Introduction to the 2025 Mazda CX-60
The Mazda CX-60 has been on sale since 2022 and is available with diesel mild-hybrid or petrol plug-in hybrid powertrains. Mazda has been quietly moving upmarket in recent years and the CX-60 is a rival to many premium SUVs, such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. We would also include models such as the Lexus NX and Volvo XC60 in that list.
For the 2025 model year, Mazda has updated the CX-60 with some mechanical tweaks to the suspension to improve the handling and alterations to the transmission to increase refinement. There are no sheet metal changes as part of this update, so if you're an existing owner you won't feel like you've suddenly got the 'old' model, though Mazda has added new upholstery options and other minor specification upgrades.
To see how this 2025 Mazda CX-60 compares to its immediate predecessor, we got behind the wheel of both the diesel and plug-in hybrid models at its international launch in Madrid, Spain. The driving environs ranged from city centre traffic to motorways to outstanding country roads.
Pros & Cons of the 2025 Mazda CX-60
Pros: Efficient yet characterful diesel engine, enhanced refinement.
Cons: PHEV model makes odd noise, diesel is more expensive
Exterior & Design of the 2025 Mazda CX-60
• Unfussy design
• 18- or 20-inch wheels
• Six specification grades available
The Mazda CX-60 employs some traditional design touches to underline its upmarket positioning. These include a 'cab rearward' side profile and long bonnet, emphasising its above-average engine size. Unusually for a model update, this 2025 CX-60 doesn't receive any exterior changes beyond the addition of a new colour called Zircon Sand (an €850 option).
The entry-level Prime-Line and Exclusive-Line specifications feature black cladding around the lower bumpers, sills and wheel arches. From the Homura grade upwards, these details are body-coloured, which alters the appearance slightly, and detailed changes include a darker colour for the grille surround, door mirrors and window trim. The CX-60 is comparable in size to most of its main rivals; its key dimensions are:
Length: 4,745mm
Width: 1,890mm
Height: 1,675mm (1,690mm on 20-inch wheels)
Wheelbase: 2,870mm
Interior, Practicality, Tech & Comfort of the 2025 Mazda CX-60
• Useful tech inside
• Well-made interior
• Takumi grade is more premium
There is an understated approach to the CX-60's interior that, at first glance, might make you think it's not all that special. Unlike some of its competitors, Mazda hasn't tried to festoon the interior with massive display screens that overwhelm its occupants.
There are screens, though, including a fully digital instrument display, a large colour head-up display (available from Exclusive-Line upwards) and a 12.3-inch centre-mounted touchscreen for the infotainment. The latter is a bit of a stretch to reach, so a rotary dial on the centre console can also control it. Mazda has moved this rotary controller forward and up by 132mm and 82mm, respectively, so that it falls into a more natural position for the driver.
That central screen also contains a front-facing camera that monitors the driver's face to check for any signs of drowsiness or distraction, such as looking down at a phone. With Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, there's no need to touch your phone while driving.
There is a good degree of adjustment when setting up the driving position, including 45mm of rake and 70mm of reach for the steering wheel. A nifty Driver Personalisation System can suggest an optimum setup for the driver's seat and steering wheel based on your height.
Once set up and saved, the front-facing camera detects when you sit in the car and automatically adjusts to the preconfigured position - useful if you share the car with someone else. This automatic adjustment includes the side mirrors.
New for 2025 in the Homura grade is a black Nappa leather upholstery and black Cordovan-like vinyl leather on the instrument panel. The roof lining and pillars are also black, and panel inserts feature a modern matt black hair-lined metal finish. This design will appeal to some for its harder-wearing nature.
In contrast, the Takumi interior looks and feels much more premium. Yes, the white Nappa leather won't be the easiest to live with, but it works well with the natural wood grain inserts and woven textile finish on the dashboard. The highlight is the use of Kakenui, a type of traditional Japanese stitching.
