Mazda CX-60 2024 review: D50e GT Vision long-term | Part 1

This first part of my long-term test of the Mazda CX-60 D50e GT will be written by me, but the second part will be written by an enormous huntsman spider which has taken control of the vehicle.

The huntsman is a hitchhiker we picked up only yesterday when my mum loaned us her fold-up chairs for our family Christmas party. The stack of chairs had been the spider’s home in mum’s shed, but now Cecil is its home.

My family has decided Cecil is the Mazda's name. Cecil CX-60. The spider does not have a name.

Mazda should have chosen more straightforward names for its SUVs. If you’re confused by Mazda’s line-up, you’re not alone. I am too, and I’ve been testing cars for 15 years. 

I’ll do my best to explain.

The CX-60 fits into Mazda’s line-up between the CX-5 mid-sized SUV and the CX-8 (which has been discontinued, but is still available into early 2024).

Above the CX-8 is the CX-9, and above that is the CX-90, at the top of the range.

The CX-60 fits into Mazda’s line-up between the CX-5 mid-sized SUV and the CX-8. (Image: Richard Berry)

What’s happened is Mazda has added new SUVs to its line-up that offer a more prestigious look and feel - the CX-60 and CX-90.

Our CX-60 is the D50e GT Vision. To decode that, D50e refers to the mild-hybrid six-cylinder diesel engine, GT is the grade which sits in the middle of the model range and Vision is the optional package that’s been fitted.

The list price of the CX-60 D50e GT is $70,400, and the 'Vision Technology' package adds $2000.

The standard features list includes leather upholstery,  heated seats in the front and back, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a 12.3-inch media display and a 12.3-inch head-up display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, there’s sat nav, wireless phone charging and dual-zone climate control.

The standard features list includes leather upholstery, heated seats in the front and back, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a 12.3-inch media display and a 12.3-inch head-up display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, there’s sat nav, wireless phone charging and dual-zone climate control. (Image: Richard Berry)

Also standard are the 20-inch black alloy wheels, the gloss black wing mirrors, LED headlights, power tailgate and panoramic sunroof.

The optional Vision Technology package adds a 360-degree monitor, adaptive LED headlights and front cross-traffic alert.

This first month with the CX-60 has seen us make use of all these features daily. There are a few things to report to you.

First, the wireless phone charger is easy to access under the dashboard, but doesn’t hold the phone securely and it will slide out on steep hills. We live on a hilly street and it happens just about every day.

All that's missing are sunshades for the rear windows and climate control for the second row. (Image: Richard Berry)

Next, the media screen isn’t a touchscreen, which means you have to access it through a dial on the centre console. Rotating the dial lets you flick between icons on the screen, and the process is frustratingly awkward.

The cabin is comfortable with hard-wearing but high-quality feeling materials. All that's missing are sunshades for the rear windows and climate control for the second row.

There is no third row of seating in a CX-60, but five seats suited my little family of four perfectly with a cabin offering plenty of head and legroom in the second row, and enough space for a forward facing baby seat so the passenger in front isn’t feeling cramped.

The boot’s 447 litres of cargo capacity is enough for our pram and weekly shopping, but anything less than this is getting too small for us.

This month we’ve travelled 718km and filled up twice, but the range we’re getting isn’t bad considering most of our driving is urban.

We got 615km out of a full 58-litre tank with the trip computer reporting 13km left before I decided to fill up.

We put in 52.40 litres so the fuel consumption works out to be 8.5L/100km.

Overall the fuel consumption this month has been 7.8L/100km.

We got 615km out of a full 58-litre tank with the trip computer reporting 13km left before I decided to fill up. (Image: Richard Berry)

Mazda says the mild-hybrid diesel engine should use 4.9L/100km after a combination of open and urban roads.

The urban fuel consumption according to Mazda is 5.2L/100km, but I think that’s pretty optimistic.

The takeaway here is that while this engine has a hybrid system it’s not going to save you as much fuel as a plug-in hybrid or a hybrid which uses motors to drive the wheels.

Mazda calls it a mild-hybrid system and it’s there to create efficiencies and support electrical systems rather than power the wheels.

At 3.3 litres it’s a fairly large engine and makes good power at 187kW and plenty of torque at 550Nm. (Image: Richard Berry)

Remembering the D50e is a diesel engine is something you’ll get used to. It’s quiet for a diesel and as with the most inline six cylinders this engine runs beautifully smoothly.

At 3.3 litres it’s a fairly large engine and makes good power at 187kW and plenty of torque at 550Nm.

What’s not smooth is the eight-speed automatic transmission. Gear changes are rough, almost jerky, while I’ve noticed a ‘grinding’ sound at low speeds, too.

This is not just our CX-60, but all have the same issue with this eight speed transmission and it’s a problem Mazda has publicly promised to address through recalibration. 

The CX-60 does feel big to drive and at 4740mm end-to-end and 1890mm wide it’s a large mid-size SUV. (Image: Richard Berry)

If you have already bought a CX-60 with this issue, we expect Mazda to offer rectification.  

Aside from the transmission roughness, our CX-60 has been great to drive. The dynamics are good with competent handling and accurate steering, although the ride is a smidge firm, but again, we’ve become used to this.

I haven’t become used to the front cross-traffic alert, though. Sure, it’s a great safety feature for car parks when there could be small children hidden by the high bonnet of the SUV, but the system activates constantly while driving as it picks up other vehicles that I can see perfectly well.

The CX-60 does feel big to drive and at 4740mm end-to-end and 1890mm wide it’s a large mid-size SUV.

Well, that’s it for Cecil the CX-60 this month, I’m now about to go out there and see if I can coax the huntsman out. If I can't this could be the final instalment from me.

Acquired: November, 2023

Distance travelled this month: 718km

Odometer: 6884km

Average fuel consumption this month: 7.8L/100km (measured at the pump)