Styling
There are no exterior visual changes for the 2025MY CX-60, aside from the addition of the unusual Zircon Sand paint to the palette, which was first seen on the
2023 MX-5. Thus, whether you like the CX-60's aesthetic or not depends on whether you think it's a more proportional and handsome thing than the stretched CX-80, or if you still think the much-older
CX-5 is a neater piece of styling. For what it's worth, we think the 60 does look smart, especially in long-serving but still majestic Soul Red Crystal (£900), so the lack of alterations to the body here is no major drama. Spotters' notes: if you want to tell if the CX-60 you're looking at is fitted with the muscular turbodiesel instead of the 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid drivetrain, check out the discreet badging - reading 'e-Skyactiv D' instead of 'e-Skyactiv PHEV' on the bootlid, and 'Inline6' on those front wing decorations instead of, again, 'PHEV' - or, alternatively, glance at the rear bumper. If you can see exhausts, at all, then it's the diesel; four exits peek out from the back of the SUV on the 3.3-litre model, whereas the PHEV has hidden pipes.
Interior
Again, no major changes to report in here so you can click on either of the CX-60 links in the intro for a full breakdown of how this cabin is arranged. All we'll say here is that material quality is broadly lovely, while the ergonomics of the Mazda's passenger compartment are also superb. There has been a subtle realignment of specifications for the 2025MY cars, though. The three trims of Exclusive-Line, Homura and Takumi remain, with enhanced Homura Plus and Takumi Plus grades added to the line-up. The Homura cars gain black Nappa leather seats and a revised dash panel for 2025, bringing them into line with the same trim on the CX-80, while the Takumi and Takumi Plus (the latter tested here) have the plushest interior complete with light leather and maple-wood trim. The ambience in the CX-60 Takumi Plus, then, might be a little too glitzy for some, but we think the airy and upmarket feel in here is wonderful in the main.
Practicality
As practical as it ever was, passenger space in the second row is good in the Mazda CX-60, albeit the newly introduced CX-80 has more legroom for the same seats as a result of its stretched wheelbase. Nevertheless, the 60 has a roomy enough cabin and also a healthy 570-litre boot too, so as premium five-seater SUVs go it's up with the leading competitors.
Performance
Without wishing to sound like a stuck record, nothing has changed with the 2025MY CX-60s' powertrains, so your choices are the 327hp plug-in hybrid, a 200hp variant of the six-cylinder turbodiesel with rear-wheel drive on lower trim grades, and then this 254hp all-wheel-drive derivative of the e-Skyactiv D for the grander cars.
From fully 3.3 litres of swept capacity, it's fair to say 254hp and 550Nm are hardly earth-shattering figures. You kind of reckon that Mazda could get a lot more than this from such turbocharged displacement, which might improve upon the so-so official 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds. But once you've driven this absolute jewel of a straight-six, you won't care at all about its supposed power deficiencies. It's almost something of an anachronism to have launched a big-hearted derv-burner when every other company is downsizing and electrifying the heck out of everything, but we can't praise Mazda enough for its bold decision. When it comes to a choice between the four-cylinder PHEV CX-60 and this six-pot turbodiesel, there's really no choice at all; go for the 3.3 e-Skyactiv D, all day long, because it's utterly superb.
If, um, a little juicy. We had a 20-mile thrash in the revised CX-60 and managed to elicit 29mpg from such behaviour. Surely, then, more gentle motorway manners might see returns going beyond 40mpg on long-distance runs, but achieving the 50mpg-plus figures Mazda quotes for this diesel SUV would require the sort of saintly driving style that rather negates the need for 550Nm of turbodiesel thump in the first place. If you catch our drift.
Ride & Handling
Many outlets, this one included, felt the early CX-60s did not ride with the grace and fluidity that they ought to have done, especially given Mazda's reputation in this department is normally pretty strong. Therefore, the company has looked to the CX-80 and borrowed its tuning for the five-seater, shorter-wheelbase model. Rear suspension set-up changes see softer rear springs teamed to firmer shock absorber settings, in order to give the CX-60 more comfort and stability. The electronic control systems have then been recalibrated accordingly to suit the mechanical tweaks.
From our brief spin in the updated example on some decent Yorkshire roads - in terms of, they were twisting and sinuous, but they had the usual cratered tarmac of the UK's network - the changes have worked well. The 2025MY CX-60 isn't quite perfect, with still a few too many occasions where the large alloys can be felt through the base of the seats, but in general it now feels highly refined, generally comfortable and agile in the corners. In fact, it's one of the more rewarding SUVs to drive in this class if you enjoy exploring the handling limits, but we'd still have happily sacrificed a few ounces of the Mazda's outright dynamic acuity, in favour of even-greater levels of ride comfort at all times. The suspension changes have undoubtedly improved things for the CX-60, then, but perhaps not quite as much as they could have.
Value
The updated Mazda CX-60s will be in the company's UK dealerships from April 2025 onwards, so we were lucky to get a go in one of the first examples of the 2025MY SUV to hit the UK's shores. Equipment levels across the board are generous, with the Takumi Plus (tested) coming with a huge amount of toys as standard. However, the pay-off for such generosity of kit is that the 3.3-litre diesel costs £55,780 before options, with our test car's paintwork taking it to £56,680 all-in. That's a lot of cash, all things considered, so purchasing the revised CX-60 wouldn't be a decision that you'd make which was completely free of reservations.
Verdict
A likeable, large, luxury SUV from Mazda has definitely been improved by the suspension changes adopted from the seven-seat CX-80, but the 2025MY CX-60 hasn't been completely transformed into a clear class-leader as a result. It can still have a few ride issues on the worst of surfaces, while a top-spec diesel like this costs the best part of 60 grand. But if you like the idea of an opulent five-seat SUV with an absolute gem of a six-cylinder diesel under the bonnet, the CX-60 is a stronger choice than it ever has been previously.
