Mazda PH unveils first ever CX-60, signaling the Japanese brand’s new era of Premium

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June 13, 2023

The first-ever Mazda CX-60 has arrived, setting a new benchmark in style, quality, and performance for the brand and its Mazda Premium philosophy.

Crafted in Japan, the Mazda CX-60 represents everything that Mazda has built into its DNA over the last 100 years - from the outstanding exterior and interior design to the finest Japanese craftsmanship, world-leading powertrains, and a stunning new driver-centric platform.

“The Mazda CX-60 is more than an exciting new SUV; it’s the evolution of Mazda Premium—a high-quality concentration of design, driving dynamics, technology, and comfort. It offers unmatched distinction in every way,” said Steven Tan, President and CEO of Mazda Philippines.

An SUV Like No Other

Every single aspect of the Mazda CX-60 has been refined to perfect the Mazda Jinba-Ittai experience of car and driver in complete harmony. This starts with Mazda’s Large Vehicle Platform that features a highly rigid bodyshell matched to a front double wishbone and rear multi-link suspension setup, delivering a first-rate driving experience.

Built from the ground up, it exemplifies genuine luxury. This front-engine, rear-wheel drive mechanical layout not only delivers imposing strength and elegance, but also maximizes the driver’s potential by distributing the lateral and longitudinal workload between the two axles. Furthermore, by placing the powertrain units at the center, it transmits power to the road surface more efficiently. The unique packaging has also helped reduce its turning radius to a compact 5.4 meters, smaller than other similarly-sized SUVs.

Kinematic Posture Control further adds stability when cornering by braking the inside rear wheel to mitigate body roll. The optimal positioning of the high-voltage battery between the front and rear axles and located as low as possible further contributes to the low center of gravity.

Dynamics That Suit the Senses

Committed to a multi-solution approach to sustainable mobility, the Mazda CX-60 combines strong environmental performance with the driving pleasure inherent in every Mazda. Developed using the ‘right sizing’ concept, which optimizes displacement to improve both fuel and power efficiency, the new-generation 3.3-liter longitudinally-mounted engine is available in both gasoline and diesel variants.

Inherently, the inline-six-cylinder configuration produces less vibration due to its characteristic ‘perfect balance.’ This delivers a smooth and quiet engine tone, whilst delivering a clean and engaging sound at full song. Its intelligent lightweight construction means it is lighter than Mazda’s own four-cylinder Skyactiv engine family.

The gasoline-powered turbo-charged 3.3L Inline-6 HEV e-SKYACTIV-G engine produces 284 PS and 450 Nm and delivers an impressive 0-100 kph time of just 6.9 seconds, while the diesel-powered turbo-charged 3.3L Inline-6 HEV e-SKYACTIV-D produces 254 PS and 550 Nm and does the same sprint in 7.3 seconds. Both offer a top speed of 219 kph.

The Mazda CX-60 employs a newly-developed SKYACTIV-DRIVE 8-speed automatic transmission without the use of a torque converter. Smooth and responsive, it offers a wider gear range that delivers an optimal balance between driving and environmental performance. The use of an electronically controlled multi-plate system in place of a torque converter results in clean and rhythmic switching between gears while also enabling accurate control of the M Hybrid Boost electric motor.

The new rear-biased i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive system is supported by Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive), facilitating switching between four different driving modes to suit different driving conditions: Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing. This allows drivers to optimize traction, performance, handling, and safety in the widest possible range of driving environments.

A Coveted Art Piece

Beauty through subtraction distills the Mazda CX-60’s design to its purest form. The removal of character lines reveals beautifully crafted panels, asserting a distinctively bold character as only the Evolved Kodo Design can give.

The all-new vehicle platform creates an SUV with ideal proportions, with the long hood and rearward cabin design. The powerful grille with its iconic wing shape is highlighted by sweeping adaptive LED headlamps, featuring a distinctive lighting signature for a sleek look.

Both Mazda CX-60 variants feature crafted 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels with 235/50R20 tires, a panoramic sunroof, and a hands-free power tailgate with height adjustment memory. The 3.3L AWD HEV Turbo showcases the signature Mazda design with its diamond-cut alloy wheels, gloss black bar-type grille, and bright chrome on the front signature wing, fender garnish, side window moulding, and exhaust finishers. Meanwhile, the 3.3L AWD HEV Turbo-D Sport conveys a dignified look with its black metallic alloy wheels, gloss black honeycomb grille and side view mirrors, black chrome on the front signature wing, fender garnish, and exhaust finishers, and matte black side window moulding.

With color forming a central tenet to Mazda’s design, the Mazda CX-60 debuts Rhodium White Premium. Joining Soul Red Crystal and Machine Gray, the latest Takuminuri color is the purest white developed by Mazda. This accentuates the shadows on the surface of the vehicle, complementing the paint’s inherent metallic texture and finish.

Craftsmanship Revolutionized

The cabin of the Mazda CX-60 sets new standards for interior quality, design, and technology. The interior design concept presents a wide instrument panel with continuous lines that run through the cabin, while the horizontally symmetrical layout is centered around the driver to deliver the same carefully considered cockpit design found in all Mazda cars. It offers an unparalleled, ergonomically excellent driving position that feels natural and supportive, with the ideal pedal and seat alignment, and new levels of comfort and space for passengers. With the generous 570-liter cargo hold, it is the most practical car in Mazda’s line-up. This can be expanded further with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat. The rear seats also come equipped with a center armrest with cup holders and dual USB Type-C ports.

