2025 Mazda CX-60 Review

“The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection,” said the German writer and philosopher, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

While we don’t have enough ink to list all of my limitations, one is that I am a tragic car enthusiast. Despite owning something like a dozen vehicles, when my good friend from the US told me he would be honeymooning in Melbourne, I realised none of the cars I had available at that time would be suitable to carry four adults with luggage around the state.

Thankfully, Mazda would soon be launching its updated CX-60, and had an outgoing model available for me to get acquainted with.

While the mid-size SUV was only released in 2022, Mazda had since admitted its main limitation when it came to the CX-60 – there was a problem with the ride.

My time with the vehicle confirmed this. Being so wonderful in almost every other aspect only highlighted the issue even more, like a model with a gap tooth.

Over the wrong bump, and without any kind of warning, the rear end of the CX-60 would violently buck like a horse at a rodeo.

Mazda is a relatively small car company compared to other Japanese brands, which is why it’s so impressive it can compete on the same level as large multinational corporations with far greater resources at their disposal.

Even so, releasing the CX-60 with this rear-end bucking was surprising. After all, this is the carmaker that brought us the MX-5.

Three years after its initial launch, and Mazda says it’s addressed the issue – along with improved transmission refinement, a lesser gripe with the CX-60.

To highlight the fixes, Mazda invited us down the former Holden proving ground at Lang Lang, allowing us to drive the new CX-60 on several ride and handling courses.

How much does the Mazda CX-60 cost?

‍The updated Mazda CX-60 has also meant the introduction of two new grades: the entry-level Pure, and the mid-spec Touring.

Which means buyers now have the choice of no less than 15 variants, with prices now ranging from $50,240 to $81,490 before on-road costs.

With the introduction of the Pure, the cost of entry into a CX-60 is now $10,000 less than before – with the Mazda now competing with several value brands in the mid-size SUV segment.

Despite the lower pricing, there’s still a long list of standard features – including keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, auto LED headlights, auto wipers, tyre-pressure monitoring, 360-degree cameras, a digital instrument display, head-up display, and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with digital radio and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Across the line-up is a choice of three powertrains: a 209kW/450Nm 3.3-litre turbocharged six-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine, a 187kW/550Nm 3.3-litre turbocharged six-cylinder mild-hybrid diesel engine, and a 241kW/500Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with plug-in hybrid technology.

At the launch, Mazda also announced a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine was coming, strongly suggesting a new CX-60 at an even lower price point.

At the other end of the range is the CX-60 Azami. And while circa-$70K may seem like a lot to spend on a mid-size SUV, Mazda knows how to do understated luxury.

The optional tan nappa leather in the SP Package is, frankly, stunning, and impressed my American friends as I chauffeured them to different tourist destinations around the state.

The point? The CX-60 now has one of the widest line-ups of any car on sale – with more to come – appealing to buyers of almost any budget.

It’s also worth noting Mazda has drive-away deals for the entire CX-60 range at the time of writing, so there are no surprises when it comes to figuring out what version is right for you.

‍2025 Mazda CX-60 Pricing

• CX-60 G40e Pure – $50,240
• CX-60 D50e Pure – $52,240
• CX-60 P50e PHEV Pure – $63,290
• CX-60 G40e Evolve – $55,240
• CX-60 D50e Evolve – $57,240
• CX-60 P50e PHEV Evolve - $68,290
• CX-60 G40e Touring – $58,240
• CX-60 D50e Touring – $60,240
• CX-60 P50e PHEV Touring – $71,290
• CX-60 G40e GT – $64,240
• CX-60 D50e GT - $66,240
• CX-60 P50e PHEV GT – $77,290
• CX-60 G40e Azami – $68,440
• CX-60 D50e Azami – $70,440
• CX-60 P50e PHEV Azami – $81,490

Note: Prices exclude on-road costs and are subject to change.

No Bad Angle

‍You know you’ve bought the right car if you turn back to look at it as you walk away, or so goes the old adage.

