I’m not sure quite what to make of the new Mazda CX-60, the latest addition to its range of SUVs. My test car arrived in a highly fetching shade of “platinum quartz”, a colour which sort of hovers intriguingly between beige, grey and taupe. It’s very much on-trend (I think) and contemplating its place in the spectrum occupied far too much of my time. It’s nice, anyway. Let’s continue inside…

The fit and finish was mostly impeccable, as you’d expect from a Mazda. Mine was a top-of-the-range version in “Takumi” trim. The leatherwork was very bright and white, and the dash also featured tasteful wood in shades of grey. There was nothing to get your heart racing in there, but then again this is intended to be smart, reliable and habitable family transport.

And you do get to enjoy a full-length panoramic glass sunroof, so at least your passengers get to see more of the world. You can easily say it’s just another mid-sized SUV in a market saturated with them. You can just as truthfully remark that there isn’t that much more that this sort of car can do that a competent old-school estate couldn’t, such as the still-attractive Mazda 6 tourer. But it seems to be what the market wants these days, and the Mazda is a competitive entrant.

THE SPEC

Mazda CX-60 Takumi AWD PHEV

Price: £49,520 (as tested; range starts at £43,950)

Engine capacity: 2.5 petrol, 8-sp auto + elec motor

Power output (PS): 327

Top speed (mph): 124

0 to 60 (seconds): 5.8

Fuel economy (mpg): 188 (inc battery-only use)

CO2 emissions (WLTP, g/km): 32

It’s also a highly engineered one. It combines quite a large petrol engine with a hybrid electric motor, and is actually also four-wheel drive, at least in this particular version. You can fill it up with petrol, of course, but also plug it in overnight and generate a little more power for the batteries as you drive. That means that you can get around 30 to 40 miles out of it in electric-only mode (as ever, depending on how gently you proceed).

Now, that means it’s the ideal car for a certain type of household – one that needs the space, does multiple shortish journeys (where the hybrid set-up gives you quiet, economical motoring), and probably out in the countryside where the all-wheel drive can assist with the mud and snow. But all those batteries and transmission bits inevitably add to the weight and cost, so for most purposes, a two-wheel drive petrol-only option would be best. If you’re set on clocking up astronomical mileages, then the 3.3-litre diesel is the choice, albeit environmentally flawed and vulnerable to future punitive taxation. It’ll be a rare beast, that one.

mazda cx-60: quite impressive in many ways

The leatherwork was very bright and white, and the dash also featured tasteful wood in shades of grey (Mazda)

Even with all that kit on board, the CX-60 can certainly get a move on, with 60mph coming along in under six seconds from rest, and on to a top speed well in excess of 100mph. On the move and in a hurry, the CX-60 is about as refined as these hybrids tend to be, which is to say a little bit moany. Cruising at motorway speed it’s perfectly fine, and the driver assistance pack gives you safer, semi-autonomous driving. Controls are a sensible mix of buttons and touchscreen, which isn’t true for every manufacturer these days.

So it’s quite impressive in many ways, the CX-60, though I actually prefer its larger sibling the CX-5, recently revised and much the nicer drive. But I have quibbles. The styling, for a start, lets it down. Usually, Mazda designs are a tactile blend of curves and swathes, often crafted by hand in clay back in Hiroshima. The CX-60 is just a bit too much of a slab-sided tank for my taste, and actually looks more like an MPV than an SUV, and not a particularly cute one either. At low speeds, the transmission was also surprisingly clunky, as if moving in and out of gears and across from electric assistance to full-petrol power was too much for the automatic gearbox’s brain.

mazda cx-60: quite impressive in many ways

You get to enjoy a full-length panoramic glass sunroof (Mazda)

Most disappointing was a faulty front light, all fogged up and with intermittently defective indicator light. It’s so unusual to find such a fault on any new car, and especially a meticulously manufactured Mazda that it’s disproportionately worthy of note. Naturally, it would get fixed easily at a dealer, free of charge under warranty, but buyers expect so much nowadays. I mean, it’s pretty much a £50,000 car, after all. Am I being unreasonable?

