2023 Mazda CX-60 Review: Australian launch!

The BRAND NEW 2023 Mazda CX-60 is here! Available in three engine variants diesel, petrol and petrol plug-in hybrid, I am lucky enough to get to drive these beautiful new cars through the gorgeous Australian countryside from Canberra to Mollymook. In a few weeks time, I will take one home and drive it with my family for a week and put it through our BabyDrive testing! But for now, let's find out how I got on…

What a drive to the beautiful Mollymook from Canberra, such scenery and great roads to drive Mazda's new premium five-seater SUV the Mazda CX-60.

The 2023 Mazda CX-60 is available with three engined: A petrol, diesel or petrol plug-in hybrid. I had the pleasure of driving them all. All three models are available in three specifications; the bottom spec Evolve, mid-spec GT and the top-spec Azami model.

Varying option packs can be added for each specification. For example the Tazumi and SP packs are available for the top-spec Azami model, including the white maple wood on the central console and door trim or the tan Nappa leather seat trim.

The bottom spec Evolve is available with the luxury pack, giving you heated front seats and black leather seats at a minimum.

The Vision Technology Pack gives passengers of the GT and Evolve models heated front seats, black leather interiors and black leather seat upholstery.

The 2023 Mazda Cx-60 is slightly larger than its sibling the CX-5 and the slight increase in width will hopefully result in fitting three child seats across once I get it home for full testing. Let’s find out how we get on having a quick look at it for BabyDrive during the launch…

The 2023 Mazda CX-60 has ISOFix in the two outer rear seats, within plastic guides and nice and easy to connect to.

There are top tether anchorages in the back of all three seatbacks that are easily accessible in the boot.

Two Infasecure child seats fit really nicely in the back of the new 2023 Mazda Cx-60. I installed Infasecure Attain More seats both forward and rear facing.

With a rear-facing child seat behind the driver's seat. We could fit a 180cm driver in the front.

I could also just fit between the two child seats. I’m quietly confident that when I test the CX-60 with my family in a few week's time and try fitting three Infasecure child seats across it is going to work for families that need it. There is space to move the two Attain More child seats out towards the doors. I’ll bring you that full BabyDrive report in a few weeks time!

Rear passengers have aircon vents in the back of the central console box which will keep them comfortable while driving.

There are also USB-C charging sockets for rear passenger devices in the 2023 Mazda CX-60 and a regular household socket which is great for the family Esky or plugging in your laptop if you are working while your kids are asleep in the back! Rear Heated seat controls are in the back of the central console box too and are available on the GT and Azami models.

Front passengers also have the comfort of heated seats in all models of the premium CX-60 and the top-spec Azami model has a heated steering wheel too.

The mid-range GT and top-spec Azami have an electronically adjustable steering wheel too, which is a feature I really appreciate.

The front seats of the 2023 Mazda CX-60 are comfortable and the interior has definitely been given a luxury touch. With different finishes available my particular favourite is the tan leather with black trim – and I even managed to twin it with my outfit!!

The boot space in the 2023 Mazda CX-60 is the same across all variants. This means no space has been taken up in the boot for the plug-in hybrid model, which often happens on other cars due to them needing space for batteries etc.

If you have a fur baby, rest assured a medium size dog will fit comfortably in the boot of the 2023 Mazda CX-60. The floor is flat and carpeted so it will be comfortable for them or for an emergency nappy change! I will put the boot through our usual full BabyDrive pram testing in a few week's time with my family. My favourite feature of the CX-60 boot is the retractable roller blind which is attached to the boot door. When the tailgate opens the roller blind raises up with it, so you don’t need your hands free to move it and it won’t get damaged.

The media system in the 2023 Mazda CX-60 has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is great news for families to access their favourite podcasts, music, navigation and communication apps on the move.

The 12-inch media screen of the 2023 Mazda CX-60 GT and Azami is lovely and clear and the system is very modern and intuitive to use and navigate using the rotary dial in the central console.

All specs of 2023 Mazda CX-60 have built-in sat nav and 360-degree cameras. The cameras can be turned on at any point with a button down in the central console.

I particularly like these cameras when parking and manoeuvring in locations where small children are like school and supermarket car parks because they make visibility in otherwise blind spots so good.

The reversing camera images are very clear and a great quality images with multiple views to choose from.

The 2023 Mazda CX-60 has a more premium driving feel than other models in the range. The steering is heavy, making it feel very grounded to the road. I was surprised to find the ride to be harder than I’d have expected though, which might cause upsets for some passengers.

The ride of the PHEV model in particular felt busy and agitated at lower speeds but settled and felt more at home touring at higher speeds.

The turning circle of the 2023 Mazda CX-60 is incredibly tight and light to turn which will definitely help with negotiating around town, school and supermarket car parks!

Visibility is very good in the new Mazda CX-60 and the deep front and rear windows give passengers big and small and good view out.

The 2023 Mazda CX-60 has eight airbags as standard including; Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags, as well as a driver knee airbag, are standard. A centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard.

ANCAP has awarded the new 2023 Mazda Cx-60 a five-star crash test rating awarding 93% for child occupancy protection. Rear exit warning is a new feature for the Mazda CX-60, rreventing rear passengers from opening their door out into the path of a car or bicycle.