2026 Mazda CX-60 review

Mazda CX-60 Pros

• Finally, a rear-drive Mazda SUV!
• New G25 is $6000 cheaper
• Retains CX-60's fun character

Mazda CX-60 Cons

• Base Pure trim is a little plasticky
• Noticeably less shove than inline sixes
• Fuel consumption could be lower

When the Mazda CX-60 first went on sale a couple of years ago, the Japanese brand very proudly pitched it as a new premium, all-electrified mid-size SUV.

Based on an all-new rear/all-wheel drive platform and boasting mild-hybrid inline-six petrol and diesel engines, alongside a Mazda-first plug-in hybrid powertrain, the CX-60 was positioned well above the trusty CX-5 – with Mazda stressing its premium aspirations and drawing comparisons to BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Elsewhere in the world, namely Japan, the CX-60 was offered with those more upmarket variations as well as mainstream versions with less fancy powertrains and fitouts. Some of that came to Australia earlier this year as part of some running changes that also included suspension and transmission updates, but the engine lineup remained the same.

Now, the 2026 Mazda CX-60 has welcomed a new entry-level powertrain to the lineup, which finally realises my prediction in August 2022 that the Australian range could start below $50,000.

With the popular CX-5 in runout as the third generation approaches, Mazda Australia has decided to bring the ubiquitous 'G25' naturally aspirated petrol engine to its CX-60 range. Also debuting rear-wheel drive in the CX-60 locally, it's effectively the petrol engine from the plug-in hybrid CX-60 without… erm… the plug-in hybrid bits.

So is this cheaper new CX-60 worth cross-shopping against other mainstream medium SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Trail, or even Mazda's own ageing CX-5?

We got a first drive of the 2026 Mazda CX-60 G25 in Melbourne to find out.

The CX-60 G25 cuts pricing by around $6000 compared to the equivalent G40e inline six mild-hybrid, with the range now kicking off from a very attainable $44,240 plus on-road costs, or $47,990 drive-away.

For reference, when the CX-60 first arrived in Australia in 2023, the range opened with the G40e Evolve at $59,800 before on-road costs – meaning the price of entry has slowly dropped by around $15,000.

To see how the Mazda CX-60 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Nothing has really changed here, so I won't bore you with an in-depth breakdown of the cabin.

The Pure, Evolve and Touring grades are aligned with the same trim levels in the G40e and D50e M Hybrid variants, as well as the P50e PHEV range – so there's not much new to talk about here.

If you haven't spent much time in the CX-60, the main things that differentiates the cabins are the trimmings and displays, though in the G25 all versions are equipped with the 10.25-inch Mazda Connect infotainment system

Moving up to the Evolve brings a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, up from the basic 7.0-inch display in the base CX-60 and shared with the likes of the CX-30 and CX-5.

Another thing worth noting is the fact the Pure grade gets hard plastic upper door trims and a plastic dashboard insert, which is a conspicuous reminder that you've bought the base model.

Pure versions also don cloth seat trim, while the Evolve moves up to 'Maztex' leather-look upholstery and the Touring gets genuine cow hide, although it doesn't necessarily look all that different to the fake stuff.

The base grade gets manual seat adjustment, while the Touring adds electric driver's seat adjustment with memory presets, along with front seat heating.

It's otherwise pretty consistent across the board, including leather-appointed key touchpoints like the steering wheel and shift selector, which are nice, as well as chunky physical switchgear for the climate controls, plus multifunction buttons on the steering wheel.

You'll feel right at home if you've spent time in any recent Mazda, and from the Evolve up it feels notably more upmarket than a similarly priced CX-5. The straight lines and upright design also just give the impression the CX-60 is a bigger, more substantial vehicle.

In the second row, the CX-60 isn't huge despite its relatively long length and wheelbase, but it's again notably larger than a CX-5 and is a nice middle ground between mainstream mid-size and large SUVs.

The G25 boasts the same range of amenities and features as other engine variants in equivalent trim levels, and it also shares the same 477-litreboot with all five seats in use, extending to 1726L with them folded. All variants come with a space-saver spare wheel.

For more in-depth interior impressions, read our launch review of the updated Mazda CX-60 here.

To see how the Mazda CX-60 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

The G25 becomes the fourth powertrain option for the CX-60 in Australia.

To see how the Mazda CX-60 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

We got about an hour's drive time and an hour's passenger time during the launch program, which started from the Docklands in inner-city Melbourne and headed out to Warrandyte in the east of Victoria's capital, then returned.

