The next Lexus? Mazda Philippines wooing Euro car owners with all-new CX-60 luxury crossover

Mazda Philippines is shooting for the stars (including “three-pointed” ones) with the launch of the all-new CX-60 crossover on June 9, 2023.

Launched globally on April 2022, the five-seater rides on a completely new Skyactiv platform designed for rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive applications. The Philippines will get the 3.3-liter inline-six gasoline and the turbodiesel Sport variants.

The company said aside from targeting current Mazda CX-5 owners who want to move upmarket, the CX-60 positions itself as an alternative to crossovers from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

“Premium—a high-quality concentration of design, driving dynamics, technology, and comfort. It offers unmatched distinction in every way,” said Mazda Philippines president and CEO Steven Tan.

‘Kodo’ redefined

As before, the CX-60 uses Mazda’s renowned “Kodo” design language, which has been updated for the crossover’s new platform.

The entire car follows a more classic long hood, short rear profile. Familiar design cues include the large Mazda grill flanked by pointed LED headlights. 

Both Mazda CX-60 variants feature crafted 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof and a hands-free power tailgate with height adjustment memory.

The Sport variant is easily distinguishable with its generous use of gloss-black accents on the wheels, mirrors, grill and exhaust molding.

The CX-60 comes in Rhodium White Premium, Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Platinum Quartz, Sonic Silver, Deep Crystal Blue and Jet Black.

Homage to Bentley?

Distinguishing the CX-60 from the rest of the Mazda crossover lineup is the use of high-end materials inside the cabin.

The interior design concept presents a wide instrument panel with continuous lines that run through the cabin.

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. 

In addition, the latest Mazda Connect infotainment system allows passengers to connect via wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 12-speaker Bose sound system delivers expanded liveliness and reinforced low pitch.

Meanwhile, the Mazda Commander Control knob has been positioned to allow its operation with the user’s arm resting comfortably on the center armrest.

The gasoline variant features aluminum panels and silver accents, black Nappa leather seats and black leather upholstery. Meanwhile, the Sport gets graphite panels and gunmetal accents and tan Nappa leather seats with quilted Leganu suede inserts. 

Much like Bentley and Rolls-Royce, the opulent color in the Sport is accented on the dashboard center, door cards and even on the steering wheel, which is a first for Mazda. 

Finally, the 570-liter cargo can be expanded with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat. The rear seats also come equipped with a center armrest with cupholders and dual USB Type-C ports.

Mild-hybrid powerplants

Under the CX-60’s long hood, buyers can choose between a pair of turbocharged 3.3-liter, twin-cam, 24-valve inline-6 engines that are both mated to a new 48-volt mild-hybrid system.

The gasoline model pumps out 284 PS and 450 Nm of torque and can do 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. Meanwhile, the turbodiesel produces 254 PS and 550 Nm of torque and does the same sprint in 7.3 seconds.

Both powerplants are mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox that ditches its torque converter in favor of an electric motor. The carmaker said the setup “offers a wider gear range that delivers an optimal balance between driving and environmental performance.”

The CX-60 is also equipped with a rear-biased i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive system that is supported by Mazda Intelligent Drive Select. There are four driving modes to suit different conditions: Normal, Sport, Off-Road and Towing.

Finally, Kinematic Posture Control 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.

Just show your face

The upmarket Mazda crossover features a Driver Personalization System that helps drivers get the perfect 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.

Maximum safety

The CX-60 likewise gets a bevy of safety and convenience features courtesy of i-Activsense.

These include See-Through View, which builds on Mazda’s current 360° View Monitor by projecting natural footage of the vehicle’s surroundings. 

In addition, the crossover’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert has been updated with Rear Cross Brake Support. This 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.

Other helpful features include:

• Hill Descent Control

• Blind Spot Monitoring with Vehicle Exit Warning

• 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

• Driver Attention Alert

Under ₱3 million

Given that the CX-60 is made in Japan and has a displacement of more than 3000 cc, it qualifies for tax breaks under the Japanese-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement.

As such, prices are as follows:

• CX-60 3.3L AWD HEV Turbo – ₱2,790,000

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

The price includes 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.

Do you think Mazda has a shot with BMW and Mercedes-Benz owners with its CX-60?

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