Mazda CX-60 (2024) PHEV diesel: de ultieme Sahara-test

You just have to act like a small niche brand: Launch the ‘big’ 3.3-litre straight-six diesel while diesel engines are condemned almost everywhere. The latter is relative, because especially in southern countries, where diesels are not yet punished by bad taxes, there is still a large audience that is interested in powerful diesel engines. In many other markets (such as Belgium), diesel has actually become a marginal phenomenon. That’s why Mazda also has a 2.5 plug-in hybrid in the CX-60 range. Regardless of all the financial and ecological considerations, which of the two do you really want? We sought an answer in a unique and demanding context.

An emotional approach

Did you say ecological concern? These are available for both cars, but we won’t get into a detailed discussion about them here. There are of course pros and cons to both versions. For example, the 3.3 diesel is a Mild Hybrid with a 48v battery and Mazda has made great efforts to reduce harmful emissions.

In a PHEV you can travel a number of kilometers on electricity, although this remains limited. We throw it overboard in this special comparison test and go for a strong emotional approach. It’s always possible, right?

Reduced sound

‘Epic Drives’. Under this umbrella, Mazda regularly organizes test drives that focus entirely on the experience. On the menu: a nearly 1,300 km trek through Morocco’s Atlas Mountains in northwest Africa. The highest peaks reach more than 4,000 meters and to get there you will face a difficult course. In some places the pavement is surprisingly comfortable, in others it veers wildly between cobblestones – which can rip your tires – and yawning hells.

On Day 1 we depart from busy Marrakech heading south, and then heading north again to Ouarzazate. We start with a powerful diesel that immediately attracts us with its low, but clearly visible from the outside, diesel sound. Such a 3.3-liter inline six has character and capability, you’ll notice that even before you flick the 8-speed automatic transmission selector to D. We also chose the more powerful of the two available variants, with 254 hp and all-wheel drive. We don’t think this is an unnecessary luxury if you’re headed to the desert. The system called I-Active All Wheel Drive is specially designed for long-term engine settings and uses an electronic multi-plate clutch. That is the technical approach. The most important thing to remember is that Mazda aims to treat the driving experience of a rear-wheel drive car. While the system will inevitably intervene without detection if there is a loss of grip.

The car truck met the fondantsmaak

Aside from the media and marketing buzz, we had a great time behind the wheel of our white CX-60 with the most powerful diesel. Especially on challenging terrain, it’s a reassuring bonus to get the feeling that you can rely on the indestructible and always-ready diesel power, as if it were coming from a small truck. To which we refer a lot to the feeling of power because Newton 550 meters are always available and never disappoint. It’s definitely not a truck engine in terms of refinement, because the six-cylinder always feels soft and smooth, like chocolate mousse with a deep, clean fondant flavor.

On day 2, a long journey of around 700 km is on the program (back towards Marrakesh, through the north) which we will complete with the red CX-60 PHEV. The black interior looks a little more subdued than our luxury version of our diesel, but that’s a matter of taste. What worries us the most is the state of the battery, which is completely empty. The press convoy spent the night in a remote ‘eco-lodge’, where no external electricity was available and therefore no charging option. This means that you will be driving on petrol.

Lachen, Greta

What is immediately apparent is the distinctive character of the PHEV. Not only because of the lack of a strong diesel sound, but also because of the normal torque, which does not disappoint. The only minor drawback here is the unsuccessful setting of the 8-speed automatic transmission, which works better in the diesel variant. However, the Sahara and the steep mountain roads leading up to it are anything but the plug-in’s natural biotope for the CX-60, which feels more at home in downtown Antwerp.

However, we were a bit impressed see through on a winding mountain path. With the automatic transmission in sport mode and manual shifting with steering wheel paddles, the 2.6 ton and 327 hp PHEV was quite convincing. Although with his environmental nature it feels like a minor crime to torture him like that. Greta Thunberg certainly couldn’t laugh it off (editor’s note: we looked for a photo of Greta smiling, but couldn’t find it).

Extortionate price

So we haven’t given up on the CX-60 PHEV and given the empty battery at the start of our course, we still found an average consumption of 8.5 l/100km to be very acceptable. You should consider the limited freedom of gasoline. That made for an exciting time, because you don’t really find a gas station on every street corner in this area. Fortunately, Total is always nearby, even at the small grocery store that also happens to sell cans of oil. The wide smile of the manager in the picture can only be attributed to the huge price he has shoved down our throats.

Our own fault, because we allowed ourselves to be caught as a true ‘bleu’ by not asking the price in advance, but we console ourselves with the thought that his month has been made good. We are in the middle of an area that was hit hard by major earthquakes last year, and the number of taxed people is still painfully obvious. So it is understandable that a good person made a successful attempt to receive extra money.

Is there a winner?

We focused a lot on cars in this test, but it must be said that we also enjoyed the beautiful scenery and typical African atmosphere during this ‘epic drive’. Last year’s earthquake is still sadly visible here. And it is very common, but the children here are happy with a game of football or a Berber who is grateful for a bottle of water; it puts things in a different perspective. An attitude that can also extend to domestic fleets, because a 20-year-old ‘polluting’ Mercedes is a modern car throughout its life. Diesels are the norm here, and the Mazda CX-60 3.3 Diesel is a perfect fit. He’s the perfect desert ship with a killer engine that was dropped into a pot of magical potion during development so he could flex his muscles all the time. Even the use of 7 to 7.5 liters is very acceptable due to the situation. Is it clear who we are declaring the winner here? With Antwerp or Brussels as a backdrop, this would of course be quite different.