While they were all press cars, I did find myself – on more occasions than I’d like to admit – casting my gaze over the CX-60, or studying it from the kitchen window.

To my eye, the CX-60 is a very good-looking thing, even if it does have a heaviness to the rear-end – something it shares with the Mazda 3 hatchback.

Even so, Mazda’s designers know how to sculpt the body just enough to catch the light, amplified by some incredible paint choices – an area Mazda has been at the forefront of for several years.

I particularly like the integrated quad exhaust pipes – usually reserved for high-performance German cars, nowadays.

While the base model comes with black plastic wheel arches and unpainted cladding in places, which does cheapen the car – both literally and figuratively – the LED lights, the large grille with chrome surround, and the hunched yet proud stance make the CX-60 a lovely addition to any driveway.

A Selection from the Menu

‍While the exterior is very lovely, the interior is fantastic. Practical, comfortable, intuitive, and attractive.

The CX-60 Pure does certainly feel more akin to its lower price tag, with more plastic and hard surfaces throughout, as well as the cloth upholstery.

But good design shines through, and it comes across more like a humble family car than anything else. Step up to the black leather interior, and it certainly elevates everything to a new level of sophistication, but it’s the tan nappa leather with suede trim that truly impressed.

It’s a subjective thing, but for me, one of the marks of a ‘good car’ is its ability to be just as versatile when running errands at the local shops, while also being comfortable and capable on the open road. The CX-60 excelled at both.

Wireless Apple CarPlay worked without a hitch during my time with the car, with the quality-feeling buttons well laid out and easy to navigate. Other carmakers should take note.

An Adequate Space

‍Given the CX-60 is a mid-size SUV, second-row space is decent.

There’s ample headroom and legroom for most average-sized adults, though if you play basketball professionally, you might want to call dibs on the front seat.

For a vehicle to ferry honeymooning friends around in, the Mazda did a great job, with no complaints or seats being kicked.

One Suitcase per Person

‍The boot on the CX-60 is a little undersized compared to its competitors, with 477 litres of cargo space quoted. But we made do – even fitting in four large bags and a dog bed, which took it to its limit.

For those looking to tour the countryside, there’s a helpful 12-volt socket to plug a fridge into, while the flat boot entrance makes sliding heavy items in and out a lot easier.

Big Displacement Energy

‍The majority of my time was spent with the 3.3-litre turbo-diesel inline-six powertrain, which suits the SUV well.

In fact, the CX-60 is a bit of a breath of fresh air. The majority of mid-size SUVs these days come with smaller turbo-petrol engines, often aided by hybrid technology. But the Mazda felt like a big-ish car with a big-ish engine to match, giving the driver the same sort of confidence as Australian family sedans of decades past.

The CX-60 is no performance monster, of course, but the turbo-diesel gets the SUV up to speed with a reassuring wave of torque, even with four adults on board.

The eight-speed transmission in the pre-facelift model did feel like a generation older. It worked well at speed, but would sometimes punch a gear-change at low speeds with too much aggression.

Mazda says this was addressed, and while I’m willing to concede it’s better, there is still an underlying clumsiness when moving in heavy traffic.

The turbo-diesel has a combined fuel economy claim of 5.0 litres per 100 kilometres. Even with my fuel consumption hovering in the low sixes, it still felt astonishingly good given the size and performance.

Jump Up and Get Down

‍According to Mazda officials I’ve spoken to, the CX-60 was set-up a little too much towards spirited driving. Arguably an odd choice for a mid-size SUV.

In order to combat the bucking rear suspension, Mazda softened the springs, firmed up the shocks, and completely removed the rear anti-sway bar – the thing that helps reduce body-roll during cornering.

While the changes have helped eliminate that wild bucking, there are echoes of it occasionally. And at the expense of the CX-60’s relatively sharp handling.

I’m not sure if there’s something inherent within the CX-60’s chassis – whether it’s the wheelbase, weight distribution, suspension geometry, or a combination of those things – but it does feel as if it’s been given a large band-aid rather than addressing the root cause.

