Mighty flagship Mazda SUV boasts vast talents, huge value
There’s something hierarchal about a six-cylinder executive SUV. That six-pot purr, the substantial size and heft, not to mention a significant slither of importance. But man, they bring a tear to the eye when you consider price. Anything that calls itself premium starts around the two million mark. Get adventurous on spec or variant and you’ll double that.
Of course, there are the entry exec models, like the X5, Touareg and Cruiser 300 that start at one and a half. Add three hundred for a GLE. But they’re all just that. Entry. If you sacrifice a couple of doors and a heap of convenience, there’s the Defender 90 or just under 1.4 bar. If you’re happy with a bakkie based Everest, there’s a saving there. But we’re talking more bespoke SUVs here.
Hang on a second. What about this? The Mazda CX-60 3.3D Takumi AWD. The cheapest, and probably the best kept secret in the six-pot executive SUV bracket for a fraction of the price of all the above. Ut even undercuts that Everest.
CX-60 does what uber SUVs do for a fraction
To that end, we caught up with this gentle giant. And all this most underrated mid-exec sport ute out there did, was reinforce our opinion. And then some. Once again, CX-60 failed to disappoint. Bigger than any Mazda you’ve ever seen at 4.7 m long, 1.9 m wide and 1.7 m tall on a 2.9 m wheelbase, it brilliantly matches its established market rivals.
Mazda’s super-creamy 187 kW 550 Nm 3.3-litre straight six is the star of the show. It fires up to a friendly burble and like its Teutonic rivals, has a 48V mild hybrid starter-generator collar sitting between the six and its 8-speed automatic. Which goes on to drive all four wheels. So technically, it lacks for nothing versus those traditional rivals.
Looking at the vital statistics, CX-60 accelerates to 100 km/h in just on 7 seconds, sips 7.9 litres of diesel per hundred kilometres. But we managed much better than that. We cannot emphasise enough. how good this combination is. It’s as hierarchal as any of its far more expensive a six-cylinder executive SUV.
A million buck Mazda? But wait…
Still, Takumi costs R1.1-million. Gulp! For a Mazda? But hang on a second… Its closest traditional 5-door 6-pot exec SUV price rival, the R1.5 million 190 kW Touareg V6 TDI does 100 in 6.5 seconds and sips 7.8 l/100 km.
Next up, that R1.6M entry X5 makes 219 kW, runs to 100 in 6.1 seconds and uses 7.8 l/100 km. And the R1.9 million 213 kW GLE 300 d matches the Mazda’s performance at 6.8 l/100km. Looked at like that, your million-buck Mazda is quite the bargain, isn’t it?
In fact its, closest V6 price rivals are actually the Everest and its top of the line bakkie cousins. Most of which are actually still more expensive than this Mazda. The point, however, is that this Mazda lacks for very little, if anything, versus its trad exec rivals. Except price. Which is why we wanted it back for another look.
CX-60 brilliantly balances tech, class, value
CX-60 balances tech and simplicity with class, performance and functionality. There’s more than enough room for all passengers and 570 litres of easily accessible cavernous luggage to boot. It gulps in four large bags at a canter and still has a little space in front and behind, and on top or them. And opens up to 1,726 litres with the rear bench down.
Once you’ve entered your profile, your CX-60 will automatically adjust itself to your preferences. The seats cosset you in special orthopaedic ways. Top-end Bose 12-speaker sound with Mazda noise reduction all but eliminates unwanted noise to compliment a splendid ride with silence and style.
The subtle 12.3-inch interface features large fonts and works beautifully with the bezel in the middle, or the logical, real steering wheel buttons. We had an issue with the Mazda Connect CarPlay and Auto infotainment. The wireless pad argued with our iPhones, overheated and stopped charging. So we had to use the cables anyway.
The best-kept secret on the SUV block
The dials have three modes. But you can’t have the best sports one when cruise is on. The heads-up is excellent. A vast menu of onboard systems include see-through 360 camera to excellent DRL LED headlamps. We prefer the lane-keeping off, but i-Activsense radar cruise starts at 31 km/h and will drop to 15.
On the road, this creamy straight six sounds and delivers brilliantly. Ride, while silky, is a tad taut on rougher surfaces. That and a woody steering feel could do with a tune-up around facelift time. None of it is bad, but that’s about the only area where it may lack versus those far more expensive traditional rivals. And it even has one of the best badges on the road, on its nose.
The penny really drops when you go back and consider those figures up top, again. Especially price. It’s a brilliant 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 ultimate dynamics, but it costs a fraction to own and drive. So there really is no comparison.
Yip, third time around, this splendid bargain SUV certainly proved that it remains without doubt the best-kept secret on the SUV block. As good as anything else at between a third and beyond half more. Bravo, Mazda! – Michele Lupini.
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: 3.68sec
0-100 km/h: 7.84 sec
0-120 km/h 10.857 sec
0-160 km/h 22.45 sec
400m: 15.6 sec 145 km/h
80-120 km/h: 5.40 sec
120-160 km/h: 7.67 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: R1.101M
How does it compare? Check with Auto's Test Data right here
