

The Mazda CX-60 works much better as an overall package than the plug-in hybrid. However, with increasing movement towards electrification, it's hard to tell if motorists are still willing to put their hard-earned money into purely combustion engines, especially diesel.

With the supposed ban on combustion engines now rowing back to allow for the use of e-fuels, it seems that Mazda's gamble might pay off in the longer run. This large engine capacity provides plenty of performance with reasonable running costs while dressing it all up in an SUV with a high-quality feel.