At the proving ground, Mazda was at pains to show just how well the CX-60 both rides and handles now with the changes. And it’s true, the car is still one of the best in the segment for ride and handling, but driving the old and new ones back-to-back, I suspect there has been a little compromise to the handling to improve the overall ride.

For the vast majority of buyers, however, the compromise will be a welcome one.

Stress-free Zone

‍The Mazda CX-60 has been given a full five stars from ANCAP – the Australasian New Car Assessment Program – with the rating given in 2022.

At its lowest of the four main categories, the CX-60 scored 77 per cent for Safety Assist technology, while being awarded 89 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, 91 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, and 93 per cent for Child Occupant Protection.

While most cars come with more or less the same handful of Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS), in practice, they can be very different. The CX-60 is one of the better ones, not constantly annoying the driver with alarms, and only stepping in when absolutely necessary.

Even the base model comes with front AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection and intersection assist, rear cross-traffic assist, blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, reversing camera, parking sensors, and tyre pressure monitors.

For the Evolve variant and above, buyers also gain a surround-view monitor with see-through view, driver monitoring camera, traffic jam assist, and front cross-traffic alert.

All models also get front, side, curtain, centre, and driver’s knee airbags.

Somewhere in the Middle

‍The Mazda CX-60 comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, five years of roadside assistance, and up to seven years of capped-price servicing.

But while services are every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first), the total cost of the capped-priced services over those seven years is $4797 – or roughly $685 per visit.

Given that is the average cost, it’s not exactly expensive, but there are cheaper capped-price service deals out there – particularly when it comes to the crowded mid-size SUV segment.

What do you get with the Mazda CX-60?‍

2025 Mazda CX-60 Pure standard features

• Auto LED headlights
• Auto high-beam
• Auto wipers
• 7.0-inch digital instrument display (G40e petrol and D50e)
• 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster (P50e)
• Head-up display
• 10.25-inch infotainment screen
• Eight-speaker audio system
• Wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• DAB digital radio
• 360-degree camera
• Dual-zone auto climate control with rear air vents
• Keyless entry and start
• Leather-trimmed steering wheel
• Leather-trimmed gear selector
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Heated side mirrors with auto folding and auto dimming
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• 18-inch grey metallic alloy wheels

CX-60 Evolve adds (over Pure):

• 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster
• 360-degree camera with see-through view
• Wireless smartphone charging
• Cruising and Traffic Support traffic jam assist
• Driver monitoring camera
• 'Maztex' synthetic leather and suede seat upholstery
• Power tailgate

CX-60 Touring adds (over Evolve):

• Black leather interior
• Heated front seats
• Power front seats seats

CX-60 GT adds (over Touring):

• Optional stone white leather upholstery
• Adaptive LED headlights
• Body-coloured wheel arches and lower body cladding
• 12.3-inch infotainment screen
• 12-speaker Bose premium audio system
• Heated rear seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Panoramic sunroof
• Driver monitor camera
• Hands-free power tailgate
• 20-inch black metallic alloy wheels

CX-60 Azami adds (over GT):

• Black nappa leather seat upholstery
• Leather door trim
• Ventilation for front seats
• Ambient LED interior lighting
• Frameless rear-view mirror
• 20-inch black metallic and machined alloy wheels

Final thoughts on the Mazda CX-60

‍Mazda really is the quiet achiever. The company continues to make wonderfully built, beautifully designed cars – and the CX-60 is a perfect example.

While I’d argue the Mazda SUV range is still a little crowded, the brand has decided to take a great platform – the CX-60 – and create a grade to suit everyone. This, rather than offering a handful of individual mid-size SUV models with minor differences.

The mass of variants means there’s a CX-60 model for almost every budget, and the car itself somehow manages to offer a high-quality package at the budget end, while still delivering unassuming luxury at the top end.

If you’re wary of newcomer brands, the answer could be a CX-60. If you’re a CEO and want to drive something nice without drawing attention, the answer could also be a CX-60.

I enjoyed my time with the CX-60, and though it has its faults, they are small and easily overlooked for what is a fantastic SUV.

I think Goethe would agree.