2023 Mazda CX-60 D50e Mild-Hybrid Diesel Launch Review

It’s no secret that diesel fuel is somewhat on the nose globally. Thanks largely to electrification in new cars, diesel fuel in new passenger cars is very rare – and overall in our market, diesel new car sales are down 5.3 per cent year-on-year to the end of June 2023 at 175,939 units. Of course, the majority of those sales are commercial – ute sales are still booming and they are predominantly powered by diesel fuel – so a brand launching a new diesel-powered passenger car is rare. Enter the 2023 Mazda CX-60 D50e mild-hybrid diesel, which forms part of the brand’s new CX-60 range. Is it time for a revolution in diesel new car sales? Let’s find out.

The CX-60 is the first example of the brand’s new ‘Mazda Premium’ lineup, which sees it offering more upmarket products to compete with more premium brands. The CX-60 is one of the first cars in a long time we can think of that is launching with not only one, but two new inline six ICE engines – plus a plug-in hybrid too. While diesel has disappeared from a lot of brands locally, the premium mid-size SUV segment still offers quite a few diesel options and with Mazda’s new inline six diesel, the brand looks to be well set.

Price & Equipment: 9/10

For now, there are three 2023 Mazda CX-60 models available in Australia: entry-level Evolve, mid-spec GT and top-spec Azami and each is available with petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power. Pricing kicks off around $68,000 drive away for the Evolve diesel, while the GT diesel costs around $76,000 drive away and the top-spec Azami diesel costs around $81,500 drive away.

Standard equipment on the Evolve includes 18-inch alloy wheels, dusk-sensing automatic LED headlights, auto wipers, ‘Maztex’ synthetic leather upholstery, eight-way manual adjustment for the driver’s seat, a leather steering wheel and gear knob, keyless entry and start with heated and auto-dimming/auto-folding mirrors, an electric tailgate, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, satellite navigation, a 7.0-inch driver’s display screen, a heads-up display, a wireless phone charger, USB-C charging ports, a 150W AC outlet in the rear seat and an eight-speaker sound system.

Safety equipment includes 10 airbags, auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection assistance, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert (with braking), low-speed rear auto braking, driver attention monitoring, auto high beam, traffic sign recognition, exit warning assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera. The CX-60 range recently earned a five-star ANCAP safety rating, including a record 93 per cent score for child protection and an 89 per cent score for vulnerable road user protection.

Optional for the Evolve are the $4,000 Luxury Package – which adds black leather trim, heated front seats, power front seat adjustment and driver’s seat and memory position memory – and the $2,000 Vision Technology Package, which adds a 360-degree camera with ‘see-through’ functionality, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, driver monitoring, lane centre assist for semi-autonomous highway driving and front cross-traffic alert.

Moving to the mid-spec GT adds a larger 12.3-inch central screen, black 20-inch wheels, black mirror covers, body-coloured lower cladding, electric steering wheel adjustment, leather upholstery with electrically adjustable front seats, heated front and outer rear seats, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a heated steering wheel, a hands-free tailgate, a driver monitoring system to automatically adjust features like seating position and a panoramic sunroof.

Optional for the GT is the $2,000 Vision Technology Package, which includes the contents of the same package on the Evolve but further adds Matrix adaptive high beam functionality for the headlights.

Finally, the top-spec Azami adds the contents of the GT’s Vision Technology Package as well as nappa leather upholstery, 20-inch alloy wheels, ventilated front seats and extra interior lighting.

Optional for the Azami is the $2,000 SP Package – which adds tan nappa leather trim, black exterior detailing like the wheels, side signature, mirrors and headlight detailing, a suede dashboard fascia and a two-tone steering wheel – or the $2,000 Takumi Package, which adds white nappa leather trim, bright interior detailing and white maple wood console and door trim inserts.

In terms of size, there are quite a lot of rivals to the CX-60: the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Volvo XC60, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Jaguar F-Pace, Range Rover Velar, Volkswagen Touareg and Genesis GV70. But only the X3, F-Pace, Touareg and Velar offer six-cylinder diesel engines in non-performance models and all of them cost a lot more than the CX-60 – the cheapest of the lot, the Touareg, starts at just under $100,000 drive away for the entry-level 170TDI and while it offers a lot more off-road features than the CX-60, it costs a lot more money to buy.

