Mazda CX-60 3.3L Turbo Diesel Mild-Hybrid Takumi AWD (2024) First Drive Review

The Mazda CX-60 launched last year with only two 2.5-litre petrol variants but the new 3.3-litre CX-60 with a mild-hybrid diesel-electric powertrain joined the lineup this week.  It is the new flagship of the range and proudly carries the Takumi name. You may have heard this name before; it’s a Japanese term for the pursuit of perfection. Just like Lexus, Mazda also has Takumi craftsmen who spend decades perfecting their craft.

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What does it look like?

In Takumi trim, the CX-60 has a unique front bumper design with a piano black grille with vertical slats and silver elements. It features striking 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, ‘INLINE6’ Insignia, and the signature CX060 swooping roofline and coupe-inspired beltline. Viewed from the side, it reminds me of a Jaguar F-Pace or an Alfa Romeo Stelvio, of which the latter is a competitor.

It’s available in eight colours, including Rhodium White Premium Metallic, Soul Red Crystal Metallic, Machine Grey Metallic, Jet Black Mica, Deep Crystal Blue Mica, Sonic Silver Metallic, and Platinum Quartz Metallic.

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How big is it?

Size wise, it’s pretty big—bigger than your average five- (or rather four-and-a-half)-seater SUV—and it’s not much shorter in length than seven-seaters like the Ford Everest and Hyundai Santa Fe. So, instead of two additional cramped seats that are stowed in the boot, you have a voluminous 5-seater with a mammoth cargo area that fits serious holiday luggage, including a golf bag, for a family of five. It competes with cars like the Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, BMW X3 and Lexus NX.

Another golden oldie in this segment that has now been completely revamped is the 2024 Honda CR-V, which now carries a price tag of R959 900 for the 1.5T Executive and R1 039 900 for the Exclusive flagship model.

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The second row offers legroom galore and space for a fully-grown adult in the middle seat. There are two USB-C ports available for rear passengers and those in the front have two.

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What’s the interior like?

It’s driver-centric with a minimalist, logical layout and the screen is not touch-enabled; you use the main rotary controller that allows you to select what you need by pressing it, or you can use the satellite buttons on the steering wheel, or your voice via CarPlay or Android Auto.

This is a good thing for two reasons: 1) you’re not distracted when you’re selecting functions on screen (research conducted by Mazda found that drivers who reached for a touchscreen, inadvertently applied torque to the wheel, causing the car to veer from its lane), and 2) there are no grubby fingerprints on the glass.

I found that the system is more intuitive and much easier to operate than the needlessly complex systems found in the CX-60’s German counterparts.

The system is not  to be underestimated, however.  It features full driver personalisation that will recognise the driver and automatically change the settings to suit you. Here’s how it works:

After the driver enters their height, an in-car camera will detect the driver’s eye-position and adjust the driver's seat automatically to the best position based on Mazda's driving philosophy. The system also adjusts  the steering wheel position, the head-up display and even the angle of the wing mirrors. Using facial recognition software, the system can save profiles for up to six users (plus guests) to access and set preferences for over 250 adjustable settings.

In Takumi Trim, the cabin looks suitably upmarket with its Nappa leather interior, metallic inserts, a moonroof and soft-touch surfaces. On overseas models, the interior is available in a lighter colour that looks really gorgeous, and it’s a pity that you can’t specify it here.

Cabin highlights include heated and ventilated front seats, and for chilly hands, there’s a heated steering wheel. Satnav is standard, as is dual-zone climate control, and the sound system is a top-notch BOSE with 12 speakers. 

One of my favourite features in the CX-60 is Mazda’s ‘See-Through View’ 360-degree camera system. Using four cameras strategically placed around the vehicle, the system compiles a 360-degree panorama of the vehicle's environment and displays it on the infotainment screen. Pressing the View button on the infotainment system switches the view from the regular 360-degree monitor to the see-through view.

On the road with the CX-60 Mild-Hybrid Turbo Diesel

The CX-60 is a bit of a behemoth but it’s easy to drive once you find your ideal seating position. I raised my seat quite a bit, plugged in my phone (CarPlay registered instantly, and it can be wireless too), and set off. Our test route was a bit short but I tried to make the most of it.

Stellenbosch is quite congested during the week, but this afforded me the opportunity to test out functionalities such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. Interestingly, the Mazda radar cruise control disengages at low speed, and doesn’t have a stop-and-go function, which is quite nice to have when you’re commuting often and your car takes care of this tedious task in traffic.

If you stray from your lane, the lane-keeping system will push you back quite forcefully, but this can be adjusted. Other safety features include blind-spot assistance, high-beam forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, rear-cross traffic alert, road sign recognition, and parking sensors in the front and rear, to name but a few; see the full list at the bottom of this article.

