Does the most powerful four-wheel-drive diesel version of this large SUV make sense? On sale Now Price from £42,990
Max Adams max.adams@haymarket.com
FOR MOST SUV buyers, petrol or hybrid power and two-wheel drive will meet their needs perfectly well. But anyone who tows a caravan or hauls other heavy loads regularly is going to find that a grunt-laden diesel – preferably paired with four-wheel drive – is still better suited to the job at hand. That’s why – despite the shift towards hybrid power in large SUVs – Mazda has introduced a new 3.3-litre six-cylinder diesel engine in the CX-60.
In either 197bhp or 251bhp form, the diesel CX-60 can pull a 2500kg (braked) load. That’s comparable with the diesel version of the rival Hyundai Santa Fe and considerably more than the 1650kg limit of a hybrid Kia Sorento.
We’ve already driven the lower-powered rear-wheel-drive diesel CX-60, which balances a low entry price with a smoother power delivery and better fuel economy than its rivals. But what about the more powerful four-wheel-drive version?
The extra grunt of the 251bhp engine makes even lighter work of getting up to motorway speeds; its 7.4sec 0-62mph time is respectable against the pricier Audi Q5 40 TDI.
However, the eight-speed automatic gearbox isn’t all that smooth at low speeds. It also has an uncouth stop-start system that can’t match the subdued systems found in most rivals and is best turned off. Unfortunately, you’ll then experience some engine
