Mazda CX-60 confirmed for South Africa – Everything we know

Mazda has confirmed to TopAuto that it will launch the new CX-60 – its first plug-in hybrid and most powerful road car ever – in South Africa.

“At this stage, we can confirm [the launch] in the first half of 2023,” said Mazda South Africa.

Upcoming Mazda SUVs

The CX-60 was unveiled at the start of March as the first vehicle in the automaker’s “Large Product” group, which provides “significantly enhanced driving pleasure and environmental and safety performance,” said Mazda.

“Mazda plans to introduce four models from our Large Product group to the in-high-demand global SUV market by the end of 2023.”

“Markets with narrower roads and smaller parking lots such as Europe and Japan will welcome the introduction of the two-row seat CX-60 and the three-row seat CX-80.”

The table below shows the upcoming SUVs Mazda will launch from 2022 onwards in global markets.

The CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90 are not yet confirmed for a South African introduction. The CX-50 will not be offered locally.

What we know

Mazda has positioned the CX-60 as a two-row, midsize SUV that is able to meet diverse customer needs.

In Europe, it can be equipped with a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine connected to a 100kW electric motor powered by a 17.8kWh battery.

The combination offers an output of 221kW and 500Nm, making it the most powerful road car Mazda has ever produced, said the company.

The plug-in hybrid powertrain mates to a newly-developed eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system, with the “Mi-Drive” drive-mode selector offering five programmes to tailor driving characteristics.

With this setup, the CX-60 sprints to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds and reaches a limited top speed of 200km/h – while combined fuel consumption is claimed to be as low as 1.5l/100km.

It also boasts a driving range of 63km at 100km/h on pure electric power – with stop-start city driving it offers up to 68km – as well as a maximum towing capacity of 2,500kg.

In addition, the CX-60 sees Mazda’s Kinetic Posture Control system that stabilises vehicle posture when cornering through braking the inside rear wheel to draw the car body downwards.

“Positioning the high-voltage battery between the front and rear axles, and as low as possible, further helps the CX-60’s centre of gravity and stability,” said the manufacturer.

European specifications

In Europe, the CX-60 will be offered in Exclusive-Line, Homura, and Takumi specifications.

The five-seater cabin was designed with an “asymmetrical balance” to put a focus on the driver, while the boot offers up to 570 litres of cargo space.

Depending on the model, the cabin features woven fabric and yarn finishes, Nappa leather seats, maple wood trims, chrome details, and “hanging stitching” seams.

The CX-60 can also be bought with a digital instrument cluster, a smartphone mirroring infotainment system, electric seats, and a comprehensive range of driver assistance systems.

This include hill descent control, adaptive cruise control with traffic sign recognition, as well as a 360-degree monitoring system with extended field of view at low speeds.