New 2022 Mazda CX-60 plug-in hybrid SUV unveiled

Mazda has unveiled its new CX-60 family SUV, which kicks off the introduction of plug-in hybrid power to the Japanese brand’s line-up. It goes up against other plug-in hybrid family SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, Ford Kuga, Toyota RAV4 and Vauxhall Grandland, as well as the Kia Sportage. The new car is available to order now, priced from £43,950, with deliveries set to begin in autumn.

With 323bhp and 500Nm of torque on tap, the plug-in CX-60 is the most powerful roadgoing car Mazda has ever made. It features the combination of a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and 134bhp electric motor fed by a 17.8kWh battery, as well as an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel-drive. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes just 5.8 seconds – nearly three seconds quicker than the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In.

Mazda also says the CX-60 will be capable of returning up to 188mpg fuel economy, while CO2 emissions stand at between 33 and 37g/km depending on specification. The CX-60 can also cover up to 37 miles on electric power alone, and reach 62mph in EV mode. Fully recharging the 17.8kWh battery from flat will take four hours.

That battery isn’t located under the boot floor as you might expect. Instead, it’s positioned between the front and rear axles, and as low down as possible, in order to improve the CX-60’s centre of gravity and stability. Mazda’s ‘Kinetic Posture Control’ system, meanwhile, is designed to reduce body lean by braking the inside rear wheel when cornering.

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Interior and practicality

Inside, the CX-60 features the same cockpit design as the rest of Mazda’s line-up. Much like the pure-electric MX-30, you get a steering wheel with physical buttons, behind which is a large digital driver’s display. You also get physical climate controls and a central infotainment screen, which is operated by a rotary dial on the centre console rather than being a touchscreen. On the practicality front, the CX-60 has room for five and 570 litres of boot space, which is more than any of its rivals offer.

Specifications, trim levels and standard equipment

There’s a choice of three trim levels for the CX-60: Exclusive-Line, Homura and Takumi. The entry-level car can be boosted with the addition of a Comfort Pack for £1,400. This includes an upgrade from 18 to 20-inch alloy wheels, as well as power-adjustable and ventilated front seats, rear seat heaters and a ‘Driver Personalisation System’; this can recognise who’s driving and adjust the seating, steering wheel and head-up display to suit their personal preferences.

Upgrading to Homura (£46,700) adds body-coloured wheelarches, gloss-black mirrors, 20-inch alloy wheels, ambient interior lighting and rear seat heating. The top-of-the-range Takumi (£48,050) gets 20-inch machined alloy wheels, body-coloured mirrors and chrome exterior trim.

Opting for either of these also allows you to add a panoramic glass roof, as well as the £1,000 Convenience Pack, which features privacy glass, a 360-degree camera and wireless smartphone charging. The Driver Assistance Pack (£1,100) adds several additional safety systems.

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Mazda CX-80 to follow

Following the CX-60’s introduction, Mazda will launch a larger CX-80, with three rows of seats, in 2023. A third new electrified Mazda is also headed to the UK, in the shape of a plug-in range-extender version of the MX-30 coupe that’s set to arrive later in 2022.

After that, Mazda plans to launch three new fully electric cars by 2025, all of which will be built on the company’s ‘Skyactiv EV Scalable Architecture’ dedicated electric-car platform. Mazda plans to have a completely electrified range by 2030.