Mazda CX-60, a cat amongst pigeons

BY Mabuyane Mabuza

In an era when compact SUV’s reign supreme, Mazda has unleashed the all-new Mazda CX-60 on South Africa’s roads. And, I must admit, they might be onto something. Positioned as Mazda’s answer to Volkswagen Tiguan, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and the Volvo XC40, its clean lines, clever design integration, and AI-driven technology are hands-down this SUV’s greatest selling points.

Launched in Johannesburg recently, we had an opportunity to take it for a spin and whet our appetite.

Design language

Overall, the CX-60 is a stunning SUV that delivers on both style and substance, perfectly balancing sleek design with spacious practicality and cutting-edge technology. Okay, they have managed to keep the design clean and simple (unsurprisingly) according to brand guidelines. This simplicity is referred to by Mazda as the Kodo design language, an embodiment of the dynamic beauty of life. Simply put, it perfectly blends form and function to create a head-turning SUV that looks just as good when parked on the street as it does speeding on the open road.

Interior

Step inside the CX-60, and you’ll be greeted by an interior that is both luxurious and practical, yet very minimalist with enough wiggling room for passengers and their black shopping bags. As the driver you feel comfortable and in full control behind the wheel, with controls within easy reach as you duck potholes or hoot at masked recyclers to get out of your way. Yet these controls are intuitive, carefully crafted and effortless in soft-touch materials, you don’t have to break into sweat. The advanced technology works together seamlessly to create a first-class driving experience. You almost forget the everyday life’s challenges, and look forward to being behind the wheel and one with the open road.

To show that they pay more attention to life, I love that they widened the width and height of the boot opening to allow easy access to bigger luggage pieces for those long and lazy trips to the country.

Technology

The technology features truly set the Mazda CX-60 apart from its competitors. For example, the CX-60 features Mazda’s new i-Activsense safety suite, which uses a variety of sensors and cameras to give you and your passengers an added sense of safety as you navigate Joburg’s stray dogs and nyaope boys who direct peak hour traffic during load shedding. These features include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, among others.

Another standout tech feature of the CX-60 is facial recognition, which recognises your features and immediately adjusts your seat, steering wheel and head-up display to your preferred settings as soon as you enter the driver’s seat. AI heaven on wheels that comes with an 11-speaker Bose sound system and an amplifier with nine channels of custom equalisation and digital signal processing, when you just have to turn up.

Competitors

Of the four direct competitors, Tiguan seem to be the most natural to pit against the CX-60. Even though the Tiguan comes wearing the tried and tested Volkswagen brand armour, Mazda has long earned its stripes. The Mazda brand is synonymous with the old and trusted community elder who always dishes out the best advice on everything from marriage to childcare.

While the Tiguan is more masculine – spotting the angular and traditional SUV shape with bold lines and a sharper look, the Mazda CX-60 is sleek, with a curvier body and an overall smoother design language. Both have their own unique style points, but it all boils down to a matter of great taste.

Tiguan has a fantastic engine range to choose from the 1.4TSi, 2.0TDI and 2.0TSi (which is also an R-Line model). The Mazda CX-60 comes with 2.5L engine in Individual and Dynamic trims. It is easy to make a decision especially for those who easily get confused.

Pricing:

When it comes to pricing, the Volkswagen Tiguan might be winning the stakes with an entry point of around R606 000, while the Mazda CX-60 starts at R739 800. Overall, both the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Mazda CX-60 are solid options in the compact SUV class. If you want a more sport-oriented driving experience and fuel economy, the Mazda CX-60 is a great choice. But if you prefer a more powerful engine and a sleek crossover design, the Volkswagen Tiguan is a better choice for you. It ultimately depends on your personal preferences and needs as a driver.