2026 Mazda CX-60 First Drive: When small changes make big differences

Same body, same cabin, but a new driving experience

Sometimes, it’s the little things that change everything.

About two years ago, Mazda took us to Baguio City to try out the CX-60 and the CX-90 SUVs, as they introduced their large product group platform vehicles to the Philippine market for the first time.

Back then, I had the CX-90 going up to Baguio, then the CX-60 on the road back to Manila. I still remember vividly how the 3.3-liter inline-six gas turned the large SUVs into GT cars with how fast they accelerated, and how effortlessly they cruised down the long expressways.

2023 Mazda CX-60 and CX-90 drive to Baguio City

While it was all well and good for the larger CX-90, we couldn’t quite say the same for the CX-60. Sure, it was a bit more agile, a bit more eager to turn and reach the speed limits, but the ride quality wasn’t its best asset. It also had a few engineering issues that stemmed from the drivetrain. It wasn’t just me who noticed, as other people and other outlets from other countries had the same sentiments that it had some initial flaws.

Fast forward to the present, and Mazda claims they’ve updated the CX-60, and the improvements aren't skin deep. For that, they wanted us to try it on the same roads and the same location where we drove it for the first time two years ago, so we could tell the difference. Let’s see for ourselves, then.

Starting outside, Mazda didn’t bother to change anything with the look of the CX-60, as it usually does with most of its models. Just take a look at the MX-5 – it looks exactly the same as it did back in 2015, and you could say that time has been very kind to its design, as the car still attracts attention wherever it goes.

Compare the CX-60 from 2023 to 2025, and it’s completely identical – even the wheels. We were assigned the Turbo-D Sport, which I didn’t get to try back in 2023, so it’s the one that comes with blacked-out wheels matching the Soul Red paint job.

Inside is also pretty much the same story, as it has the familiar tan and black combo for the leather, the top-notch interior finish, along with the similar screens and features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with Bose speakers.

The eSkyactiv-D powertrain is likewise producing the same power outputs as two years ago. With 254 PS and 550 Nm of torque in a crossover SUV body, the new CX-60 should have no problems when it comes to pulling power.

Exterior, interior, engine, all the same. What’s this update for, then? Well, I got the answer the moment we took off from Mazda’s Center of Excellence facility in Cabuyao en route to Baguio City.

Everything has to be quiet, refined, and comfortable when you’re in the luxury market, and that is where Mazda did its homework in improving the CX-60.

The CX-60 has an 8-speed torque converter-less automatic transmission. They wouldn’t call it a dual clutch, but it operates in a somewhat similar way. That said, the pre-updated model has also inherited some of the characteristics of a DCT, which made the SUV a little jerky at low speeds while the cogs start to spin. While that can pass off for a mass market car, it’s a different story when we’re talking about luxury – it has to be buttery smooth.

Coming out of the parking lot of Mazda’s yard, though, I immediately noticed Mazda’s engineers had taken a significant step towards refinement. The CX-60 rolls off much more smoothly than before. The switchover between ICE and electric motor has been finessed, while the response from the gearbox is much better – especially at light throttle loadings.

Just a few meters out of the Mazda gate, the overpass in Cabuyao leading to the entrance of SLEX had choppy pavement that would put a car’s suspension to the test. Whereas the old version would tend to pitch up and down, translating to a rather crashy ride, the new one keeps the body more composed with smaller oscillations.

There’s a more controlled feel to the body with the stiffer dampers, but the softer springs and the removal of the anti-roll bar have somewhat polished the CX-60’s initially rough ride. As we went along and racked up the kilometers going North, the CX-60 was able to keep that composed ride as the speeds got higher.

Of course, the enjoyable part about having a stiff suspension is that it responds quickly to inputs whenever you’re carving through winding roads. With stiffness in the CX-60 dialed down, the handling would theoretically be compromised – but Mazda has managed those smartly with the new update.

It was still a blast to drive, going up and down Kennon Road as the all-wheel-drive system, the low center of gravity, and the equal weight distribution did their best to manage the physics happening around the CX-60. The soundtrack of that inline-six was also entertaining – the diesel clatter and the effortless low rpm torque made me think I’m driving a Land Cruiser or a Patrol, but the corner carving abilities of the CX-60 brought me back to reality that I’m behind the wheel of a proper Mazda.

The automaker says they’ve also done something to the suspension geometry, the steering, and the stability control systems to keep that signature driving dynamics engaging, but I reckon expounding about that might be too much engineering talk for me to share.

To put it simply, Mazda already had a good-looking SUV with the features you’d find when you’re looking for luxury with the pre-updated CX-60. However, in its pursuit of giving sporty handling to a large SUV, Mazda has somewhat compromised its focus in the fact that most would choose comfort, stability, and refinement in this segment.

With the updated CX-60, though, those compromises have been massaged away while keeping the trademark of Mazda when it comes to giving an entertaining drive - all while being able to do 18 km/l in a large displacement inline-six diesel hybrid. In retrospect, the updates were something Mazda could have done from the get-go, but as they say, it’s better late than never.