Three main displays—a 12.3-inch fully digital driver’s instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment center display, and a 10.4-inch heads-up display put all the information right where it is needed. Meanwhile, the Mazda Commander Control knob has been optimally positioned to allow its operation with the user’s arm resting comfortably on the center armrest.

Both the front door grips and armrests have been designed to offer enhanced grip and support. The door armrests are now set at the same height as the center armrest for ergonomic symmetry and maximum occupant comfort.

Focused on the dignified beauty of empty space, every design element of the Mazda CX-60 interior serves a purpose; nothing is purely ornamental. This puts focus on the highest level of Japanese craftsmanship and carefully curated materials, all combined in perfect harmony.

The 3.3L AWD HEV Turbo features aluminum panels and silver accents, black Nappa leather seats, and black leather interior upholstery. The 3.3L AWD HEV Turbo-D Sport, on the other hand, achieves the highest levels of craftsmanship with graphite panels and gunmetal accents, and tan Nappa leather seats with quilted Leganu suede inserts. The opulent color is accented on the dashboard center, door cards, and even on the steering wheel—a first for Mazda. Both variants offer 10-way power front seat adjustment, front seat ventilation, electric steering wheel adjustment, wireless device charging, ambient lighting, and dual-zone climate control with rear vents.

The latest generation Mazda Connect infotainment system allows passengers to connect via wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while a 12-speaker Bose sound system delivers expanded liveliness and reinforced low pitch for a full auditory experience.

A Personalized Experience

The Driver Personalization System, a new innovation from Mazda, debuts in the Mazda CX-60. This makes it easy for drivers to achieve their ideal driving position.

After entering the driver’s height data via the infotainment center display, the automatic driving position guide uses an in-car camera to detect the location of their eyes. It then automatically adjusts the seat, steering wheel, Active Driving Display, and door mirrors to match the driver’s height and eye position.

The system also uses facial recognition to remember each driver’s preferences. Once the driver is detected, the Mazda CX-60 automatically restores more than 250 stored settings to match their preferences, including vehicle, audio, and climate control settings. The system stores settings for up to six different users, plus guests.

The Driver Entry/Exit Assist function slides the steering wheel and seat out of the way to make it easier for drivers to get into and out of the Mazda CX-60.

Safer All-Around

A range of i-Activsense driver assistance systems are designed to deliver safety performance for both occupants and other road users, including pedestrians.

Several of these new technologies are first introduced in the Mazda CX-60. These include See-Through View, which builds on Mazda’s current 360° View Monitor by projecting natural footage of the vehicle’s surroundings, Hill Descent Control (HDC), which makes descending slippery road surfaces such as dirt tracks much safer, and Blind Spot Monitoring with Vehicle Exit Warning that alerts occupants if an object is coming into the vehicle’s blind spot as they are opening the door.

Furthermore, the Rear Cross Traffic Alert has been updated with Rear Cross Brake Support which automatically applies the brakes if there is a possibility of collision with a vehicle approaching from the rear when reversing out of a parking space.

These features enhance the full level of protection provided by the Mazda CX-60’s i- Activsense safety suite which offers Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Front Smart Brake Support with Forward Obstruction Warning, Rear Smart Brake Support, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, Front Cross Traffic Alert, Driver Monitoring System, and Driver Attention Alert.

Colors and Variants

The first-ever Mazda CX-60 comes in Rhodium White Premium, Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Platinum Quartz, Sonic Silver, Deep Crystal Blue, and Jet Black, and two variants at the following prices:

  • First-ever Mazda CX-60 3.3L AWD HEV Turbo – ₱ 2,790,000
  • First-ever Mazda CX-60 3.3L AWD HEV Turbo-D Sport – ₱ 2,890,000

The price is inclusive of a 5-year Free Service Plan which covers the expenses of periodic maintenance at either 6-month or 10,000-kilometer intervals for up to 5 years or 100,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. This is on top of a 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Bermaz Auto Philippines, Inc. (Mazda Philippines) is the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles and parts in the Philippines. Mazda Philippines’ exemplary after-sales service record has been ranked #1 in the industry twice--in the 2016 and 2019 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study. There are 15 Mazda 3S dealerships located across the Philippines and Metro Manila – Mazda Greenhills, Mazda Quezon Avenue, Mazda Makati, Mazda Alabang, Mazda Sta. Rosa, Mazda Pulilan, Mazda Pampanga, Mazda Dagupan, Mazda Cabanatuan, Mazda Tarlac, Mazda Cebu, Mazda Iloilo, Mazda Bacolod, Mazda Cagayan De Oro, and Mazda Davao.

About the Author

Randolph de Leon
Randy is a person with disability (PWD), a partially-blinded person with only his left eye functioning. Since childhood, the automobile has always been his passion, and is able to express it through photography and most recently, through writing as well. Outside the motoring beat, Randy spends time manning the media aspect of his business which he co-founded with his sister/college classmate. It's called Dragonlight Wellness and Solutions, a multi-business venture centering on improving peoples' lives through earning.