Hello HOMURA
Mazda has introduced a whole new name for the sporty version of its new CX-60 SUV
With the arrival of the new CX-60, Mazda has shuffled its naming protocol a tad, dropping the traditional “Sport” nomenclature from the new SUV line-up and replacing it with “Homura”, which means “flame” or “blaze” in Japanese. It is also a species of grass moth found in Brazil, but I doubt that was Mazda’s inspiration
Anyway, name aside, the Homura takes the traditional sportier position in the CX-60 lineup and, as such, features a more handling-focused suspension tune as well as Mazda’s new 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder engine.
Effectively the mid-spec model in the CX-60 family, the Homura is the only one available with a choice of either the 3.3 or the 2.5-litre four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain. In CX-60 form, the 3.3-litre six pumps out 209kW/ 450Nm, down on the hybrid’s 241kW/500Nm, and the same six in the larger Mazda CX-90 which produces 254kW/500Nm. It is hooked up to the same 8-speed automatic transmission and also nabs a 48-volt mild hybrid assist system.
Mazda claims a 3P-WLTP average fuel consumption figure of 8.2l/100km (and 190g/km CO2) for the 3.3 and, in the real world, this isn’t actually far off — around town the Homura will average around 11-12l/100km, while getting it out on the open road for a bit sees this effortlessly drop into a single figure average.
Lacking the PHEV’s ability to run around on electric power only, the Homura is a more traditional SUV experience, with maximum torque kicking in at 2000rpm and punching it off the line with a satisfyingly solid shove.
That maximum torque has a somewhat narrow band, only stretching to 3500rpm, but it never feels lacking in the upper revs as the maximum power kicks in at 5000rpm and takes the baton nicely, with the six producing a muted, but pleasingly muscular growl throughout.
The Homura’s sportier suspension tune presents a slightly firmer ride than the Takami and noticeably less body roll, sharpening up the handling nicely without sacrificing ride quality to any particular degree, meaning it remains a superbly comfortable SUV.
Inside, the Homura eschews the Takami’s showy white trim for a traditional Kiwi favourite, black leather.
It features the same layout, which also means the same annoyingly imprecise wireless phone charging pad that constantly quits and restarts.
The Homura also shares the slight drivetrain shunt at light throttle applications that the PHEV suffers from, but it is far less noticeable here thanks to not having an electric motor to complicate things.
While that issue is even more minor here, it is still a disappointment, as everything else about the Homura is refined and polished to a remarkably high degree. The transmission is otherwise excellent too, slipping through gears with impressive smoothness at full throttle, only becoming slightly niggly on light throttle.
Still, for most people this is likely easy to overlook, leaving the Homura an excellent medium SUV with mild sporty pretensions that it pulls off nicely, without negatively affecting its luxury credentials. It’s nicely comfortable, superbly appointed and even offers up a pleasing sixcylinder growl.
If you were expecting CX-5 pricing you are in for a shock, as Mazda is definitely aiming higher at the proper luxury market with the CX-60, which means the midspec Homura costs $81,990.