Given its size and positioning in the market, the CX-60 is reasonably generous when it comes to passenger space. The rear doors open to a near-90-degree angle, making it very easy for ingress and egress and for parents when strapping the little ones into their child seats. Speaking of which, both outer rear seats carry ISOFIX mounting points, and the outer rear seats can be heated as well, depending on the specification grade.
The rear passenger space is good, with adequate headroom and legroom. There is a small transmission hump on the floor, however, which, combined with the length of the front seat rails, does restrict foot space for whoever is in the middle seat.
There are USB-C charge ports and a power socket available as well. Boot space is a practical 570 litres, which includes 93 litres of underfloor storage. The folding rear seats have a 40:20:40 split and, when tumbled forwards, raise the total cargo capacity to 1,726 litres (to the roof).
Performance of the 2025 Mazda CX-60
• Torquey diesel engine
• All versions are automatic
• The PHEV option suits urban users
It might seem unconventional to see a relatively newly developed 3.3-litre straight-six diesel engine these days, but Mazda has never been a company to follow the crowd. Despite its large capacity, the performance is reasonably modest, with peak outputs of 254hp and 550Nm in this all-wheel-drive version. Opt for the rear-wheel-drive diesel CX-60, and the outputs of the same engine are dialled back to 200hp and 450Nm.
The rationale for the large capacity engine is that it doesn't have to work as hard to produce the power, and the use of patented DCPCI (Distribution-Controlled Partially Premixed Compression Ignition) - quite a mouthful - ensures that it performs more efficiently than you'd expect. It does feel like a powerful engine, and it's got to be one of the best-sounding diesel engines currently available. Yes, the bar may be low on that one, but it's still appreciated that Mazda has made this six-cylinder sound purposeful and meaty rather than like a bag of spanners.
With a 48-volt mild-hybrid system augmenting performance through a 153Nm electric motor, the CX-60 AWD can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 7.4 seconds. However, the on-hand torque is more impressive, making overtakes a cinch. As it doesn't have to work hard, the engine officially consumes 5.5 litres/100km and, during our time driving it, the trip computer indicated consumption of 5.8 litres/100km, which isn't far off the official number.
That 'mild-hybrid' setup provides longer engine-off moments and is quite smooth when ignition resumes. At speed and across winding roads the Mazda feels reassuringly planted and stable. You are aware of the car's mass, but it does a solid job of keeping everything in check in relation to body control and suspension movements.
Among the technical changes for 2025, Mazda has revised the suspension geometry that enhances the CX-60's comfort after hitting an undulation. The double wishbone setup at the front also uses modified control arms to make the steering response smoother. Additionally, Mazda's engineers installed upgraded subframe bushings and removed the rear anti-roll bar to improve grip and stability at the rear.
Metal ball joints supersede rubber items to produce a more direct connection, thus improving feedback. Softer rear springs have longer travel, but these are fitted to shock absorbers that are stiffer to produce a good countermeasure to pitching, resulting in a flat and composed ride.
We do like how the Mazda steers and handles. Drivers will derive plenty of confidence from its good road manners and where some similarly sized SUVs can feel numb and devoid of feedback, the Mazda is engaging by segment standards. People often choose diesel power for towing, but it's worth noting that all versions of the CX-60, including the plug-in hybrid, can tow up to 2,500kg.
The CX-60 e-Skyactiv PHEV uses a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a 129kW electric motor that draws its power from a 17.8kWh battery. That is enough for 64 kilometres of electric power when the vehicle is running at 100km/h or less according to Mazda. The combined peak outputs are 327hp and 500Nm, making this the most powerful Mazda produced to date. Not an astoundingly high figure, but Mazda isn't one to chase horsepower numbers.
The electric motor helps to ensure it feels brisk from a standing start and, around towns and cities, it has sufficient performance to comfortably keep up with traffic. We found that the electric sound from the motor and transmission is much more prominent than in other PHEVs. This noise has been improved since when we first drove the CX-60 PHEV, but it remains a little too obvious.