Performance & Economy: 8.5/10

Under the bonnet of the 2023 Mazda CX-60 D50e is a new turbocharged 3.3-litre inline-six diesel engine, which makes 187kW of power (at 3,750rpm) and 550Nm of torque (between 1,500rpm and 2,400rpm). It uses 48V mild-hybrid technology for claimed better economy and emissions, while – like all other CX-60 variants in Australia – it’s mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive as standard. The claimed 0-100km/h sprint time for the diesel is 7.3 seconds, which is only 0.4 seconds behind the claim for the petrol, thanks to its relatively light kerb weight from 1,963kg

The D50e engine in the CX-60 is quite good. While it doesn’t sound or go quite as nicely as its petrol equivalent, it’s still silky smooth and quiet as well. Its full 550Nm of torque lasts from 1,500rpm to 2,400rpm, while even under full acceleration, its noise is still quite hushed. Having said that, there are times where it could be quieter – there are noises like turbo boost that make themselves known a little too much inside the cabin. An extra layer of refinement in this regard would make the CX-60 even better.

The only transmission available across the CX-60 range is a new eight-speed automatic, which doesn’t use a torque converter but a multi-plate clutch instead. Why? For greater efficiency, according to Mazda. In practice, it’s a pretty good gearbox that shifts smoothly and crisply with none of that typical low-speed hesitation that you get from a dual-clutch transmission – it feels as linear as a regular torque converter as well. It can be shifted manually using the paddle shifters, while the MHEV system allows the engine to shut off at certain speeds for greater efficiency.

The claimed combined fuel consumption for the 2023 Mazda CX-60 D50e is just 4.9L/100km, with claimed CO2 emissions of 128g/km. While we were unable to obtain proper fuel economy readings on the launch of the CX-60, a quick drive involving both town and highway driving resulted in a reading of just 5.3L/100km and we look forward to testing that further soon. The CX-60 has a 58-litre fuel tank and does not need AdBlue treatment.

Ride & Handling: 8.5/10

Based on Mazda’s new ‘Large Product Group’ all-wheel drive platform – the first product to do so – the 2023 Mazda CX-60 takes what we know and love from the hugely successful CX-5 and adds extra refinement, more enjoyable handling thanks to the rear-biased platform and even more active safety equipment to make a product that is an excellent long-distance grand touring machine. Sydney to Melbourne in a day would be absolutely no trouble for the CX-60 because it’s very quiet at speed, while its new seats – with more cushion length than the CX-5 and CX-8 for greater under-thigh support – are definitely Mazda’s most comfortable yet (though we wish they had more side bolstering).

Dynamically, the CX-60 is a pretty successful first attempt at a premium mid-size SUV from Mazda. The CX-5 is already regarded as one of the best handling mid-size SUVs around and the CX-60 takes the CX-5’s level of fun and adds some extra keenness thanks to its new platform. At a minimum 1,963kg kerb weight for the diesel, the CX-60 is no lightweight, but it does weigh less than the smaller six-cylinder BMW X3 and despite the extra size, technology and six-cylinder mild-hybrid drivetrain, only 191kg heavier than a CX-5. Behind the wheel, the CX-60 feels similar to a CX-5, which is a good thing, given that the CX-5 is both smaller and lighter.

The steering features a bit less feel than a CX-5, but it’s more fluid than the CX-5’s heavy rack, and quite linear too while the handling is nicely involving as well, though still not as fun as the X3. It’s manoeuvrable and feels reasonable nimble, too. We particularly like the rear-driven push out of faster bends that we experienced on the launch, which makes the CX-60 feel reasonably quick and fun. The ride quality on the inline six petrol engine is mostly pretty decent, even on the larger 20-inch wheels of the Azami model – initial impacts can be a touch firm and it can feel a bit soft on higher-speed bigger bumps, but it’s also not as firm as an X3 either and finds a good balance.

As we’ve come to expect for Mazda products, the active safety features in the 2023 Mazda CX-60 G40e are well tuned, intuitive and not too intrusive either. While we think that active lane tracing assistance should be standard across the range and not just for cars with the Vision Assist Package, the CX-60 is otherwise extremely well catered for. Highlights in its active safety package include 10 airbags, wonderful Matrix adaptive high beam functionality for the GT Vision Package and Azami, a new rear vehicle occupant warning system to alert occupants from exiting the car with oncoming traffic and a very informative heads-up display that’s standard across the range. Those wanting to tow with their diesel CX-60 will find that it’s rated to 2,000kg braked, with a 150kg maximum towball download weight.

