Mazda is trying to push into the premium playground with the feature-packed however dear CX-60 medium-sized SUV. Listed here are 5 issues you must know in regards to the petrol-powered Azami SP variant.

The drive doesn’t match its easy attractiveness

Mazda bosses say the CX-60 extends its premium focus to new heights, turning into a viable various to these contemplating prestige-brand SUVs. However will consumers agree?

Barely bigger than Mazda’s enduringly profitable CX-5, the CX-60s exterior styling is glossy, sporty and aggressive, courtesy of its slab-sided front-end and 20-inch wheels.

Should you choice the signature “soul red” metallic paint it’s unquestionably shiny, snazzy household transport.

However the premium sheen fades in your first drive.

As an alternative of status polish, the journey’s too agency – there’s no adaptive damping to be discovered – and the gearbox is simply too clunky to hassle premium rivals.

It’s far pricier than its CX-5 stablemate

An entry-level CX-60 Evolve begins from $65,000 drive-away.

Mid-spec GTs are priced from $73,700 and our check Azami began from $79,000.

Engine choices are a straight-six turbo petrol or diesel, or a plug-in hybrid.

Pic the top-spec plug-in and also you’re just a few grand shy of $100,000 on the street. Ouch.

Mazda’s different five-seat mid-size SUV – the CX-5 – begins from lower than $40,000 on the street, and even its poshest model is a sub-$60,000 automotive.

Mazda justifies the CX-60 worth by claiming a number of engineering and know-how firsts, environment friendly and keen new engines, a complete security package deal and beneficiant record of normal inclusions.

The cabin in SP guise is lavish and gorgeous

There’s no query the CX-60 cabin deserves comparability with status manufacturers.

Our Azami grade check automotive with $2000 choice SP pack felt actually palatial, due to tan Nappa leather-based seats with heating, air flow and reminiscence settings.

These are complemented with tan suede for the sprint and door inners, making it really feel such as you’re cocooned in designer furnishings. Simply don’t go touching something with grubby fingers.

There’s a pair of 12.3-inch widescreens, a 360-degree monitor, Bose encompass sound, heated energy steering wheel and light-bathing panoramic roof.

The household received’t be disenchanted both.

Rear doorways open to virtually 90 levels, again seats are heated and fantastically comfortable (however mystifyingly don’t recline) and there’s even a home socket right here due to the automotive’s delicate hybrid system.

The engine is a gathering of previous and new faculties

Whereas many automotive firms have given up on combustion engine growth, Mazda has launched brand-new 3.3-litre six-cylinder diesel and petrols. Traditionalists rejoice!

These larger engines eclipse present turbo 2.5-litre petrols and a couple of.2-litre diesels on efficiency and effectivity fronts.

Mazda quotes gas use of seven.4L/100km – we managed 7.8L/100km on check – and there’s a buttery smoothness typical and appreciated of in-line six-cylinders.

With 209kW and 450Nm there’s muscular energy supply on the transfer and a good exhaust be aware.

However the in any other case well-behaved eight-speed gearbox will get flustered at low pace. Occasional jerkiness after which two situations of harsh clunkiness didn’t mirror nicely on this transmission.

It wants some finetuning to turn into an ideal Mazda

Mazda is an organization famend for stable engineering and an attractive dynamics, which amplifies the CX-60s shortcomings.

The gearbox’s hesitancy in stop-start site visitors and at roundabouts frustrates, whereas the suspension is simply too agency and jarring for an SUV with premium designs.

This rear-drive-biased SUV really handles very nicely in sooner corners should you keep away from bigger bumps, however this looks like a automotive that ought to prioritise consolation over cornering.

Mazda’s personal CX-5 has efficiently nailed the consolation/dealing with steadiness for years.

Different niggles embody a slow-acting gear shifter and Mazda’s insistence on not permitting touchscreen performance on the transfer.