MOTORING

Mazda giving it large

ADAM TUDOR-LANE runs the rule over the Mazda CX-60

Mazda, a brand that deserves a lot more recognition than it gets. But as with all manufacturers in recent years, they’ve been forced into chasing profits, which means SUVs. And with that, their latest and biggest vehicle for some time is here, the

CX-60.

It’s big. Very big. Think Volvo XC90 big.

In fact, that’s probably its main competition to be honest.

The CX-60 is incredibly slab-sided, that’s not a bad thing, but there’s just no real flair to the design as seen on the stunning Mazda 3. But in all reality, an SUV is an SUV is an SUV, they all look pretty identical.

There are two engine options to choose from, a 2.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid or a 3.3-litre mild hybrid diesel, producing 323 and 251 BHP, respectively.

The hybrid system on the petrol couples a 173 BHP electric motor with a 17.8 kWh battery, making 500Nm of torque which gets put down onto the tarmac via an all-wheel drive system. 0-62 is a scarily rapid 5.8 seconds. Impressive for a car weighing nearly 2.2 tons.

And yes, you do feel every bit of that weight. This is no Maserati Levante. Which made the ‘Evo Triangle’ and surrounding roads an odd choice for the CX-60 launch event.

Granted, nobody will ever be hustling one of these along the finest Welsh mountain roads. On turn-in, it almost feels like the back end follows the front after a short pause. Undulations also generate an extra ‘bump’ as the CX-60 settles back down.

Around town, the school run and motorway plodding will be absolutely fine, so the above is a moot point.

There’s an all-electric range of up to 39 miles from that fairly large battery, that is if you stay under 62 MPH, which should be plenty for most short commutes.

Inside is where the CX-60 stands out most. The interior quality is second to none, easily on par with the likes of Volvo and, dare I say it, those two German brands too.

Mazda interiors always feel a step above the likes of Ford, Renault etc., but the CX-60 takes things to a new level. The detail in the stitching on the dash, for example, is incredible. Brushed silver trims adorn the doors and centre console, while the switchgear feels solid and expensive.

The 12.3-inch infotainment screen features Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay as standard; there are also two USB-C ports in both the front and back.

Rear seat legroom is excellent, as you’d expect, but if you have a taller-than-average driver up front, it shrinks a fair amount. Headroom is also good unless you’re approaching 6 foot, then you’ll just start to brush the roof.

Boot space measures 570 litres, which increases to 1726 with the rear seats down. A flat load lip makes it easy to remove heavier items, and there’s also a 12V socket which is handy. The rear seats also split 40/20/40.

I love Mazda as a brand; I really do. But the CX60 seems an odd choice for European markets.

Huge great engines that will scare people off at face value and at a time when petrol and diesel costs are about as unpredictable as our weather.

With prices starting at £45,420, it’s a big, well-equipped car for the money, it just needs to attract the right buyers and tug brand snobs away from their regular choice.