Straight-six Mazda SUV matches, undercuts trad rivals
We’ve waited a while for this one. To be frank, the Mazda CX-60 3.3D AWD Takumi did not disappoint. A luxury Mazda bigger than any you’ve ever seen, but is it up to its very well established market rivals?
At 4.7 m long, 1.9 m wide and 1.7 m tall, it runs on a 2.9 m wheelbase, it’s a big car. Compares handsomely to the 4.9 m long 2 m wide 1.7 m tall BMW X5 that rides on a similar 2.9 m wheelbase. Yes. That big. But the really big news in this flagship CX-60 sits under the bonnet.
A 187 kW 3.3-litre straight six turbodiesel
It’s a 187 kW 550 Nm 3.3-litre straight six turbodiesel. It also has a 48V mild hybrid starter-generator collar sitting in the bell housing between it and its 8-speed automatic transmission. Which goes on to drive all four wheels.
As mentioned, Takumi has some big dragons to slay. And some hefty rivals to stand up to. So how does it shape up? Well, looking at the vital statistics, this 187 kW CX-60 3.3 accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, sips 7.9 litres of diesel per hundred kilometres and costs R1.085-million. Gulp! For a Mazda?
But hang on a second. Its closest price rival in this neck of the woods is the Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI Elegance. It produces 190 kW runs to 100 in 6.5 seconds and sips 7.8 litres per hundred. And costs R1.4-million. Yip, thee hundred grand more. Another couple of hundred grand up the market, the four-cylinder Volvo XC90 B5 AWD makes 183 kW, stops the clock at 7.7 seconds to 100 km/h and sips 8 l/100 km.
Takumi shapes up to best shockingly well
If those dots have not yet aligned for you, consider that the R1.8M entry BMW X5 xDrive30d makes 219 kW, runs to 100 in 6.1 seconds and uses 7.8 litres of diesel per 100 km. And your starter pack GLE 300 d costs R1.9 million to roll out of the Mercedes-Benz dealership, produces 213 kW to match the Mazda’s 6.9 second hundred run, and use 6.8 l/100km.
Looked at like that, your million-buck Mazda is quite the bargain, isn’t it? In fact its closest price rivals are actually top of the line bakkies. Point is, the Mazda lacks for very little. If anything. Except price. Said to balance technology and simplicity to offer a perfect balance between beauty, performance, and functionality, the Mazda CX-60 also celebrates a century of among motoring’s most iconic brands.
Which means more than enough room for all passengers and 570 litres of easily accessible cavernous luggage to boot. That power-opening trunk ups to as much as 1,726 litres. Designed to make the driver feel instantly at home, your CX-60 will recognise you and automatically adjust your seat. And the rest of the car to car to your own preset preferences.
Takumi cabin a splendid, sensible space
It’s a splendid space too. Those chairs don’t just look good, they cosset your body in special orthopaedic ways. You’re treated to top-end Bose 12-speaker sound with Mazda noise reduction harmonic acoustics. To all but eliminate any unwanted noise. CX-60’s car-to-human interface is subtle. But big where it matters with large font displays that even some old goats this car appeals to most, will still see, read and understand. All laid out in typical, sensible Mazda style too.
It has three digital displays. The normal, sports, towing and off-road 12-inch dials, and an excellent heads-up display. Add latest generation 12.3-inch USB and wireless Mazda Connect CarPlay and Auto infotainment. Unlike other clown interfaces designed only for Martians to operate, mere humans will quickly become acquainted with these real Mazda buttons and knobs. You remember where they are and operate it all with ease.
This Mazda also offers a vast menu of onboard safety and systems. Its super-tough shell is backed by ABS, EBD, brake assist, hill descent and smart city brake support. Thres\a see-through view 360-degree camera, dynamic stability traction control, emergency stop signalling and early lighting DRL LED headlamps. Plus i-Activsense driver assistance radar cruise control with lane-keeping, blind spot and rear cross traffic alert.
Takumi straight-six is so creamy
On the road, we loved that straight six engine. It sounds creamy, is just rowdy enough and delivers brilliantly on that to match or better its toughest rivals. Ride is taut. Perhaps a touch too much so. We had one or two of its more expensive rivals on text alongside the CX-60 and if there’s one area where the Mazda can make up ground is in suspension refinement. That extends to a rather wooden steering feel. Not bad in its own right but it lacks against those albeit far more expensive traditional rivals.
The penny really drops when you go back and consider those figures up top, again. Especially the price. It’s a hell of a bargain. Million bucks and all. But the CX-60 represents a quantum shift for Mazda. This big diesel-electric straight-six may lack a little in some dynamic places over its traditional rivals. But then it costs a fraction of a price of those cars to own and drive. So there really isn’t a comparison
We have always appreciated Mazda’s fantastic small cars. There’s a quality about them that the rest seem to miss. Now it’s taken all that and thrust it upmarket. In splendid style and at a fraction of the price of rivals it matches shockingly well versus what you get. Yip. This splendid century old brand really seems to be onto something big. – Michele Lupini.
Images & Testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Mazda CX-60 3.3D AWD Takumi
Engine: 187kW 550 Nm 3.3-litre turbodiesel I6
Hybrid: Mild Electric
Drive: 8-speed automatic AWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 3.46 sec
0-100 km/h: 6.96 sec
0-120 km/h 12.27 sec
0-160 km/h 22.45 sec
400m: 14.9 sec 155 km/h
80-120 km/h: 4.81 sec
120-160 km/h: 6.77 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 220 km/h
Fuel: 4.9 l/100 km
CO2: 123 g/km
Range: 1175 km
Warranty/Service: 5y unl/5y unl.
LIST PRICE: R1.085M
How does it compare?
Check with Auto's Test Data right here