Why should you be interested in the Mazda CX-60 SUV? This vehicle won’t cross either ocean or become part of the North American market, but it has some of what we will eventually see. The CX-60 is a new plug-in-hybrid SUV for the European market that gives us an idea of what the CX-70 will offer when it arrives in the United States.

Let’s take a look.

Check out the power of the Mazda CX-60

The 2023 CX-60 is the first SUV built on the new platform created by the brand. This new SUV is larger, longer, and more luxurious than the CX-50. This new architecture should underpin many of the future PHEV models.

Power for this new Mazda SUV comes from a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor. Total power reaches 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The claimed electric range is 39 miles using the 17.8-kWh battery pack.

What makes this Mazda SUV special?

If all we had to show was the hybrid powertrain, there wouldn’t be much to talk about, but that’s not all. Here are five things that make the CX-60 interesting.

1. A camera that can see through this Mazda SUV

Mazda calls it the See-Through View camera system, and it allows you to see everything around your car. Often, the body of a vehicle can obscure the view of a camera; with this new system, that doesn’t happen. This will make parking the CX-60 much easier.

2. The Mazda CX-60 has an advanced memory setting

Memory settings in a vehicle usually relate to the key fob used. With this new Mazda SUV, the Driver Personalization System uses the driver-facing camera to know which driver is behind the wheel to set the seats, steering wheel, mirrors, head-up display, and stereo system to your desired preferences.

3. More drive modes mean more driving pleasure

Typically, Mazda vehicles only have a Sport setting or an Off-Road mode for some vehicles. The Mazda CX-60 will be the first model to bring five driving modes to the mix. These five Mi-Drive modes are Normal, Sport, Off-Road, Towing, and EV.

4. Finally, an eight-speed transmission in a Mazda SUV

Although Mazda vehicles are fun to drive, the six-speed Aisin automatic transmission is antiquated in a world with many vehicles on the road with eight or 10 gears. The 2023 Mazda CX-60 receives an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission that is smoother and more responsive than the outgoing transmission.

5. The Mazda CX-60 offers a better digital connection for you

You’ll have three useful screens inside this new Mazda SUV. The digital instrument cluster is now 12.3-inches in size. That’s an upgrade from the 7.0-inch model in older Mazda vehicles. The head-up display of the CX-6 is three times larger than the CX-30 giving you the information you desire right in front of you during your drive.

Is the CX-60 bigger than the CX-5?

The new Mazda CX-60 is not a small SUV, but it’s not big enough to be called a full-size model. The CX-60 is longer than the CX-5 by 20 cm. The CX-60 also brings a longer wheelbase to the market. This allows you to have an SUV that offers more comfort than the popular CX-5 while delivering a great drive, something Mazda is well known for providing.

Even though we aren’t going to see the Mazda CX-60 in the United States, it does give us a glimpse at what we should expect from this brand when the CX-70 arrives.

Next, check out a few things that might turn you off to the Honda CR-V, or watch the Mazda CX-60 video below:

This article was updated on 8/5/2022.