Mazda's most powerful model detailed! 2022 CX-60 plug-in hybrid incoming as upmarket Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Ford Escape PHEV alternative

Mazda has finally ripped the covers off its crucial CX-60 SUV, which not only heralds the brand’s new wave of models, but is also its first foray mass market foray into plug-in hybrid technology.

The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the CX-60 makes use of a 2.5-litre Skyactiv four-cylinder petrol engine and a 100kW electric motor, resulting in a combined output of 241kW/500Nm.

This will make it Mazda Australia’s most potent model, beating the 140kW/450Nm BT-50 ute, 170kW/420Nm CX-9 and 140kW/450Nm diesel-powered CX-5.

Paired to the powertrain is a newly-developed eight-speed automatic transmission that sends drive to all four wheels, which results in a zero-to-100km/h spring in just 5.8 seconds.

With a 17.8kWh battery in tow, the CX-60 is able to travel 63km before the petrol engine kicks in, but Mazda is yet to detail recharging times.

Fuel economy meanwhile, is pegged at a scant 1.3 litres per 100km.

For those who aren’t ready to adopt an electrified powertrain, the CX-60 will also be made available with two brand-new straight six engines at a later date – a 3.0-litre e-Skyactiv X petrol and a 3.3-litre Skyactiv-D diesel.

Power and torque outputs for these new engines are yet to be revealed, but both make use of a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that Mazda calls M Hybrid Boost, and both are fitted with the new eight-speed automatic transmission that sends drive to all four wheels in the CX-60.

However, Mazda points out that “the Skyactiv-D diesel unit and e-Skyactiv X petrol engine have also been developed to be equipped with rear-wheel drive only”, which is expected to surface in the new-generation Mazda6 mid-size sedan expected to be shown later this year.

Measuring 4745mm long, 1890mm wide, 1670mm tall and with a 2870mm wheelbase, slotting the CX-60 neatly between the mid-size CX-5 and three-row CX-8 dimensionally, while weight in the PHEV variant is pegged at around 2000kg.

As a result, the CX-60 will swallow 570 litres of volume in the boot – much more than the 442L on offer in the CX-5.

Pricing for Australian cars is yet to be revealed, but Mazda is positioning the CX-60 above the CX-5 mid-size SUV that kicks off at $32,190 before on-road costs.

In the right-hand-drive UK market, the CX-60 PHEV kicks off at £43,950 ($A79,197) and is available in three grades, making it around 50 per cent more expensive than their entry-level £28,145 CX-5.

If Mazda Australia follows the same strategy, the CX-60 could start at around $50,000 when it enters local showrooms later this year, but with the Japanese brand looking to reposition itself as a mainstream premium alternative to the likes of Toyota and Hyundai, that figure is expected to be higher.

Keep in mind, Mazda UK does not offer the CX-8 or CX-9, making the CX-60 its flagship model.

Features such as 20-inch wheels, heated and cooled front seats, a sunroof and electronically adjustable front seats are available, while safety is also an important point of differentiation for the CX-60, with tech including a surround-view monitor, hill descent control, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and autonomous emergency braking featuring.