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Straight-Six Bliss: The Mazda CX-60

Can a crossover be a true driver’s car? Here’s Mazda’s best effort.

Earl Lee
Car of the Week: Mazda CX-60

There’s no denying that Mazda knows how to make great cars for driving enthusiasts. There’s no doubt that Mazda crossovers are some of the most bang-for-buck models out there in terms of handling. 

However, the bigger things got in the lineup, the more we couldn’t deny the laws of physics. Jinba Ittai still applies to all of Mazda’s cars, but with the extra weight and heft of the larger crossovers, something had to give, and we know that you can only over-engineer something so much before it becomes cost-prohibitive, at least in the case of Mazda’s front-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive platforms like the CX-5, CX-8, and CX-9. By no means are the models a bad drive, but if Mazda were to create a better and more perfect driving experience, the CX-60’s tectonic shift in drivetrain layout and platform had to be done, and it’s all the better for it, at least for the driving experience. 

Related: What makes the Mazda CX-60 worth every cent
2023 Mazda CX-60

For many years, the crossover segment was dominated by transverse engine layouts that resulted in most being front-wheel drive and an exceptional few going the longitudinal route like Subaru. Making a car with an engine’s drive shaft pointing towards the rear wheels is not the most cost-effective way to make a car, but some enthusiasts swear by it, and we’re inclined to agree. 

However great the layout is, it’s—as mentioned—cost prohibitive or expensive, in other words. Production is simply more efficient and cost-effective when the vehicle is biased on the front wheels. On top of that, a transverse engine layout also allows the cabin to be more spacious as a central tunnel doesn’t rob the interior of legroom. Fewer materials are also needed to produce a car because you don’t have a long and expensive drive shaft cutting through the middle of the car, and that’s just some of the things worth mentioning. 

Thus, the transverse layout dominated most modern cars in today’s market. Only a select few brands actually had the courage to create cars with the longitudinal layout, and quite a number were settled into the premium segment of the market, where consumer budgets are less of an issue. 

2023 Mazda CX-60 Front Quarter

So this is where the CX-60 comes in. It’s an anomaly, a market disruptor, an oddity, or perhaps a revolution—depending on who you ask. In a bid to create the best driving experience in a crossover, Mazda had to make a change. Mazda had to make the CX-60, at least based on our experience. Perhaps some people can relate to the development story, because when you hit a wall, restarting could sometimes be the key to unlocking new doors, and achieving greater things. That’s pretty much what the CX-60 stands to achieve. A monumental shift in layout in pursuit of the best-possible drive. 

Anomaly? When most crossovers are going with four-cylinder engines, a straight six is quite unusual. When most crossovers are going for practicality, Mazda’s reshaping its cabin to fit its new layout. Admittedly, the CX-60 doesn’t have the best-in-class rear legroom and its cargo hold isn’t too cavernous, but compromise and tradeoff in the pursuit of a perfect drive isn’t unforgivable. 

A market disruptor and an oddity? This is the first time we’re seeing a longitudinal layout being fielded by Mazda and one of the rare instances where a crossover has an engine pointed toward the rear wheels. All of this is done in a car that’s not a premium offering, and it has a—relatively—great price to boot in comparison to premium and also mainstream models. 

2023 Mazda CX-60 Side

There is no denying that the practicality of this car took a hit. Mazda took a page out of the sportscar handbook in order to create this vehicle. The engine’s balance, smoothness, and 48-vold mild-hybrid system work in tandem to deliver smooth and almost seamless power. Straight-six engines are known to be perfectly balanced from an engineering standpoint. On top of that, the CX-60 sports a near-50-50 weight distribution due to the front-mid positioning of the engine, and the heft at the rear counterbalancing the long motor. 

These are all textbook terms when it comes to sports cars, but for it to be found in the build notes of the CX-60 is rather impressive. Enthusiasts say that rear-wheel drive is “right-wheel drive,” and it goes beyond just having the back wheels enabling the car to rotate. Front-engined-rear-wheel drive layouts open up the possibility for a 50-50 weight distribution, which is optimal and optimal for handling. 

2023 Mazda CX-60 Center Console
2023 Mazda CX-60 Steering Wheel
2023 Mazda CX-60 Dashboard

What’s traded for all that driving prowess? Again, we said that there are tradeoffs in the pursuit of perfection, and sacrifices had to be made. In the CX-60’s case, it’s less cabin space and cargo space. Mazda compromised on practicality and rear passenger amenities. What gives here is a bit of legroom. While passengers will enjoy the feeling of a sturdy and confidence-inspiring chassis, their legs might feel a little cramped. Luggage is less of an issue, but the rear cargo hold’s not as fantastic as other crossovers. 

It takes courage to go against the established norm, to go up in price, and to offer a driving experience that you never knew you wanted. Mazda is challenging what it means to be a crossover with the CX-60. Will it ever be the standard moving forward? Perhaps not. 

However, as one of the gold standards for its class in terms of driving, it’s definitely worth testing, and knowing Mazda, it’s likely going to be love at first drive. 

2023 Mazda CX-60 Diesel Engine
2023 Mazda CX-60 Gasoline Engine
2023 Mazda CX-60 Front

The engine is big at 3.3 liters and the turbocharger makes things a little more interesting, plus the M Hybrid boost technology keeps the car running smoothly all throughout. The result is a powertrain that surges smoothly and delivers just enough to get everything up to speed. 

Even with a large and powerful engine, the motor is meant more for smoothness than outright power and torque. The motor is tuned to deliver the smoothest and most seamless driving experience whether in its gasoline or diesel configuration. 

This is also the first time that we’re getting a six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system in a Mazda vehicle, and if you thought four-cylinder engines with hybrid motors were smooth, then you have to try this. Mazda’s not straying too far away from the formula of a crossover, but based on all of the model’s hallmarks and developments, not to mention all of the driver-focused features which utilize eye-tracking to get the best possible seating position. It’s definitely a testamant to Mazda's fanaticism that will fully cement it in its own niche: An everyday driver’s car. 

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