2024 Mazda CX-60 G40e Review

If you are reading this, you’d likely know by now the Mazda CX-60 is one of the Japanese brand’s most ambitious and important models to date.

It has been tasked with propelling the small (on a global scale) mainstream manufacturer up the premium ladder where profit margin is more lucrative.

To do that, the CX-60 is based on an all-new rear and all-whee drive platform married to a range of new inline six-cylinder engines, and Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid powertrain. Inside, there’s the latest tech to challenge established premium stalwarts.

We spent some time in the CX-60 G40E to find out how Mazda’s first properly premium model fairs.

How much is the Mazda CX-60?

There’s no shortage of choices with the five-seat 2024 Mada CX-60 range with nine variants on offer.

Customers can choose from three trim levels – Evolve, GT and Azami – all of which are offered with three powertrain choices:

• 3-litre inline six-cylinder turbocharged petrol
• 3-litre inline six-cylinder turbocharged diesel
• 5-litre four-cylinder plug-in hybrid petrol-electric hybrid

All are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive as standard.

Prices start from $60,550 and top out at $86,800 before on-road costs, with the Diesel (designated D50e) adding $2,000 to the sticker, while the P50e PHEV requires an additional $12,500.

This puts the CX-60 in the vicinity of the Lexus NX, Genesis GV70, Audi Q5 and BMW X3 and reflects its premium aspiration.

Options include:

• Luxury Pack ($4,000) – optional on Evolve (standard on GT and Azami) and adds:
  • Heated black leather seats
  • Exterior mirror memory
  • Power seat adjustment with driver’s memory
• Vision Technology Pack ($2,000) – optional on Evolve (standard on Azami) and adds:
  • 360-degree view monitor with see through view
  • 3-inch digital cluster
  • Cruising and traffic support
  • Driver monitoring
  • Front cross traffic alert
• Vision Technology Pack ($2,000) – optional on GT (standard on Azami) and adds:
  • 360-degree view monitor with see through view
  • Adaptive LED headlamps
  • Cruising and traffic support
  • Front cross traffic alert
• Takumi Pack ($2,000) – optional on Azami and adds:
  • Pure White nappa leather seats
  • Bright decoration panel
  • Cloth dashboard panel with Kakenui stitching
  • White Maple wood console and door trim inserts
• SP Pack ($2,000) – optional on Azami and adds:
  • Tan nappa leather seats
  • 20-inch black metallic alloy wheels
  • Dark coloured side signature
  • Gloss black honeycomb grille
  • Gloss black exterior mirrors
  • LED headlights with dark signature
  • Suede finish dashboard panel
  • Two-tone steering wheel

The CX-60 comes with the following colour pallet:

• Platinum Quartz metallic
• Jet Black Mica
• Deep Crystal Blue Mica
• Machine Grey metallic ($995)
• Soul Red Crystal metallic ($995)
• Rhodium White metallic ($995)

Our tester here is the CX-60 G40E Azami with SP Pack.

What do you get?

Standard equipment highlights include:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights with High Beam Control
• 25-inch touchscreen infotainment
• Satellite navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless phone charger
• 8-speakers
• DAB+ digital radio
• Dual-zone climate control with rear vents
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Keyless entry

GT adds:

• 20-inch black metallic alloy wheels
• Body-coloured wheel arches and lower cladding
• 3-inch widescreen infotainment
• 3-inch digital cluster
• Electric steering column adjustment
• Heated steering wheel
• Hand-free electric tailgate
• Power adjustable front seats with driver’s memory
• Panoramic sunroof
• 12-speaker Bose audio
• Heated seats (front and outer rear)

Azami adds:

• 20-inch black metallic and machined alloy wheels
• 360-degree monitor with see through view
• Adaptive LED headlights
• Black nappa leather seats
• Cruising and traffic support
• Ventilated front seats
• Leather side door trim with courtesy lamp
• Personalise system with Easy Entry and Driving position guide

What is it like on the inside?

In line with its pricing and positioning, the CX-60’s interior is the finest yet from Mazda to date.

It feels high-end and exudes quality and attention to detail. And while the layout is on the more conventional side, Mazda has wisely retained physical switchgear for the climate control.

Everything is intuitively laid out and where you’d expect them to be although the infotainment screen can be a bit of a reach for some, including myself. Thankfully, it can also be operated via the centre console dial and surrounding menu buttons.

It has sharp graphics, reacts swiftly and easy to navigate and is a much better system than what you’d find in some European competitors.

