Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Well, we can’t hear you, unfortunately, so we’ll start with the good and get to the bad in a second. This is the 2022 Mazda CX-60, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) crossover SUV that combines impressive total system output with what appears to be impressive overall fuel economy (if, of course, you plug it in often). The numbers are impressive, and so is the latest evolution of the company’s Kodo design language, which looks more premium than ever.
Power!
Let’s start with the PHEV powertrain. It combines the company’s familiar 2.5-liter I-4 gas engine with a 100-kW e-motor and a 17.8-kWh battery, good for a total of 323 horsepower. That, Mazda says, makes it the most powerful road-going car the company’s ever made. And with a 5.8-second sprint to 62 mph, this Mazda won’t be a slouch at a stoplight, either.
Mazda also claims this PHEV can travel 37 miles on pure electric power before its gas engine must fire and work in tandem with the electric motor as a hybrid. Its fuel consumption and emissions figures look impressive, too. And in the future, the CX-60 will get a number of additional powertrains, including a 3.0-liter e-Skyactiv-X I-6 and a 3.3-liter Skyactiv-D diesel, both equipped with 48V mild-hybrid systems that Mazda calls M Hybrid Boost.
The CX-60 will feature i-Activ AWD, but when the I-6s come around, they will have the option of rear-wheel-drive. The CX-60 PHEV can even tow more than 5,500 lbs.
Kodo
The CX-60 is a shapely SUV, with proportions that draw attention to its new, rear-drive-based architecture in a huge way. The long hood and short front overhang give it a sleek look. The new grille has a premium texture that’s accentuated by its bright surround and interesting divorced/integrated running light arrangement.
Out back, things are handsome if a bit more generic. Devoid of badges, it could be an Infiniti or a BMW. The quad rhomboid exhausts are a nice touch, and well-integrated into the rear end. Chrome brightwork and fender garnishes add a bit of jewelry to the flanks.
Inside, it’s typical modern Mazda stuff, but the dash adopts a layered appearance with stacked horizontal elements, some of which surround and partially shroud the wide infotainment screen. Some specs will use interesting textiles and woods, giving it a bit more character than the rather drab appearance provided in these photos. The CX-60 is a two-row vehicle, by the way, although it’s about six inches longer than our market’s 2022 Mazda CX-5.
What Does This Mean for Us?
If all of this sounds a little too fantastical for an upcoming American-market Mazda, you’re right. The bad news is that we won’t get the CX-60. What we will get is the slightly larger CX-70, which will be related to the CX-60 and share many of its powertrains. It’s unlikely that either of these I-6s will arrive on these shores, but it’s possible a non-Skyactiv-X gasoline I-6 might arrive with the same 3.0-liter displacement. Meanwhile, it’s a safe bet that our CX-70 PHEV will match or exceed the CX-60’s 323-hp rating.
So, good news, bad news, and something to look forward to.
Keyword: 2022 Mazda CX-60 Debuts as a Handsome Plug-In Crossover—But There’s a Catch