Interior & Practicality: 8.5/10

Anybody who’s been in a recent model Mazda like a CX-30 or a Mazda3 will find the 2023 Mazda CX-60 interior instantly familiar with a similar layout, the same Mazda Connect operating system and the same wonderful details like damping for the stalks and high quality switchgear. But look a little closer and there are differences: the centre screen now measures 10.25-inches for the Evolve or 12.3-inches for the GT and Azami, the driver’s display is now fully digital in all PHEVs and the quality of materials like the leather on the seats, the faux leather or suede or wool on the dashboard fascia and the extra chrome dotted around make the CX-60 feel special inside.

Like a lot of other aspects about the CX-60, the quality inside its cabin sets new standards for the Mazda brand – particularly in the top-spec Azami with its optional tan suede or white wool trim. Much of the CX-60’s cabin is lined with soft-touch materials – from the plush dashboard top to the edge of the centre console, you can tell that the company has paid a lot of attention to how everything inside the CX-60 feels. To this writer, it’s not quite at X3 or GLC level – some more depth to some of the materials like on the doors and textured dashboard and door trims would get it mighty close – but considering how much less expensive the CX-60 is, we can forgive it.

Centre of the CX-60’s cabin is a 10.25-inch infotainment screen in the Evolve and a larger 12.3-inch unit in the GT and Azami. It uses the same Mazda Connect software as lesser Mazda models and aside from the higher quality and larger screen, it offers no extra functionality compared to cars like the recently updated CX-5 and CX-8. There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, inbuilt satellite navigation, digital radio, a wireless phone charger and four USB-C charging ports but no live services to start the car from a smartphone app or live traffic functionality for the navigation.

The CX-60’s cabin is reasonably practical with big door bins – which aren’t lined with felt or rubber, annoyingly – and a big glovebox, as well as a reasonable box underneath the centre armrest, two reasonable cupholders in the centre console and a shallow storage area underneath the dashboard with a wireless phone charger.

The rear seat of the CX-60 is a lot like the CX-5 in that it’s quite comfortable and it’s well featured, though it’s not the roomiest. For six-footers, legroom isn’t huge but headroom is reasonable – even in the GT and Azami with their panoramic sunroofs. The rear seat itself is quite comfortable, with good lateral support and particularly good under thigh support, and there are plenty of features as well with heated outboard seats, two USB-C ports, air vents, a centre arm rest with cup holders and door pockets – though no separate climate zone or sun blinds in the doors. There are two ISOFIX points, as well as three top tether points – and the rear doors open to 90-degrees too.

The boot of the CX-60 measures 477-litres with the seats up and a healthy 1,726L with the rear seats folded – 73L smaller than a BMW X3 with the seats up, but 126L larger with them folded. The boot itself is nicely finished and has a few features like under-floor and side storage, 40:20:40-split rear seats, a 12V socket and remote releases for seat folding – but no hooks to hang bags off or clever floor partition system like the CX-5 has. Petrol and diesel CX-60 models use a space saver spare wheel, while the plug-in hybrid has a repair kit instead.

Service & Warranty: 7.5/10

Like all other new Mazda products, the 2023 Mazda CX-60 D50e is equipped with a five-year/unlimited km warranty with five years of roadside assistance as standard. Like other new diesel Mazda products, it has short 10,000km service intervals, and five years/50,000km of servicing costs $3,217 or $643 per service – cheaper than the G40e petrol engine, but that’s to 5,000km less annually.

All of Mazda’s competitors in this space offer similar warranty terms, though BMW only offers three years of roadside – yet Volvo offers eight years of roadside as standard. Actual service pricing varies from dealership to dealership but many brands offer service packages at the time of purchase for better value. For example, BMW offers a five-year/80,000km service pack for $2,400 ($480 per service) and Volvo offers a five-year/75,000km equivalent for $3,000 ($600 per service).

The 2023 Mazda CX-60 D50e DiscoverAuto Rating: 8.4/10

While diesel fuel isn’t for every new car buyer, we think that the 2023 Mazda CX-60 D50e adds some life to it thanks to its 48V mild-hybrid tech and excellent inline six engine. With excellent fuel economy on the launch – something we’re quite keen to test in the coming months – the CX-60 diesel is a great offering in the segment. It’s also a grunty engine, providing more performance – yet less fuel use – than four-cylinder rivals for a price that’s a lot lower than other six-cylinder diesel offerings.

Of course, the CX-60’s diesel engine is not perfect – we’d like to see some extra refinement added to engine noise suppression, while its 10,000km service intervals are short as well. The CX-60 itself could also be roomier in the back seat and boot, while its centre screen can’t be controlled by touch at speed and it could offer some more features like an extra zone of climate control and window shades for rear seat passengers. But those are small nitpicks and overall, the CX-60’s candle shines brightly – that it costs a lot less than its main rivals is just the cherry on top of the cake.