Launched just three months ago the Mazda CX-60 is already winning fans and awards across the UK with the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW) crowning it Best Plug-In Hybrid 2022 at the annual Scottish Car of the Year Awards.
The ASMW is made up of 15 motoring writers from across Scotland who vote for cars they have driven in Scotland over the past 12 months and their relevance to Scottish consumers. The Mazda CX-60 was a late entry, only going on sale in September, but impressed the judges enough to take the hotly contested category win. With prices starting from £45,420 on-the-road, the Mazda CX-60 has expanded Mazda’s award-winning SUV range, joining the UK line-up above the ever-popular Mazda CX-5. The new flagship SUV is Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid technology powertrain, which combines a Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 129kW electric motor and a 17.8kWh high-capacity battery.
This combination of engine and motor delivers a total system output of 327ps and an abundant torque output of 500Nm – making it the most powerful road car Mazda has ever produced. Mazda’s first PHEV also displays outstanding environmental credentials with WLTP combined fuel consumption of 188mpg and WLTP combined CO2 emissions of only 33g/km.
The Mazda CX-60 e-Skyactiv PHEV offers 39.15 miles of combined electric motor-powered driving with the vehicle running at 62mph or less, while the performance of the combined drivetrain delivers a 0-62mph performance of just 5.8 seconds. Demonstrating Mazda’s commitment to a multi-solution approach to sustainable mobility and the principal of the right solution at the right time, the Mazda CX-60 meets the growing needs of the segment by combining strong environmental performance with the driving pleasure inherent in every Mazda. The all-new Mazda CX-60 PHEV represents everything that Mazda has built into its DNA over the last 100 years, from outstanding exterior and interior design to the finest Japanese craftsmanship, plus the latest innovations in human-centric technologies and world-leading powertrains.
The Mazda CX-60 is the first of two new models from the company’s Large Product group to be introduced throughout Europe during the next two years, with the second being the three-row Mazda CX-80. In addition, joining the 2.5-litre e-Skyactiv PHEV drivetrain in the CX-60 line-up at a later date will be two brand new Mazda engines that have been developed using the ‘right sizing’ concept which calls for optimised displacement for improved fuel and power efficiency.
The new generation straight-six 3.0-litre e-Skyactiv X petrol and 3.3-litre e-Skyactiv D diesel engines, which feature M Hybrid Boost – Mazda’s 48V mild hybrid system – combine high output with excellent fuel economy and emissions performance, they will join the CX-60 range in the future. Both powerplants are mated to the same eight-speed automatic transmission and i-Activ All-Wheel Drive system as the PHEV, but the e-Skyactiv D diesel unit and the e-Skyactiv X petrol engine have also been developed to be equipped with rear-wheel drive only.
ASMW President Jack McKeown, said: “Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid model is the seriously impressive CX-60. The premium SUV has a stylish shape, a beautiful interior – and the ability to travel nearly 40 miles on battery power. Our members particularly liked its driving dynamics and classy cabin.”
Jeremy Thomson, Mazda UK Managing Director, commented: “The Mazda CX-60 has seen tremendous sales success across Europe since its launch in September and it is great to have the car recognised by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers as their choice for Plug-In Hybrid of the year so soon after the car’s launch. Mazda has always been a popular brand in Scotland with market share at 2.3 percent vs 1.6 percent for the whole of the UK and I feel confident that, with this recognition, the car will be a popular choice with our Scottish customers.”
