► Mazda CX-60 long-term test
► Which is best: diesel or the PHEV?
► Read month 1 here
Looking back through my previous musings on the CX-60 you’d be forgiven for feeling I’ve been harsh on Mazda’s premium SUV. But despite its frustrating shortcomings in areas such as the choppy suspension and overbearing warning/safety systems, there are some areas which I really can’t fault. As mentioned previously, there’s not a thing I’d change about the interior, for one. But the real success story in our CX-60 is the 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder e-Skyactiv D diesel engine.
Having previously run the 2.5-litre PHEV petrol CX-60 on the CAR fleet, the main reason for opting for another CX-60 back-to-back was to see if the straight-six diesel powerplant made up for the PHEV’s shortcomings.
And the good news is that it more than does. On paper, the PHEV looks to be the better choice, but in the real world it’s a different story. The PHEV’s 322bhp motor will get you to 62mph quicker than the 241bhp diesel, but the diesel not only offers 10 per cent more torque, crucially it’s available from an impressive 1500rpm compared to having to wind the petrol motor up to 4000rpm to reach peak torque.
Given most people want power available while on the move, as opposed to launching their SUVs from the lights at Santa Pod, this makes for a far more useful and pleasurable power curve, with plenty of get-up-and-go in day-to-day use. What’s more, if you’re interested in utilising the 2500kg towing limit then extra torque and its efficient delivery will no doubt appeal.
Being an inline-six, the engine is also incredibly smooth and refined, with a nice burble under load in the cabin. The eight-speed transmission is the same as in the PHEV, which can be a bit slow to react at times, but for the most part does the job. There’s also a 48-volt mild hybrid system which, rather than boost power, is there to aid efficiency.
The result is a book figure of 52mpg combined, which in real-world terms I’ve found settles at 40-45mpg in normal day-to-day conditions with the boot laden with camera kit.
But best of all this consumption figure isn’t influenced by the amount of charge in the battery – as long as there’s juice in the tank you know what you’ll get without carting around a depleted chunk of battery, as you would in the PHEV sibling.
Read month 1
Read month 2
Read month 3
Read month 4
Read month 5
Logbook: Mazda CX-60 Homura e-Skyactiv D MHEV 3.3
Price £50,705 (£54,357 as tested)
Performance 3283cc diesel six-cylinder, 251bhp, 7.4sec 0-62mph, 136mph
Efficiency 53.3mpg (official), 44.0mpg (tested), 138g/km CO2
Energy cost 16.2p per mile
Miles this month 827
Total miles 8342