From news to politics, travel to sport, culture to climate – The Independent has a host of free newsletters to suit your interests. To find the stories you want to read, and more, in your inbox, click here.

Keyword: Mazda CX-60: Quite impressive in many ways

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Surprisingly, Mazda's Push To Move Upmarket Is Actually Working

Photo: Mazda Thanks to the popularity of the CX-50 and CX-90, Mazda’s profits grew significantly in the last quarter, Automotive News reports. In fact, the Japanese automaker believes this fiscal year will be the best on record from both a profit and U.S. sales perspective. If its forecasts are ...

View more: Surprisingly, Mazda's Push To Move Upmarket Is Actually Working

Mazda Says "Very Cool" MX-5 Miata Special Editions Are Coming

MX-5 Program Manager Shigeki Saito says the ND generation will be sold for as long as possible.

View more: Mazda Says "Very Cool" MX-5 Miata Special Editions Are Coming

Best-selling bakkies in South Africa – Models and pricing

Best-selling bakkies in South Africa 1. Toyota Hilux – 3,110 units 2. Ford Ranger – 1,853 units 3. Isuzu D-Max – 1,464 units 4. Nissan NP200 – 961 units 5. Mahindra Pik Up – 565 units 6. Nissan Navara – 354 units 7. VW Amarok – 352 units 8. ...

View more: Best-selling bakkies in South Africa – Models and pricing

Mazda CX-8 and MX-30 Saying Goodbye to Australia at the End of 2023

Mazda has confirmed that the CX-8 and the MX-30 will be saying goodbye to the Australian market at the end of 2023 as Mazda looks to expand its range of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric offerings. The news comes as a bit of a surprise, at least for the MX-30, ...

View more: Mazda CX-8 and MX-30 Saying Goodbye to Australia at the End of 2023

Mazda Hits Two Million Production Milestone for Famed Rotary Engines

Mazda has announced it has hit a new production milestone for its famed rotary engines, with the company’s production volumes exceeding two million units in total. Fifty-six years after the Mazda Cosmo Sport (Mazda 110S) was introduced to the world in 1967 and after multiple production shutdowns and a dozen ...

View more: Mazda Hits Two Million Production Milestone for Famed Rotary Engines

Mazda sports car concept in Tokyo previews the future of the MX-5

The Mazda Iconic SP is the clearest indication yet that the MX-5, currently in its fourth generation, will continue delighting drivers worldwide for another model generation.  With this promising development, the MX-5 will continue to be the Japanese equivalent of the Porsche 911 – evergreen, popular everywhere, highly recognisable ...

View more: Mazda sports car concept in Tokyo previews the future of the MX-5

Mazda Miata Owner Regrets Getting Retractable Hardtop

The folding hardtop causes issues for a track car.

View more: Mazda Miata Owner Regrets Getting Retractable Hardtop

Mazda Says It Can Shrink The Iconic SP To The Size Of A Miata

Chief Designer Masashi Nakayama mentions they intentionally made it bigger.

View more: Mazda Says It Can Shrink The Iconic SP To The Size Of A Miata

Mazda debuts gorgeous Iconic SP!

MY24 Mazda CX-30 Prices & Specs Confirmed, Arrives January

A Closer Look At the Mazda Iconic SP Concept In All Of Its FD RX-7-eqsue Glory

Honda Prelude, Mazda Iconic SP, Subaru Sport Mobility, Nissan Hyper Force: Rambling About Cars 147

Here's How The Rotary-Electric Powertrain Works In The Mazda Iconic SP Concept

The Rotary-Electric Mazda Iconic SP Concept Marks The Return of Pop Up Headlights

Mazda Iconic SP Concept Is An FD RX-7-Inspired Rotary Hybrid Beauty

The best of Tokyo: Japan Mobility Show's most innovative vehicle concepts

Mazda’s Iconic SP Concept Envisions a Futuristic MX-5 Lookalike

JMS 2023: The Iconic SP is Mazda’s vision of a carbon-neutral sports car

Mazda Unveils ‘Iconic SP’ Concept with 272kW Rotary EV Hybrid

Mazda Unveils Iconic SP Concept at Japan Mobility Show

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel