26/04/2026

SUNDAY | APR 26, 2026

Contributing Editor Keshy Dhillon / keshy@piston.my Editorial

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Understated premium presence presence BY SHAUN LEE

Wheels measure in at 20 inches, which are quite large

Mazda CX-60 is flawed but deeply appealing

I JUST spent a few days in the Mazda CX 60, and it is easily one of the most interest ing SUVs you can buy today. I say interest ing because it is not perfect. In fact, it is quite the opposite. It is flawed in ways that are immediately obvious. But spend a bit more time with it, and either you start to understand what Mazda is trying to do here, or you get more infuriated with it. And if you are the kind of person who cares about how a car feels rather than just what it offers on paper, this might hit you harder than expected. I know it did for me. To the point where I am genuinely consid ering one if my Lexus RX gets sold. But first, some context. The CX-60 sits above the CX-5 and marks Mazda’s move into a more premium space. It rides on a new rear-wheel drive platform with a longi tudinal engine layout, which already sets it apart from most SUVs in this price range. In Malaysia, we get a single variant, the 2.5G 2WD High, powered by a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engine. On paper, it does not scream excitement. But this is not a car you judge purely by numbers. But let’s get the flaws out of the way because there are quite a few. The biggest one is the transmission. It is, frankly, not good enough for a car at this price point. At low speeds around town, it can feel jerky. The shifts are not clean and there is this slight shudder during gear changes that you cannot unfeel once you notice it. It feels like the car is constantly trying to second guess itself, especially in stop-go traffic. This is already the updated version, which makes you wonder how the earlier cars were. The engine itself is acceptable. It is not

underpowered, but it does not excite either. You need to rev it out to get meaningful performance, but it never feels strained doing so. There is some induction noise, which helps with a bit of connection, but if you came in expecting something like a big naturally aspirated six-cylinder, this will not scratch that itch. Then there is practicality. For a car this size, the rear space is underwhelming. Legroom is just about adequate for Asian adults, but taller passengers will start to notice the limitations on longer drives. Footroom is also compromised by the seat base and rails, which makes it harder to stretch out. The seat base itself is on the shorter side, so thigh support is not great. Recline is there, but only just enough for long dis tance comfort. Cabin storage is another miss. The cen tre storage under the armrest is shallow, almost comically so. Door bins are small as well. At least the glovebox and boot are properly sized, so not everything is com promised. The infotainment system is another sticking point. It is still rotary dial only. No touchscreen, even when stationary. Mazda’s reasoning is safety, which is fair, but Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are clearly designed with touch in mind. It feels like the system is working against you rather than with you. On top of that, Android Auto is wired only, while Apple CarPlay gets wireless. Ride and refinement are decent, but not class leading. The suspension has decent level of pliancy, you can tell, but it still does not quite round off sharp edges the way the

The 2.5-litre engine is the same one found in the current generation CX-5.

best in the segment do. You feel more of the road than you probably should at this level, especially over broken surfaces. It is also not the qui etest cabin. There is some road noise that comes through, and it does not feel like a big step up from a CX-5 in terms of insula tion. So yes, objectively, there are quite a few things to pick at. And yet somehow, I have convinced myself that I can live with those flaws, because this is where the CX-60 flips the script. The driving position alone is worth talking about. You sit in it and everything just feels right. The steering wheel comes to you properly, your legs are stretched out natu rally, and nothing feels offset or compro mised. The pedal box is well aligned, the steering is centred, and even the footrest is properly positioned. This is surprisingly rare, even in more expensive cars. Some brands still struggle with offset pedals or awkward seating

geometry. Mazda nailed it here. What’s also nailed is the build and mate rial quality. This is a fully imported unit from Japan, and it shows. There are no hol low points, everything feels solid, and the materials have a depth to them that you do not usually get at this price point. The stitching, the surfaces, the tactility of the controls, it all feels deliberate. Ergonomics are excellent as well. Every button is where you expect it to be. No guesswork, no hunting through menus. Even the switchgear has a satisfying weight and click to it. The indicator stalk alone feels more pre mium than some entire interiors. The seats are on the firmer side, but supportive, and suited for longer drives. And then, the way it drives is also where the CX-60 starts to make sense. The steer ing is one of the first things you notice. It has weight, clarity, and a very natural response. You turn the wheel, and the car just fol