Mazda CX-60 review

Welcome to an outpost of common sense. Mazda has quietly been on very fine form with its interiors for a while now, and the CX-60 is its finest yet.

New for Mazda is the all-digital 12.3-inch instrument screen featuring lots of sharp, smart graphics without being fussy or difficult to read. Take note, BMW. And VW Group, for that matter.

What else is good?

The overall layout is extremely conventional, and that plays to its strength. Mazda has retained physical switchgear for operating the heater, air-con and heated (and in the fancier trim, cooled) seats, which feel tactile. The vents, the light switch and the cup holder covers haven’t been overdesigned, which the Germans can’t seem to resist these days.

And while the CX-60 features Mazda’s largest infotainment screen to date (a unit atop the dashboard, also 12.3 inches) you can operate it with a handy clickwheel and menu buttons instead of jabbing fingerprints all over the touchscreen.

And yes, it is a touch sensitive screen, but Mazda limits what you can prod depending on the app you’re using and the speed you’re doing. Clever. Plus the whole system reacts swiftly, has upmarket graphics and overall knocks anything from VW, Seat and Skoda can sell you right now into a cocked hat.

Is there a good gimmick or party trick?

That’ll be the Driver Personalisation System. Climb aboard for the first time and via a sub-menu, the car will sort out your perfect driving position for you, after you’ve told it your height. It adjusts the seat, steering wheel and mirrors hands free, and gets it pretty close, if not spot on.

Mazda says the system’s facial recognition records data (slightly scarily) “on more than 250 adjustments and settings stored in the vehicle - including the driving position, audio and air-conditioning - to quickly and automatically restore the settings for each individual when the driver changes. The system can store settings for up to six people, plus guests". Either way, it’s better than your nan driving away from the dealership unable to see over the steering wheel.

Is it practical?

Your nan? Oh, the CX-60. Yep, it’s got a 570-litre boot with easily foldable seats thanks to release handles in the boot itself, and there’s just about enough space under the boot floor to store a charging cable, too. Compare that with the 520 litres of space in the RAV4 PHEV or the 450 litres in the BMW X3 plug-in hybrid, and the CX-60 fares very well.

What about passenger space?

There’s plenty of room in the front seats but in the rear legroom is merely… fine. Headroom is adequate for six footers (as long as you forgo the sunroof option), but you’re reliant on the driver and front passenger raising their seats to free up a bit of foot room. That middle seat won’t take an adult or teen for any great length of time either, nor is the rear bench that supportive. The larger, forthcoming CX-80 should be lots better in this department.