2025 Mazda CX-60 G25 review: New grade with 2.5L four-cylinder petrol engine aims for broader appeal

At the time of its launch, Mazda Australia claimed the CX-60 was a premium product, with premium pricing, directed at taking on the established premium and luxury brands. It would appear however, that Australian buyers want a more affordable CX-60, with sharper pricing a key focus of the new entry point to the extensive range. 

This new G25 model grade, then, is significantly more affordable than the previous entry-point to the CX-60 range, and is clearly the result of Mazda Australia listening to customers who wanted this car at a more fetching price. 

From launch, you’ll be able to buy the new CX-60 G25 for $47,990 drive-away (except for WA) for the entry Pure model, while the G25 Evolve starts from $49,240 before on-road costs and the G25 Touring starts from $52,240 before on-road costs. 

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This new model grade comes hot on the heels of the suspension revision back in May, and builds on what was an already impressive SUV, with strong standard equipment. Our tester is riding on 18-inch rims, and deals nicely with Melbourne’s urban and outer urban road network. SUVs in this class should be comfortable, more than they should be sporty, and the G25 nails that balance nicely, although it does – like most of the Euro entrants – err more on the side of firm. 

The other big difference of course is the engine – the G25 is powered by a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, with RWD and no hybrid or turbo complexity. This new driveline is added to a model range that already featured a 3.3-litre mild-hybrid turbocharged six-cylinder, a 3.3-litre mild hybrid turbocharged diesel six-cylinder, and a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder plug-in hybrid petrol engine. It’s safe to say then, that there’s plenty to choose from if you’re looking at buying a Mazda CX-60.

The 2.5-litre engine is familiar to Mazda owners, having been used in a variety of different Mazda vehicles over the years. It makes 138kW and 250Nm, driving through an eight-speed, multi-clutch automatic to the rear wheels. On that point, this base model will be RWD-only, while other CX-60s feature all-wheel drive as standard.

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The standard feature list of the base model is lengthy, even if some equipment has been removed to reflect the sharper price. Standard equipment for the Pure includes the aforementioned 18-inch gun metallic alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto high beam and dusk sensing, keyless entry and start, 10.25-inch infotainment screen, wireless and wired smartphone connectivity, proprietary satellite navigation, DAB radio, head-up display, eight-way manual front seat adjustment, 360-degree camera, and an extensive suite of adaptive safety equipment. As you step up through Evolve and Touring, you get more standard equipment – as you do with the rest of the CX-60 range. 

The takeaway from our launch drive is, as expected, the 2.5-litre engine doing everything the target buyer will expect. So much so that it’s not impolite to ask whether you need to fork out the extra money for any of the other more powerful engine options. This SUV will live the majority of its life in town, in traffic, dealing with the regular cut and thrust of city traffic. And it manages those tasks easily. There’s still some slight jerkiness through the transmission, but it’s smoother and quieter than other CX-60s we’ve tested.

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The cabin insulation is a point worth mentioning, too. Mazda seems to have tacitly admitted that there was too much road noise entering the cabins of its cars, and this CX-60 is significantly quieter and therefore more refined than just about any other Mazda we’ve tested recently. At cruising speed, you could almost whisper in conversation to other occupants, that’s how quiet it was. 

Aussies love buying the most expensive version of whatever car they are looking at, with as many options added as possible, but once again, the G25 CX-60 has shown that isn’t really necessary. In base form, you might want electric seat adjustment for example, but do you need it? Does the base Pure feel like you’re missing anything? No, not at all. And as such, it’s now a more affordable option for more buyers. 

The CX-60 is a solid SUV that competes well in the segment, and now offers the kind of price spread it arguably should have offered at launch. The jury is out as to whether Mazda can genuinely compete at the higher end of the premium section of the market – or indeed whether Australian consumers are willing to accept its position there. However, there’s no doubt the sharper pricing for the newly available G25 model gives prospective buyers a compelling reason to consider it in a segment that gets more hotly contested by the month.

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Specifications

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