I was behind the wheel for the first leg, which included heavy morning city traffic, inner-suburb dashing, and some time on both the Monash and Eastern Freeways.

Very quickly, the atmo CX-60 showed it's well matched for these scenarios, with rev-happy throttle response and linear engine performance. It's quite smooth in its progress, save for the odd elastic shift from the eight-speed auto.

Put your foot down and it's not exactly quick, however, particularly compared to its six-cylinder and plug-in hybrid siblings, but for most people that may be cross-shopping it against a petrol-powered Outlander or Sportage, it's more than adequate.

The extra two cogs in the auto transmission are probably a big help here too, with a wider spread of ratios compared to the CX-5, which means a little less revving out under load and a more relaxed cruise on the freeway. It makes for a more refined experience compared to a CX-5 with the same engine.

Once you're off the highway, the CX-60 offers the same driver-leaning feel of other versions, with a heavy steering feel and hunkered-down stance that makes it engaging to fling through bends.

Add the rear-drive balance and it has the sort of dynamic characteristics that are more in line with more expensive, premium-branded SUVs, even if the base powertrain isn't quite as aligned with them.

Ride quality was softened with the running changes introduced earlier this year, although it still errs on the firmer side even on smaller 18-inch wheels, and the smaller engine up front also makes the CX-60 feel a little lighter and keener on turn-in compared to its six-cylinder relatives – keep in mind it's 100-150kg lighter than the sixes.

I had a couple of gripes, though. The eight-speed auto often hunts for higher gears and can be caught out when you try to make a dash for it, needing on or two moments before it kicks down and gets you moving.

Cabin noise is generally well suppressed without being standout, with engine noise permeating the cabin under load (though the raspy note isn't awful) and a bit of tyre noise over coarser road surfaces.

The lack of hybridisation means the CX-60 G25 isn't as impressively economical as its mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid stablemates, as reflected by our indicated fuel consumption of 8.7L/100km. That's fine for a naturally aspirated petrol engine in a mid-size SUV, but the G40e will achieve similar numbers and is much more powerful.

As with other CX-60s, Mazda's suite of driver assistance systems is generally well calibrated and user-friendly. It won't beep or bong at you every time your eyes glance over at one of the displays, and there's no incessant warning about changing speed limits.

However, be prepared for the blind-spot monitoring to double-bong at you constantly (with a kind sound, admittedly), and at times Mazda's adaptive cruise control can be a little conservative with gaps – so you might find that people cut in front of you a bit.

While I'm at it, Mazda's persistence with overly magnified driver's side mirrors still takes me a moment to adjust to each time I hop into one. You get used to it, and the available surround cameras and large glasshouse offer good visibility, but it's something that seems to be a common discussion topic about the brand's cars.

To see how the Mazda CX-60 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Here's a spec breakdown for the G25 versions of the CX-60, which are available across Pure, Evolve and Touring trims.

2025 Mazda CX-60 G25 Pure equipment highlights:

CX-60 G25 Evolve adds:

CX-60 G25 Touring adds:

To see how the Mazda CX-60 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

The Mazda CX-60 has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2022.

Standard safety equipment includes:

Evolve adds:

To see how the Mazda CX-60 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

The Mazda CX-60 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of roadside assistance. Mazda also offers up to seven years of capped-price servicing.

To see how the Mazda CX-60 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

I think the new entry-level four-cylinder rear-drive CX-60 will have pretty broad appeal.

While the atmo four-pot doesn't offer the same USP as the inline sixes, or the PHEV, the G25 does deliver the CX-60's distinctive look and feel at a much more affordable price point.

It makes a similarly priced CX-5 feel old and less special, and it's certainly more fun to drive than something like a petrol-powered Nissan X-Trail or Mitsubishi Outlander – though it doesn't offer seven seats like those do.

The Evolve makes the most sense, adding plenty of desirable kit and trimmings while still remaining under $50,000. And, if you're going to be driving to the school drop-off or the shops, you won't really be left wanting the extra shove of the more powerful variants.

If it was my money, I'd probably stretch to the mild-hybrids, but if you're just looking for a 'Mazda SUV' for the family and aren't keen on spending $6000 more for a couple of extra cylinders and a bigger battery, it's a safe bet.

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MORE: Explore the Mazda CX-60 showroom

Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au