Launching a new car with a large diesel engine into the current car market, seems like a rather brave move, but that’s exactly what Mazda did with the CX60. Thankfully for us, there’s this plug-in hybrid version alongside it.
You can read elsewhere on EVs Unplugged how we’ve got on with this CV60 on an everyday basis over six months, but this CX60 PHEV gets effectively the same battery as the MX30 REV range-extender alongside a 2.5-litre petrol engine using Mazda’s e-Skyactiv technology.
Noticeably larger than the CX5 but still a five-seat SUV (the even larger CX80 gets seven seats), it will give Mazda a full line-up in the constantly growing SUV sector.
MAZDA CX60 PHEV – DESIGN
Along with Kia and possibly Hyundai, Mazda is producing some of the best-designed cars on the road at the moment. A clear family look with the large grille and angled front lights, the CX60 is no different.
At a glance it’s remarkably similar looking to the CX5, but it’s only when the two are alongside each other (or when you’re parking) that you realise the size difference. With the arrival of the even-bigger CX80 which offers seven-seats, you’ve got to wonder quite where this leaves this CX60 in the range, longer term.
Yes, it offers this PHEV version (the CX5 doesn’t offer a plug-in hybrid), and more space than the CX5, but you’ve got to wonder if the CX80 will eventually cannibalise sales from it longer term due to its extra practicality.
MAZDA CX60 PHEV – POWER AND RANGE
As we mentioned in the introduction, this version of the CX60 gets a 2.5-litre petrol engine which uses Mazda’s Skyactiv technology alongside a 17.8kWh battery. That’s enough to give it a 39 mile electric range and a 33g/km emissions.
By a slightly odd twist though, when it comes to company benefit-in-kind tax, the CX60 manages to fall into the 40-mile bracket due to a slightly-odd bit of rounding-up small print, dropping its tax rate to a very tempting 8% rather than 12%.
In terms of outright pace, that’s enough to give the Mazda 322bhp and a 0 to 60mph time of 5.8 seconds along with a 124mph top speed and while the average fuel economy is 188.3mpg, as ever it very much depends on your charging frequency and habits. A full charge on a home charger is around two and a half hours, while on a domestic three-pin socket is closer to five and a half.
Don’t expect to get too close to that 39 mile official range either too often. We managed it a couple of times, but the reality is that closer to 33-35 miles is average, but with no battery pack colder temperatures can see that plummet to 22 miles.
MAZDA CX60 PHEV – ON THE ROAD
There’s a bit of a dichotomy about this CX60 PHEV. Of late, Mazda has developed a well-deserved reputation for itself for producing some decent driver’s cars, even down to the diminutive Mazda 2 supermini.
How does square with a substantial SUV like this CX60. Well, it’s never going to be a rival for the MX5 for putting a smile on your face, but the sharp and direct steering remains respectable enough for feedback to the driver and there’s not a huge amount of body roll through corners – even if the car’s overall weight is an active discouragement for any overly enthusiastic driving.
In reality this isn’t the kind of car that you want to throw around and the hybrid system almost actively discourages that anyway. While it will stubbornly remain in electric mode unless severely provoked with your right foot, it’s not the greatest of hybrid systems overall.
The regenerative braking works well – although the level has to be set via the touch-screen rather than a system that’s more easily accessed on the move. And, while the engine itself is still a 2.5-litre petrol pulling a reasonably-sized SUV around, it remains pretty economical. While we did charge it constantly during our time with the car, as you’ll see from our long-term reviews, we average 94mpg over 4200 miles, with a combination of regular short distance commuting interspersed with occasional longer drives.
But while the two power delivery systems work well individually, there can sometimes be a slight glitch in their switchover, especially when in EV mode switching between delivery and regenerating. On those moments, on very little to no throttle input, almost when coasting, there can be a slight jerk or hiccup in the system as if it can’t make up its mind between powering the car forwards under electricity or using the motor to provide breaking. It doesn’t happen every time but is slightly unnerving when it does.
The low speed ride could be a little better, but thankfully it does improve with speed and even when the engine is on, any noise coming into the cabin is limited.
MAZDA CX60 PHEV – INTERIOR
As with the exterior, Mazda’s interiors are smart, well-designed with a hint of sporting focus towards the driver. There’s a small, chunky steering wheel and the rest of refreshingly old-school with real-world buttons and a touch-screen that can also be operated via a rotary control as well.
All that said however, while it may not have a huge touch-screen dominated like the dash as with many rivals, the CX60 just works and works well. A good example of good design that’s easy to live with on a day to day basis. There’s good storage space throughout and plenty of head and legroom in the back and the front.
Thanks to those exterior dimensions that we mentioned earlier, there’s also a decent amount of boot space too – 570 litres with the rear seats and a substantial 1726 litres with them lowered. Talking of the boot too, on more than one occasion we mistakenly hit the boot opening button on the remote as put the key in our pockets or just generally handled it, mistakenly leaving the boot open until we realised.
The overpowering sense with the Mazda though is that, as we said earlier, everything just works. Good design is present when you don’t realise it’s there and little things such as all the controls which are always where you expect them to be. Things such as the cruise control and the front radar adjustment, there’s no need to go hunting for an explanation in the manual, it’s just intuitive, just how it should be. Even the auto dipping headlights are some of the best we’ve ever experienced – with some incredibly bright and penetrating beams too.
SUMMARY
We slightly fear for the CX60’s position in the future Mazda line-up alongside the CX80, especially as it gets the same plug-in hybrid powertrain, but that is a much larger car. The CX60 isn’t perfect, especially given some of the issues in the grey area between providing drive under electricity, coasting and regenerative braking, it also doesn’t offer seven seats as with some of its rivals.
What it does do however, is offer plenty of space and a comfortable driving experience, even if you have to be very conscientious about regularly charging to get the best economy from it – but then the same is true of many plug-in hybrids at this level. In reality of course, Mazda desperately needs more full EVs in the range like the 6e, but as a plug-in hybrid stop-gap, this CX60 will do the job just fine.
FACT BOX
Model: Mazda CX60 PHEV
Price: from £46,940
Power: Petrol – 2.5-litre; Battery – 17.8kWh
Electric range: 39 miles
Average fuel consumption: 188.3mpg
CO2 emissions: 33g/km
Rating: 8/10