You would possibly take a look at the three.3-litre capability of the Mazda’s straight six and surprise the way it manages to make solely barely extra energy (197bhp) than the BMW X3 20d’s 2.0-litre (188bhp). By comparability, that is a selected output of simply 60bhp per liter for the Mazda, versus 94bhp per liter for the BMW. The factor is, it is intentional: up to a degree, an underpowered six-cylinder will probably be extra enjoyable to drive and extra economical than a harder-working 4. That is Mazda’s concept, and it claims a thermal effectivity of 40%.

To make issues worse on paper, our rear-wheel-drive CX-60 was 57kg heavier than the all-wheel-drive X3. Each automobiles use very comparable gear ratios, so it appears the marginally greater torque saved the day for the CX-60, because it was a good bit quicker than the BMW in all metrics. Most significantly, it was faster to 60mph by 0.7sec, and by as a lot as 2.2sec from 30-70mph in fourth gear. For outright velocity from a standing begin, although not in-gear match, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio nonetheless beat the Mazda.

As an expertise, the CX-60 diesel is new in how old school it’s. It takes a couple of revs longer to fireside than most automobiles, and at low revs and low masses, particularly with the oil nonetheless coming as much as temperature, the engine clatters like a metropolis bus. First impressions are positively that this isn’t a very refined powerplant. You possibly can even really feel the vibrations when it’s quiet.

However get some warmth within the engine and some revs on the tacho, and you’ll see it shift into a distinct cycle, and get that clean however understated straight-six diesel sound. It additionally turns very fortunately to the redline. The perfect factor a few massive diesel like that is the wealthy seam of easy mid-range torque, able to be tapped. A plug-in hybrid will be quicker below full throttle, however will at all times really feel and sound prefer it’s working a lot more durable.

In the event you like a little bit of mechanical interplay, you will most likely benefit from the honesty of this new engine, because the roughness is not intrusive for essentially the most half, nevertheless it’s additionally removed from the silence of EVs.

The mild-hybrid system does work exhausting to quiet the engine by shutting it down when taking place hills. The system works nicely in that it isn’t too desperate to kill the engine, nevertheless it’s not at all times completely clean when it revs up.

The eight-speed computerized is clean and responsive, selecting its shift factors neatly. This can be a shock, as the identical gearbox will be very clumsy within the PHEV.

The brakes, which work by way of a through-wire system, are additionally exemplary. Regardless of a couple of damp patches on the monitor, the CX-60 stopped in the identical distance because the Audi SQ5 within the dry, and the texture of the pedal is reassuringly agency, making clean stops kid’s play.