2024 Mazda CX-60 GT PHEV long-term review 3: The best of both worlds

After three months behind the wheel of a Mazda CX-60 GT PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle), the takeaway is that this is a great family hauler… with some caveats.

Do I enjoy it because it is a Mazda CX-60? Or is this a good family car because of its powertrain?

Look, the CX-60 was not the bona-fide hit most new Mazda models are when it landed a few years ago, falling short in transmission refinement and ride comfort, but a plug-in hybrid engine goes a long way in addressing some of these issues.

Firstly, because it is a hybrid with a 17.8kWh battery, you can get fantastic fuel economy figures.

In my three months with the car, I’ve not needed to put a single drop of petrol into the tank, and I’ve travelled more than 4000km in this thing, how impressive!

The all-electric driving range is a claimed 76km from Mazda, but with a full charge the dashboard shows about 60km.

And while that figure might not seem like that much, it’s just enough for me to cover the childcare drop-off, commute into work and all the way back again without using a single sip of petrol.

Of course, I’ve only been able to use this car on electric power so much because I’m fortunate to be able to charge at home, but still, it’s an impressive feat nonetheless.

After three months, I’m showing a 1.4 litres per 100 kilometres fuel economy rating, as well as a 25.6kWh/100km consumption figure.

The latter is nowhere near as efficient as other cars in the same class or even similarly sized full-electric vehicles, mind you. But it is far from the worst I’ve seen, and when it's only costing about $3.50 for a full charge, well, I can live with that.

What also really impresses is the CX-60 GT PHEV’s driving dynamics – offering engaging dynamics and thrills without too much compromise to comfort and serenity – an area where Mazdas have traditionally been strong.

And it’s much the same story here too.

The combined 241kW and 500Nm delivers a real punch when coming away at the lights, and when driving on electric-only mode, it has instant torque for easy overtakes.

The steering is also well-weighted, offering enough feedback where piloting the CX-60 is a very enjoyable experience.

Lucky too, because this thing can handle more than a few bends, feeling more hunkered down like a hot hatch rather than a high-riding family hauler.

That, however, is where the list of good points ends, because there are a few big flaws with this CX-60 that might make it a deal-breaker to some.

While the CX-60 can carve up a corner without much body roll and sway, the byproduct of this sort of suspension setup is that it is hard – like really hard.

It was an issue when the CX-60 first launched back in 2023, and even after an update to address the issue, ride comfort is still noticeably compromised.

In a sports car or performance hero, it can be forgivable, but in a family SUV designed to get you from A to B as frugally as possible? If comfort is high up on your consideration list, maybe look elsewhere.

In my three months with the car, I’ve had a travel stroller in the boot nearly full time, and even when travelling at slower, inner-city speeds over particular bumps in the road, the pram will become airborne.

The rear axle just doesn’t feel settled, and it doesn’t do a good job of absorbing bumps and ruts in the road. This means slowing down an unusual amount when you encounter even just the ordinary speed hump, otherwise you will be met with a jolt into the cabin.

And it results in a tiresome drive over long periods of time.

While the powertrain is great when mostly running on electric power, things start to deteriorate when the petrol engine needs to come into play.

The changeover from electric to petrol is very jerky, and then when the petrol engine needs to rely on that eight-speed automatic transmission, changes in gears are also met with a mechanical clunk and a shudder through the cabin.

Mazda needs to spend a little more time refining this changeover as hybrid technology has really matured over the years, and this is far from the leading one.

Which leads me into the price, because that cutting-edge powertrain, high levels of equipment and standout design do come at a cost – a big one in fact.

This CX-60 GT PHEV was priced at a staggering $81,600 before on-road costs when we picked it up, which pushes it close to premium European luxury. With a price adjustment for 2025, the price is now $81,850.

Look, I get you will not be getting the same levels of equipment or a plug-in hybrid powertrain in an Audi, BMW or Mercedes at this price, but $80,000 is still a lot to pay for a model with some refinement issues.

You could even get into similarly sized all-electric models like the Tesla Model Y, as well as large three-row hybrid SUVs, for less than this.

Mazda does frequently run offers on the CX-60, though, so there are discounts to be had, but my point about value remains.

Look, a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet, and by the same token, if this CX-60 were wearing a European badge, no one would question its premium pedigree.

To me, after three months, the plug-in hybrid version of the CX-60 has emerged as the best of the bunch, offering punchy performance and frugal motoring – at least in my use case and, of course, your mileage will vary depending on charging options and diligence.

But it comes at a high price to pay – literally, and in terms of ride comfort.

If you must have a Mazda family car, the CX-60 is a tempting option. But if you just want a plug-in hybrid, there are more affordable and more comfortable choices.

Fingers crossed Mazda can make amends with an update due to come to the CX-60 later this year, because this car can be so much better than it is now.

Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.

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