From an engine and drivetrain perspective, there’s very little to fault. But before I get into it, let me explain how it works.

Firstly, since it’s a mild-hybrid vehicle, its battery and electric motor are too small for the CX-60 to run on electric power alone, like the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid models, for example. Instead, the small 12.4 kW / 153 Nm electric motor and 48-Volt battery (along with other hybrid components) act as an assistant to the 3.3-litre eSKYACTIV D turbodiesel engine, giving the CX-60 a boost as required and reducing the load on the engine (also when you’re creeping along slowly in traffic, which normally guzzles a lot of fuel). 

As you slow down or brake, the system stores energy in the battery so it can power the engine when you need it, making it fully self-charging. This configuration is a more efficient choice because it improves performance while also reducing emissions and fuel consumption. Mazda also says that this six-cylinder unit is one of the cleanest diesel engines in the world, with a thermal efficiency of over 40%.

The total system output amounts to 187 kW and 550 Nm.

What is the CX-60 MHEV like to drive?

The CX-60’s powerplant is mated to an eight-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission, which uses a multi-plate clutch for fast, responsive shifts. Thanks to the electric motor, there is zero turbo lag; in fact, switch to Sport mode and the diesel immediately springs to life with a deep, yet composed growl and will go on to reach 100 km/h from zero in only 7.3 seconds. Finally, the CX-60 got the power it so desperately needed!

The rear-wheel-biased i-Activ AWD system underscores the CX-60’s athletic intentions; after all, Mazda is known for their ability to build sporty SUVs and this provides a more engaging and responsive driving experience, with improved stability. Mazda also contends that the rear-biased AWD system can enhance fuel efficiency because the rear wheels are generally more efficient than the front wheels.

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It’s a pity our route wasn’t longer, as we didn’t get the chance to throw the CX-60 in any corners and the Helshoogte pass was pretty congested and speed-camera laden, but having driven the 2.5-litre petrol model previously, I can vouch for its dynamism, pliant suspension and surefooted demeanour.  In the CX-60 MHEV, our fuel efficiency in city traffic, and in Sport mode came to 8.5 litres per 100 km, but that figure will drop considerably when you’re out on the open road and Sport mode is really just for fun. (Mazda claims a combined figure of 4.9 litres per 100 km.)

For a more in-depth driving review, watch this space, as we will have this model on test soon.

Read our Mazda CX-60 2.5 Dynamic Review here.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-60  3.3L Turbo Diesel Mild-Hybrid Takumi AWD is a stately and highly sophisticated vehicle, worthy of respect. It’s loaded with equipment, its human-centric interface is a pleasure to use, it’s wonderfully spacious and it drives like a dream. It’s just a tad expensive at R1 049 200, and those who can spend over a million bucks on a premium SUV have a lot to pick from. 

Will they choose a Mazda? Knowing how badge-conscious our local buyers are, it’s improbable, but not impossible—plus, everything in the CX-60 Takumi model is standard fare, while the Germans (and Swedes) will make you pay for many additional extras such as heated seats, surround view cameras, and adaptive cruise control.

Mazdas are also well-known for being reliable and long-lasting, so let’s hope that sensible folks will see its value and buy this fantastic family car.

Specs and features of the Takumi model:

• 12-Inch Central Display Screen
• Reverse Camera
• 12-Speaker BOSE® Sound system
• Hands-free Liftgate
• 20” Alloy Wheels: Black Metallic+Machining
• Seat trim: Black Nappa Leather
• Power Lumbar (Driver & Passenger)
• Passive Collision Signal: Hazard & Brake
• 360⁰ View Monitor + See-through-view
• Drive Selection: Towing Mode
• Drive Selection: Off-Road Mode
• Mazda radar cruise control (MRCC)
• Rear Combination Signature Lights (RCL)
• Front Combination Signature Lights (FCL): Bright
• Adaptive LED Headlamps (ALH)
• Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
• Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
• Distance & Speed Alert (DAS): Display Only
• rear-side radar
• Front Radar
• Front Side Radar
• Forward Sensing Camera (FSC)
• Rear Direction Base Safety
• Smart Brake Support (SBS)
• Driver Monitor (DM)
• Driver Attention Alert (DAA)
• Integrated Navigation
• Personalisation System: Entry + Guide
• Intersection Brake Support:

Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA)

• Hill Descent Control (HDC)
• Front Direction Base Safety

1. Lane Keep Assist System (LAS)
2. Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
3. Advanced Smart City Brake Assist (SCBS)

• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Front Seat Ventilation (driver & passenger)
• Foot Light
• Door Courtesy Lamp (front & rear)
• Side Door Pocket Lamp (front & rear)
• All-Wheel Drive

ENDS