Mazda’s Premium SUV

The cabin is open and airy as you’d expect from a large SUV, with a high, comfortable driving position and great forward visibility. It’s a big car but there are plenty of driver aids to ensure you can manoeuvre into difficult to manage car park spaces.

You can only swim against the tide for so long. After years of persevering/honing its combustion engine offerings, Mazda is finally jumping on the electric bandwagon.

Last year saw the launch of the novel if not entirely compelling allelectric MX-30 and now we have this new CX-60 luxury SUV, Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid.

It’s the most expensive, powerful and luxurious Mazda you can buy and a model it hopes will sit easily with the likes of pricier, premium brand offerings from BMW, Audi and others.

In PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) guise, CX-60 boasts a 2.5 petrol engine with a 17.8kWh battery and electric motor helping to produce a total of 323bhp, while drive is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

It will travel up to 39 miles on all-electric power, helping to keep costs down and like all PHEVs is especially attractive to company car users thanks to the low 12% benefit-in-kind tax rate. Recharging from 20 to 80% takes just 1.5 hours using a 7kW home charger wallbox. A couple of diesel-only versions, with either front or all-wheel drive, are also available though Mazda expects PHEV versions will account for the majority of sales.

The complicated drivetrain means the CX-60 weighs in at over two tonnes but that doesn’t hold it back with a 0-62mph time of 5.8 seconds. The transition between driving modes isn’t as smooth as some rivals and it can feel a little raucous under hard acceleration but when driven sensibly, it feels quiet and refined.

The overall experience is aided by a superb interior which builds on Mazda’s already strong reputation for high-end finishes. Leather finish is standard on all models while the rest of the cabin is layered with lovely soft touch materials.

The infotainment doesn’t go down the touch screen route but relies on the tried and trusted click wheel interface which is responsive and easy to use, while the heating controls are managed via conventional buttons – hallelujah!

Alongside the main screen, the CX-60 also has digital instruments which are bright and customisable, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are standard.

The rear is plenty big enough for two tall passengers though the middle seat is a little compromised by the floor tunnel and lofty positioning.

There’s a sizable 570-litre boot, which is easy to access thanks to a lowish lip while folding rear seats reveal a sizable 1,726 litres of carrying capacity. All CX-60 versions have a maximum towing limit of up to 2,500kg.

It is not a cheap car, with the PHEV version starting from around £45,000 and the high-end Takumi spec topping out the range just shy of 50k. However, standard equipment is extremely generous and prices are around £5k cheaper than German rivals.

The entry Exclusive-Line model comes with 18-inch alloys, a 12.3inch colour infotainment screen, heated seats, a heated steering wheel and leather upholstery, while moving up the range brings extras such as bigger 20-inch alloy wheels, a hands-free power tailgate, electrically-adjustable front seats, white maple wood interior accents, Nappa leather seat trim and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.

The mid-level Homura grade also debuts Mazda’s ground-breaking Driver Personalisation System that will recognise the occupant of the driver’s seat via facial recognition and automatically adjust the surroundings – seat position, steering wheel, mirrors, head-up display, even the sound and climate control settings – to fit their physique as well as their personal preferences.