SUV takes on seasoned rivals

What Mazda has done is take the iconic I6 engine, this time with an 86mm bore and longer 94.2mm stroke, bolted on a big turbocharger, added a 48-volt mild hybrid system and mated it to an 8-speed transmission.

Power is 209kW and torque 450Nm.

Now that is impressive, although it is less than the PHEV options and it uses about four times more fuel.

Mazda says the big six is stressless motoring, and it can be fun. It certainly sounds good and it would be happy cruising with a load. It will also run on 91 fuel, whereas the PHEVs need 95 and that does push the price up, and it is more fuel efficient than Mazda’s 2.5-litre CX-5 and offers considerably more power.

Driving the CX-60 is familiar, everything is where it is expected and the materials are quality.

One of the high-end features is facial recognition, which changes the driving position that can be perfectly pre-set according to height and other factors.

Mi-drive is also a new feature, offering four drive modes: normal, sport, off-road and towing to tailor its drive characteristics to specific conditions.

The drive has been tailored to be less “bouncy” than other SUVs, and with a more traditional northsouth engine setup and bias towards rear-wheel-drive it has a sporty feel.

It is also running big 20” wheels with 235/50R20 tyres.

As usual space and storage are amazingly adaptable, and it is quiet inside when you want it to be. A premium sound system and a full suite of infotainment apps can ramp up the volume and keep you connected.

Mazda has continued with its identifiable good looks, but added some bold styling and premium materials to emphasise its luxury status.