Mazda launches an important model on the market such as the new CX-60, which is positioned as its new flagship. Packed with technology, this new large SUV comes in a plug-in hybrid version, with mild hybrid six-cylinder diesel and petrol variants to follow later.
Mazda, like the rest of the car manufacturers, has had a difficult few years due to the shortage of components. This has meant that its worldwide sales, and in Europe, have experienced a notable reduction. The reality is that every car that the brand manufactures now is already sold. There are still quite a few limitations on the supply of components.
But little by little the circumstances improve and the forecast for the year 2022 places sales at around 160,000 units. In 2023 the brand expects that 200,000 units can be sold in Europe. Throughout the world, that same fiscal year it will be possible to reach 1.3 million vehicles, which will mean an 8% growth.
The Japanese brand, based in Hiroshima, is now launching a very important model for its future, the CX-60. It’s about This model premieres many things in the Japanese brand, a new large platform designed for mechanical six-cylinder in-line, diesel and gasoline. But these versions will arrive a few months later, while now it is launched with a plug-in hybrid version, also innovative.
Very careful interior, with recycled and sustainable materials that provide a different style.
This PHEV variant has up to 63 km of approved autonomy. The new CX-60 is the brand’s first vehicle with this plug-in hybrid technology, which opens an important gap in the face of the legal obligation to electrify vehicles. This CX-60 is a model that should allow the brand to climb positions and get closer every day to the premium segment. Basically, it is a large model, with a wide engine compartment configuration, longitudinal front propeller and rear propulsion.
The new Mazda has a robust and elegant style without protectors in the wheel arches or underbody.
With this new model, and its plug-in hybrid mechanics, we have been able to make a first contact in the vicinity of the brand’s European headquarters, in Leverkusen. And the first impression is that Mazda is taking that step forward to become a premium and different brand. It is because of its operation and dynamism, but also because of its interior, its quality of finish or the materials used.
different brand
Mazda always does things differently, for many years, and that groundbreaking philosophy is part of its way of doing things. It is also a way to stand out from other manufacturers in such a global market. When the brands opt for small gasoline mechanics, with a turbocharger, the Japanese does so with more displacement atmospheric engines, but just as efficient. If everyone bets on dual-clutch changes, Mazda does it with a torque converter but very good and comparable to those of its rivals.
The batteries under the seats allow a large trunk, with 570 liters starting.
Well, now it makes many differences again with this new model. When all manufacturers are committed to eliminating diesel engines, Mazda has developed a new diesel engine, six-cylinder in line, with its two power options, 200 or 240 horsepower.
eight gears
Exactly the same thing happens with the gear change. Japanese technicians have developed a strange eight-speed automatic transmission. It doesn’t have a torque converter and it’s not a dual-clutch either, instead it has a different clutch and that worked very well in our first contact. But it doesn’t have a clutch pedal. That is, it is an automatic transmission with clutch.
The car is big, you have to get used to the idea of its dimensions, but its dynamic behavior is good. The driver can opt for a Sport driving mode, which allows greater dynamism thanks to its firmer suspensions that reduce body roll. In any case, its powerful plug-in hybrid mechanics moves this vehicle with ease, although we did our test on roads with fairly limited speeds.
This PHEV mechanics combines a powerful 2.5-liter 190-horsepower gasoline engine with another 173-hp electric. The latter is located after the gasoline engine and ahead of the change. With this, the combined power of this mechanism is 327 horsepower. This powerful combination allows this model to be moved with ease. And thanks to a 17.8 kWh lithium battery, it provides a range of 63 km according to the WLTP cycle, which increases to 68 km in urban use.
four modes
In addition, the car offers a driving mode selector, with the usual ones for a vehicle of this type, that is, Sport, normal or electric. The mode selector sits forward of the gear lever and is an easy lever to pull. To the three usual modes, it adds a different one, the off-road mode. It is an option for those who want to ride off-road and do so more efficiently and, above all, safely.
I have to admit that in this first contact we could not drive on roads, to give an opinion on its operation in this type of terrain. In Germany there are many limitations to being able to ride off-road.
Very functional digital instrument panel, with a lot of information available.
In any case, at least in theory it is not a car that is very suitable to work for a long time in this off-road mode. Of course, depending on the version, rear-wheel drive options are offered or, in the case of the most powerful, also with all-wheel drive. This is also different from the one used by other vehicles.
rear drive
In general, plug-in hybrids that offer all-wheel drive actually have mechanical front-wheel drive, while the rear is achieved with an electric motor on the rear axle. This avoids the transmission shaft that can take part of the power to the rear axle.
In this case, again Mazda is committed to doing things differently. It is rear propulsion and therefore always has a transmission from the engine to the rear axle. Thanks to this, 4×4 traction is not exclusive to plug-in hybrid variants, but also diesel and gasoline versions will be able to offer it.
Its interior is very spacious and its trunk is a reference among equivalent SUVs with plug-in hybrid mechanics. The reason, once again, the different way of doing things. Its rivals carry the batteries of the hybrid system under the trunk floor, but in this case they go, as in pure electric models, under the seats. This leaves all the space available in your trunk. Part of 570 liters and reaches 1725 liters with the second row of seats folded.
New CX-80
This model, despite its size, can only offer five seats, very spacious, and that generous trunk that I mentioned. In 2023 Mazda’s lineup will feature another new large SUV option, the CX-80. In this case it is a variant derived from the CX-60, about 20 cm longer, which will offer seven seats in its three rows of seats. With the CX-80 there will be no interesting mechanical changes, it will have the same plug-in hybrid version of 327 combined horsepower and the six-cylinder options in gasoline and diesel.
As regards its finishes, the range has four different finishing options. The access one and above the Exclusive option with an intermediate finish. As the top of the range, the Mazda CX-60 will have two different alternatives, Homura as the sportiest approach option and Takumi that represents the most luxurious model in the range.
At the moment, the 327 hp plug-in hybrid option is already on sale, while the six-cylinder variants, both diesel and gasoline, will arrive from next January. As for its prices, the new model starts at a recommended price of 50,265 euros, without discounts and without the application of the Moves III Plan, to which this new model can be associated in its plug-in hybrid version.
The price of the CX-60 PHEV ranges from 50,265 euros for the access vehicle and 57,368 for the Takumi finish. As for the diesel, the starting price will be 48,719 euros for the 200-horsepower variant, while the 254-hp variant, with 4×4 traction, will mean a premium of about 3,500 euros.
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