How is the quality and layout?

• Spacious, comfortable cabin
• Logical control placement, practical storage
• Well made, but lacks flair except in Takumi spec

Mazda’s ability to put together an appealing, unfussy interior has been moved up a notch for the CX-60, but it’s still a little drab thanks to a selection of charcoal shades and a rather unoriginal metal-weave style finish for the centre console. Everything feels well made, though.

The CX-60’s rather dark cabin is transformed if you choose the top Takumi specification, with light leathers, fabric and cork details. It would be nice to have the option of some personalisation, such as a choice of contrasting accents or materials without the pale seats.

Style-wise it’s uncluttered, with physical controls for almost every feature subtly blending in with the design. Three digital displays occupy the driver’s eyeline, cleverly placed so those who prefer a higher seating position can rely on the head-up display for most data.

The digital dashboard changes with various modes – from a splash of purple when electric and hybrid modes change, to red with a rev counter for Sports mode, and a display of nearby cars when adaptive cruise is in use. Curiously, this display (with animated cube cars) is present even without the adaptive cruise option.

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Infotainment and tech

All models share a 12.3-inch central screen with an impressive 12-speaker Bose audio system, including sat-nav, DAB radio and streaming functions. Fans of tactile controls will appreciate Mazda’s infotainment system, which retains the chunky wheel and buttons in the centre console – all of which can be identified by touch without glancing away from the road.

Wireless Apple CarPlay displays minimal lag (Android Auto is also supported) and navigation directions appear in the head-up display; there are two USB-C ports in the centre console but if you want wireless charging you need the Convenience Pack. The pad is well-placed and the phone doesn’t slide out when driving, despite being easy to access. It does get hot, though, as most Qi-enabled devices do, and will stop charging after a period of time to prevent overheating.

It’s worth familiarising yourself with the car; the separate drive mode and EV charge controls highlight how direct many functions are. Clever touches extend to a heating system that will switch the seat and steering wheel warmers on in very cold weather, and cooled seats on the Homura and Takumi.

Comfort

• Good driving position and visibility
• Rear passengers well catered for
• Comfortable, but firm ride on large wheels

The Mazda CX-60 makes a good first impression here. The footwells are wide and the seats are well-shaped, with a wide range of adjustment for the electric seats and steering wheel. The entry-level Exclusive-Line’s manual seats can be upgraded, but it retains manual wheel adjustment.

Mazda’s driver recognition feature adds a personal touch; though the seat, wheel and mirror adjustment suggestions are yet to find a perfect position for any of the team, the recall of your own saved settings is quite reliable. This is very useful if you have more than one regular driver, saving quite a bit of time adjusting the seat to get comfortable.

Although there’s a bias towards the CX-60’s sporty nature in its small steering wheel, and overall feel of the car, the floor-hinged pedal, long wheelbase and well designed seat back and headrest are well suited to long, relaxed drives as well. The Mazda is an accomplished motorway cruiser.

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Passengers are equally well catered for, with deep cushions and a supportive rear seat that isn’t thin and stingy-feeling like many rivals. That back seat is heated on higher specifications.

Large side windows and lots of headroom keep adults and older children happy, and the wide cabin means infants in the outer Isofix seat can have an attending adult without too much discomfort for the squeezed middle-seat occupant. Dual-zone climate control that’s quiet in operation completes a simple, yet effective approach – no overly complicated seat adjustments or fancy gadgets for the suspension.