Two and a half years after its launch in Japan, the CX-60 has been improved to enhance its product appeal.
Rear wheel suspension with sway bar omitted
In the rework, the damping force of the front and rear dampers was reviewed to improve ride comfort. In addition, the rear-wheel suspension was modified in terms of spring constant, bump stopper characteristics, and crossmember bushing characteristics, and the stabilizer was simplified.
Although it is unreasonable to expect a smooth ride from an SUV with large-diameter tires and heavy unsprung weight, the development staff explains that “the SUV market has expanded, and there are a variety of needs (more than before),” and that users have become more diverse.
The strong thrust has been reduced and the taste has changed to one with some softness, but there are still times when the wobbly feel with a relaxed swaying sensation peeks out. It may be more satisfying to think of the CX-60 as a driver’s SUV with an emphasis on handling, as if it were not supposed to be like this.
The special edition Trekker (5,527,500 yen) is also worthy of attention. The special Zircon Sand M body color is apt to attract attention, but a panoramic sunroof (worth 121,000 yen) and a partition net are also special features. However, many people may feel that the 220,000 yen increase in price is too high (⁉︎).
However, you will find that this model incorporates a trial experiment. The base model is a straight 6 diesel MHEV, but the engine is restarted not by ISG but by a cell motor while running on motor. Restarting the engine requires a large amount of torque, and it was necessary to keep enough margin to cover that workload while running on ISG.
However, by entrusting this role to the cell motor, the range in which EV driving is possible with ISG (especially in the city speed range) is expanded, resulting in an increase in WLTC mode fuel economy from 20.9 km/L to 21.4 km/L, achieving the 2030 fuel economy standard. Incidentally, the cell motor for non-electric diesel-powered vehicles is used to ensure capacity.
On the other hand, some users may feel uncomfortable with the noise and vibration (NVH) caused by the cell motor while the car is moving. This is the reason why the special edition was introduced on a trial basis. Unfortunately, we were not able to test drive the car this time, so we would like to confirm once again the level of NVH it produces.
When the CX-60 debuted, diesel MHEV accounted for a high percentage of sales, but now non-electric diesel vehicles account for about half of the sales, while gasoline vehicles including PHEVs, account for about 20%.
The fact that it is difficult to choose from the various grades with slightly different equipment for each powertrain is a common problem with Mazda vehicles, and if Mazda works to sort out these issues, it will not only be easier for consumers to understand, but it will also improve production efficiency, which must be beneficial to Mazda itself.
https://www.mazda.co.jp/cars/cx-60/
