First Look: 2023 Mazda CX-60 and CX-90

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Innovation in the automotive industry comes in many shapes and sizes, but no matter how you define it, Mazda is one carmaker that isn’t afraid to try new things. From high-revving rotary engines to compression-ignition gas engines and even diesel motors that work without exhaust fluids, Mazda hasn’t shied away from weird ideas. With the next generation of the brand’s crossovers, Mazda will move away from front-wheel-drive-based platforms, embrace electrification, and even offer a new turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine.

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We’ll see this all within the next few years, starting with the CX-90, and then the CX-70. Mazda wanted to give us a preview to share with our readers, and to do that, we visited the brand’s European headquarters in Dusseldorf, Germany, to attend the launch of the CX-60.

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Don’t get attached, as the CX-60 won’t be coming to North America. However, it features the same rear-wheel-drive-based platform underpinning the upcoming CX-90 and CX-70, not to mention the same plug-in hybrid technology, suspension system, and a similar design language as those future products.

It’s definitely an unorthodox way to preview an upcoming vehicle, like telling you what an iPhone 13 Pro will be like just from testing the iPhone 13. Regardless, now we know more about the CX-90, and there’s plenty to be excited about.

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Platform

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Like the CX-60 we tested, the new CX-90 (and eventually the CX-70) will ride on a rear-wheel-drive platform and use a longitudinally mounted engine. This layout is typically used on premium and performance vehicles, helping identify the kind of company Mazda hopes to keep with its next generation of crossovers. Rear-wheel-drive platforms should deliver better weight distribution, which enhances handling, acceleration, and braking compared to a front-wheel-drive-based platform. Make no mistake, while the platform is rear-wheel-drive, the vehicles will still feature all-wheel-drive.

In addition to better dynamics, the rear-wheel-drive platform will be quieter, smoother, and feature improved towing capabilities. We’ll have to wait and see the CX-90 in person to confirm all that, but our experience with the CX-60 was fairly positive. It felt calm, refined, and responsive, but don’t expect a sports-car-like experience when the larger CX-90 arrives.

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The steering felt good thanks to Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control, which now also applies minute braking to the inside rear wheel in a corner, helping to stabilize the vehicle and provide more feedback. Unlike the CX-50, the CX-60 and the upcoming crossovers will feature a multilink rear suspension system, which also helps improve ride quality.

But we should point out that the rear shocks are parallel to the front suspension, which is uncommon. Mazda says this should help limit the front-to-back pitching motion on the road, and make the car feel more natural and comfortable to drive. On the European-tuned CX-60, the ride felt a bit firm, delivering a decent amount of feedback without feeling rough.

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Powertrains

When it arrives, expect to decide between two powertrains in the CX-90: a plug-in hybrid version and a turbocharged inline-six-cylinder model. We got our hands on the PHEV, which combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and a 17.8-kWh battery. Combined, it delivers about 320 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque, an output exceeding the current turbocharged 2.5-litre engine found in the CX-9. Obviously, this PHEV should be far more efficient than that old turbo motor, but the CX-60 boasted about 60 km of all-electric range. That will likely be lower on the CX-90 due to its larger size and higher weight.

The powertrain has an interesting layout, as the electric motor isn’t associated with an axle or drive wheels. Instead, the electric motor is sandwiched between the gas engine and the transmission. This means the electric power runs through the transmission, providing power to all four wheels if needed, though that would impact the all-electric range of the powertrain.

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The new eight-speed automatic is also a departure from the old six-speed auto. This multi-clutch setup lacks a torque converter to minimize efficiency-sapping slippage. It also provides a more direct shift feel, which may appeal to enthusiasts.

The powertrain in the CX-60 felt confident but not exciting. I never felt an energetic grunt from the electric powertrain, and when pushed, the gas motor could get a bit loud. Still, the vehicle got up to speed on the unrestricted German highways and managed not to be an obstruction or obstacle. The gearing feels a bit long, requiring a few downshifts for quick overtakes. While the powertrain felt smooth, there were a few hiccups at low speeds as the vehicle switched from all-electric to hybrid drive modes.

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One final important note about the hybrid setup in the CX-60, -70, and -90 is that it’s all designed by Mazda, though it does turn to Panasonic for the batteries and electric motors. Those thinking that this is a product of the collaboration with Toyota announced a year ago are off; that will only apply to the upcoming CX-50 hybrid.

The turbocharged inline-six will likely be in a higher trim level of the CX-90, allowing the big crossover to feel more confident on the road when making overtakes and especially when towing.

Design

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With its rear-wheel-drive-based platform and new powertrains, the Mazda CX-90 will aim at a more premium experience when compared to other vehicles in its lineup. For Mazda to impress, the design has to speak for all these changes. Looking at the CX-60 and mentally applying its design language to the CX-90, the automaker seems to be on the right path.

The CX-60 has clean lines and a less rugged persona when compared to the CX-50. It has almost no body cladding, and the grill is reasonably sized. There are little dimple-like vents in the front profile that give the crossover some personality (and probably some aerodynamic advantages). The lack of body lines on the side profile allows the brand’s magical paint to mesmerize and catch your eyes, just like on the CX-30 and Mazda3.

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All of this should translate well to the CX-90, but some details will need refinements on the bigger vehicle. The front fender garnish, a PHEV badge, feels out of place and ruins the smooth design language of the CX-60. Additionally, the D-pillar looks well-proportioned on the CX-60, but could look awkward on a larger, three-row vehicle.

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I was more impressed with the cabin of the CX-60. It foreshadows a delightful interior in the upscale CX-90. The materials were effective, feeling like the brand presented a prime swatch of fabric or metal. The switchgear also feels delightfully tactile and responsive, leaving behind a feeling of quality. I especially liked the toggle-like buttons for the HVAC controls, but unlike real toggles, they only operate one way, which can be disorienting. The electronic gear lever also requires some familiarity, especially to put it in Park, needing an up-and-to-the-left motion, which perhaps mimics the feeling of leaving a manual car in gear.

The downsides in our car were the panels on the door and dash, which were designed to look textured and metallic but were flat and plastic-feeling. If Mazda wants to be taken seriously as a more premium automaker, it needs to nail these details.

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Furthermore, there should be an update to the infotainment system, which feels a bit simplistic in the face of others around the industry that feature split-screen setups and quick shortcuts. However, the gauge cluster looks sharp, and the automaker has a clean typeface for its interface which is pleasing to look at.

What to expect

I came away impressed with the CX-60, though I won’t beg for it to arrive on our shores. The Mazda crossover portfolio is already loaded, with the similar-sized CX-50 and CX-5 enjoying solid sales and positive praise. It’s also not entirely fair to judge the upcoming CX-90 based on my drive of the CX-60. It would be like guessing what a Subaru Ascent would be like to drive based on an impression of the Forester.

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What I can definitively say is that the CX-60 shows the upscale rear-wheel-drive PHEV approach Mazda is taking with its new large vehicles will be able to compete with other surprisingly premium offerings in the three-row segment. It helps provide confidence about how the upcoming CX-90 will fare against current class leaders like the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and Nissan Pathfinder.

The biggest factor of the CX-90 comes with the creativity and pluckiness of the Mazda brand. It’s easy to forget the strides the automaker has made in the past ten years. Sure, there have been some ups and downs for the company, (like the cancellation of diesel-powered vehicles in North America, after hyping them up for some time; or the all-electric MX-30 and its 160 km of range) the overall portfolio is strong and is clearly getting better thanks to ambitious thinking.