Running costs of the 2025 Mazda CX-60
• 3.3-litre diesel or 2.5-litre PHEV
• Reasonable running costs for both
• PHEV gets up to 73km electric driving in the city
Choosing the right Mazda CX-60 for you hinges on your driving habits and living arrangements. If you spend a lot of time at lower speeds in urban or city settings, a plug-in hybrid could be beneficial, assuming you can also charge it at home or work.
The 17.8kWh battery isn't the largest currently available, but it's enough to provide 64 kilometres of electric driving and as much as 73 kilometres of slower city driving. Officially, the CX-60 consumes a combined 1.4 litres/100km, but that figure is achieved in a laboratory test in which the battery is fully charged to begin with.
When the battery is depleted and you're solely using the petrol engine, the fuel consumption will start to rise noticeably to 7.8 litres/100km. There is no DC fast charging option for the PHEV. On a 7.4kW AC wallbox it will take 2 hours and 20 minutes to recharge fully.
The e-Skyactiv D is an appealing engine even though diesel isn't as popular as it once was. If you're frequently undertaking longer journeys it starts to come into its own, as it doesn't need to work all that hard to pull the Mazda along.
It will officially consume 5.1 litres/100km in rear-wheel-drive guise and 5.5 litres/100km in the all-wheel-drive model. When it comes to annual motor tax, the plug-in hybrid is better thanks to its lower emissions, resulting in a €140 annual cost, whereas the AWD diesel accrues a yearly fee of €270. The rear-wheel-drive CX-60 will cost up to €210 in motor tax.
Irish Pricing & Rivals of the 2025 Mazda CX-60
• Starts at €56,880
• Diesel costs from €65,240
• AWD is the most expensive
Pricing for the Mazda CX-60 starts at €56,880 for the Prime-Line plug-in hybrid and rises to €66,860 for the top-spec Takumi Plus grade. The rear-wheel-drive diesel isn't available in as many specification grades. It starts at €65,240 for the Prime-Line and tops out at €70,640 for the Exclusive-Line, which also includes the Comfort Pack, Convenience and Driver Assistance Pack.
The e-Skyactiv D AWD is available in almost all specification grades, starting at €70,240 for the Exclusive-Line and rising to €78,420 for the Takumi Plus.
The Mazda CX-60 does have a surprising number of rivals from established premium brands. Audi has just introduced an all-new Q5, which is also available in the Sportback style - something Mazda doesn't offer. BMW does a similar thing with the X3, and that's sure to be followed by a new X4 in time. Lexus isn't one to overlook, as the NX is also available as a plug-in hybrid and its interior is excellent.
Verdict - Should You Buy the 2025 Mazda CX-60?
The Mazda CX-60 is something of an outlier in the premium SUV segment, but it is a car that deserves to be in that sector all the same. You might not always think of Mazda as a premium marque, but the quality and finish inside, especially in the Takumi specification, are top-notch. The changes and updates to this 2025 model may be subtle, but they build on an already solid foundation. The plug-in hybrid powertrain has benefits aside from being the more affordable option, but we found driving the diesel to be a more enjoyable experience overall.
FAQs About the 2025 Mazda CX-60
How safe is the Mazda CX-60?
Euro NCAP has not assessed the Mazda CX-60, but other recent models from the company have been, and all scored five-star ratings. The CX-80, which shares much of the same architecture and safety systems as the CX-60, scored a five-star rating in 2024.
The report noted 92 per cent for adult occupant, 88 per cent for child occupant, 84 per cent for pedestrians and 79 per cent for safety assist. We'd suggest that the CX-60 is a safe car by modern standards.
Is there a seven-seat option?
The CX-60 is only a five-seater, but if you're a fan of the design, the CX-80 is effectively a longer CX-60 with a seven-seat option.
Want to know more about the Mazda CX-60?
If there's anything about the Mazda CX-60 we haven't covered, or you'd like advice on choosing between it and other cars, you can access our (completely free) expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.
