The CX-60 GT P50e is a new mid-spec plug-in hybrid model being offered by Mazda. It sits nestled next to its mid-sized stablemate, the CX-5, but Mazda is positioning it firmly in the premium SUV market with its equally premium price tag.
So, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that this new PHEV is being pitted against brands like Lexus and Volvo, both of which are well-known as leaders in luxury.
But has Mazda created a true rival? I’ve been driving it for a week with my family of three to find out for you.
The CX-60 GT P50e will set you back $80,300, before on-road costs. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
As you’d expect there are some luxury items to be found, like the panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, heated leather steering wheel, and heated rear outboard seats.
You also enjoy the following as standard - dual-zone climate control, electric front seats, leather-accented trim, electric steering wheel adjustment, satellite navigation, keyless entry, a hands-free powered tailgate and a 360-degree view camera system plus a bunch of upmarket technology which we’ll touch on later.
Leather-accented trim come standard in the CX-60. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
Design – Is there anything interesting about its design?
For me, Mazda SUVs are a bit too similar to get me excited. It’s a case of ‘same same but different’ when they’re on the road.
Each one looks like a scaled version of the other but the GT’s body colour extends to the lower cladding and wheel arches, which makes it appear larger than the CX-5 at least.
The GT model is also set apart from the base Evolve model with the heavier use of black accents – like the gloss black side mirrors, 20-inch alloy wheels and honeycomb grille. It’s 'PHEV' and 'In-line 6' side badges are also blacked out for added sportiness.
The GT model features gloss black side mirrors, 20-inch alloy wheels and honeycomb grille. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
The GT’s body colour extends to the lower cladding and wheel arches. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
Full LED exterior lights in Mazda’s classic slim-line look plus some added ‘in-take’ vents at the front complete the overall package.
In the cabin, there’s a strangely wide panel on the dashboard that separates the centre console from the media system and it doesn’t look right compared to the skinny air-vents and button panel that sits below it.
The interior does sport black leather-accented trims and enough soft touchpoints that there is a sense of quality throughout but I was hoping for a more luxuriously-appointed interior, given the price tag. Especially considering the top-spec CX-5 model is a good $25K more affordable.
There is a sense of quality throughout the cabin of the CX-60. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside?
The cabin is practical with its great sense of space in both rows, which is not always the case for a mid-sized SUV. Taller families will love how much legroom there is to be had.
The front passenger can get comfortable with the eight-way power adjustments on their seat but the driver enjoys the most perks with 10-way adjustments, lumbar support and two-position memory function.
Both seats have heat function (up to three levels) and are well-cushioned for a longer trip.
Upfront of the GT P50e is a 12.3-inch multimedia screen. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
The rear seats are well-padded and feature a handy 40/20/40 split-fold for internal storage. The outboard seats also have a heat function for added comfort.
My six-year old found this car to be super easy to get in and out of because of the 175mm ground clearance. He also enjoyed a good view from the wide windows and liked the amenities, like the directional air vents and reading lights.
Individual storage is decent in both rows but the front passengers get the best options with two cupholders, extra-large storage bins in each door, a glove box and a middle console, which is on the shallow side.
The CX-60's cabin is practical with its great sense of space in both rows. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
Back seaters get two cupholders in the fold-down armrest, small storage bins in each door and a couple of map pockets.
The technology looks upmarket with the dashboard being headlined by two separate 12.3-inch digital screens.
The multimedia system is easy enough to use but I wish Mazda enabled touchscreen access on this as it’s a pain to use the rotary selector dial while on the go.
The rear seats are well-padded and feature a handy 40/20/40 split-fold for internal storage. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats and three top tethers. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
The premium Bose sound system with its 12 speakers makes for a concert-like experience and the charging options are good throughout the car.
Up front you get two of the faster USB-C ports, a 12-volt socket and a wireless charging pad to choose from.
The CX-60 has a boot capacity of 477 litres. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
In the back seat you get another two USB-C ports plus a handy 220-volt (150W) port for bigger items. In the boot you get another 220-volt port but this one has 1500W capacity, so larger appliances can be hooked up.
The boot rounds out the cabin practicality with a decent 477L of capacity but you can bump it to 1726L if you fold down the rear seats. There are manual levers in the boot to do this.
The level load space makes it easy to slide things in and out and I always enjoy having a powered tailgate. A flipside to all of this room though is that you only get a tyre puncture repair kit rather than a physical spare.
Overall, it’s fairly gutsy and you’ll be pleased with that power when you hit the open road.
The GT P50e has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain.
On the electric motor side of things, this also has a lithium-ion battery with a relatively small 17.8kWh capacity which gives you a driving range of up to 76km when in pure EV mode.
It has a Type 2 AC charging port but it can’t be hooked onto a fast charger as it lacks the CCS DC connector.
On a 7.0kW system you should be able to get from 20 to 80 per cent in as little as 90 minutes. The household plug charging time is more like seven or eight hours, so best to leave overnight when at home.
Well .. let’s unpack that shall we? Yes, this thing certainly has power but the biggest surprise for me was how the electric motor and combustion engine talk to one another because it doesn’t make for the smoothest driving experience in the city.
Therein lies the rub, for me. At this price point I was hoping for a smoother drive experience. In fact, it performs in the strangest of ways - when you’re accelerating, it feels like you’re in a much lower gear than you ought to be.
Almost like you’re stuck in 4WD. There is a sensation of the engine being held back and fighting you when you drive this in built up areas.
The CX-60's 360-degree camera system is clear. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
The ride comfort in the city was affected by this because it has a tendency to bunny hop/lurch when you hit corners at lower speeds. However, it has beautiful manners on the open road and that is where this model shines for comfort and handling.
In this environment the steering feels concise and you can handle winding roads at speed without much roll. It can get a little noisy in the cabin as the electric motor wheezes a lot but otherwise, it’s alright for highway driving.
Overall, it's pretty good to park and I like the tight 10.8m turning circle. The 360-degree camera system is clear, too, but coupled with the front and rear parking sensors, you won’t have any issues.
The CX-60 has a turning circle of 10.8m. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
Other standard safety features include LED daytime running lights, lane departure alert, lane keeping aids, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, intelligent seat belt reminders, a driver fatigue monitor, front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree view camera system.
It also has adaptive cruise control but it was a bit hit or miss. It’s quite sensitive and sometimes registers a larger vehicle, like a truck, as still being in your lane despite overtaking.
Standard safety features include LED daytime running lights. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
It has autonomous emergency braking with car, pedestrian, cyclist and junction assist detection that’s operational from 10–80km/h (although the car detection is operational from 4.0–160km/h).
I’m happy to say this system works well – a ‘roo jumped out in front of me this week and the car performed an emergency stop with plenty of room to spare.
It achieved a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done in 2022 and it has eight airbags, including a driver’s knee- and a front centre airbag.
Services cost an average of $518, which is a little expensive for this class but servicing intervals are fine at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.
Mazda provides the CX-60 with a five-year/unlimited km warranty. (Image: Glen Sullivan)
The Mazda CX-60 GT P50e will suit those families that don’t need the extra seats of its bigger siblings but still want some luxury and comfort. I like the features and the hybrid efficiency but don't like how it handles in the city. I got used to it but it’s not my favourite plug-in hybrid to drive and for the higher price tag, I did expect a smoother experience.
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