There’s also a Driver Personalisation System that once you’ve put in your height, will adjust the seat, steering wheel and mirrors to suit your stature. We find it more a party trick than useful feature as it’s not spot on, leaving you to do the final adjustments.

In conjunction with a new facial recognition system, it can store up to six driver profiles that adjusts the above whenever it detects a change of driver.

We much prefer the seat memory system, which thankfully is also standard on the GT and Azami, or available as part of the optional Luxury Pack on Evolve.

Once on board, the seats are generously sized and comfortable and visibility all round is excellent. The steering wheel is of a nice size and lovely to hold.

The rear seats are slight softer than the fronts and rear seat passengers get their own aircon vents, two USB-C outlets, door and seatback storage, and cup holders in the rear centre armrest.

How much space does the Mazda CX-60 have?

There’s plenty of room up front and while the CX-60 is some 165mm longer than the CX-5, rear seat legroom isn’t as generous as expected due to the longitudinal engine layout that chews up valuable real estate.

The extra wide centre console that hides the transmission and e-motor houses two cupholders under a nicely damped cover, with a double lidded bin further aback. There are bottle holders in each door along with a small door bin for odds and ends.

Headroom is good up front and adequate at the back for taller passengers, especially with the sunroof installed.

Behind the electric tailgate is a decent 477 litres of boot space, expandable to 1,726 litres when the 40/20/40-split rear backrest is folded. Its squared off shape also increases usability.

What’s underneath the CX-60’s bonnet?

The three inline six-cylinder engines powering the CX-60 are a first for Mazda. It’s a bold move from Mazda considering most brands are abandoning six-cylinder engines for more efficient and lighter turbo fours.

Powering the CX-60 G40e on test here is a 3.3-litre twin-cam 24-valve turbocharged petrol producing 209kW from 5,000-6,000rpm and 450Nm between 2,000 and 3,5000rpm.

It also draws on assistance from an electric motor sitting in the transmission tunnel between and engine and eight-speed auto.

While we did not test the diesel CX-60, it produces 187kW at 3,750rpm and 550Nm from 1,500 to 2,400rpm.

Both powertrains are mated to an eight-speed wet clutch automatic (rather than torque converter) and rear biased permanent all-wheel drive system with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch.

Mazda claims the G40e will return 7.4L/100km on the combined cycle. We averaged around 9.7L/100km  in the real-world with 80 per cent suburban driving and 20 per cent freeway and country roads.

The G40e is equipped with regenerative braking and an engine start/stop system to improve efficiency but we find the start/stop can sometimes be slow to react, especially at intersections where it shuts off and you immediately wanted it to fire up again to take advantage of a gap in the intersection.

How does the Mazda CX-60 drive?

Mazda’s usually handle well but the CX-60 is a mixed bag. Its ride is fidgety to the point of being harsh at low speed for what is purported to be a luxury SUV.

You also have to slow right down at speed humps as otherwise, the suspension will transmit the most unpleasant and intrusive thump into the cabin.

The CX-60 does not come with adaptive suspension which we believe may help alleviate some of the ride harshness. Nevertheless, it improves the faster you go.

Out on smoother roads and sweeping corners is where the CX-60 shines. The sporty suspension tune gives the car a planted feel, and overall comfort is good, although its electric steering lacks feel especially when driven enthusiastically.

Like the chassis, the transmission needs a little more refinement too. While its quick shifting, it’s unnecessarily jerky at low speeds and clunky when slowing down.

It’s a shame because you feel the potential lurking underneath waiting to be unleashed.

However, in a bit of good news for CX-60 owners; Mazda has announced it will introduce a revised rear suspension tune including the fitment of softer rear dampers as standard on all new CX-60s as part of a running change made at a factory level. Owners of existing vehicles are also be offered the upgrade free of charge.

Other positives include good powertrain and cabin refinement with little road and wind noise around town (except for the above suspension thumps). Its inline six is also refined with a solid engine note when you apply throttle.

How safe is the Mazda CX-60?

The Mazda CX-60 carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing by Euro NCAP.

Safety equipment highlight includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with day and night pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Adaptive cruise control
• 10 airbags including front centre and driver’s knee airbags
• Traffic sign recognition
• Hill descent control
• Blind spot monitoring with vehicle exit warning
• Driver attention monitoring
• Front cross traffic alert
• Lane-keep assist system
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 360-degree camera

Ownership

The CX-60 is covered by a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with servicing required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometre, whichever comes first for the G40e.

Servicing costs $2,881 for the first five services.

Verdict