Mazda has never really been a brand that likes to follow the herd (take its commitment to the Wankel rotary engine as an example), so it’s no surprise to find the firm has gone its own way on diesels. Most manufacturers that continue to build compression ignition motors are sticking to smaller capacity four-cylinder motors that make the most of the fuel’s efficiency potential.
Mazda? Well, it’s developed an all-new straight-six unit with a 3.3-litre capacity that based on current market trends is about 20 years too late….
Still, what could be a sales miss-step for Mazda is good news for people like us, because the CX-60 is a genuinely intriguing alternative to rival SUVs. That six-pot motor clatters like a 30-year old black cab when fired from cold, but once warmed it’s smooth and keen to rev. There’s a choice of 197bhp (rear-wheel drive) and 254bhp (total traction) power outputs, but both feature stump-pulling and mild hybrid assisted mid-range torque.
More impressively, despite its large capacity the Mazda’s motor betters many 2.0-litre four-cylinder rivals for efficiency – the company claims 56.5mpg and 131g/km of CO2 for the two-wheel drive version. By comparison, the BMW X3 20d (admittedly with four-wheel drive), belches out 155g/km resulting in a higher rate tax payer sacrificing just under £7,500 of their annual pay – around £1,500 than they would for the Mazda.
Better still, despite its size and weight the Mazda drives with a surprising amount of rear-drive attitude and boasts decently feelsome steering. The interior is also pleasingly on the eye, comfortable and slathered in rich-feeling materials. Only the stingy 477-litre boot and stiff-legged ride count against the CX-60.
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