The CX-60's new, entry-level four-cylinder engine is forecast to be the most popular, but Mazda Australia has ruled out doing the same with its CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 relatives.
Mazda Australia’s introduction of an entry-level four-cylinder engine to the CX-60 range comes with big sales expectations.
Data shared by Mazda at the launch of the CX-60 G25 model, powered by a non-turbo, non-hybrid 2.5-litre petrol engine, indicates that Mazda expects the new option to account for the biggest share of sales, at 34 per cent.
Despite the added sales momentum from the cheaper variants, the brand has ruled out following suit with other models based on the same platform.
The CX-60 was the first of four SUVs to be built on all-new underpinnings, dubbed the Large Architecture.
The CX-60 launched in 2023 with a higher-end range of engines, offering a choice of turbocharged petrol or diesel six-cylinders with mild-hybrid assistance, or a plug-in hybrid version combining a non-turbo four-cylinder engine with an electric motor.
As other models in the range were added, including the five-seat CX-70 and six- and seven-seat CX-80 and CX-90, that engine line-up spread across the family.
With the introduction of the new CX-60 G25 2.5-litre four-cylinder, Mazda Australia expects it to become the strongest seller in the range, forecasting 34 per cent of sales across the CX-60 line-up.
The six-cylinder G40e is expected to attract 29 per cent, the P50e plug-in hybrid is forecast to represent 20 per cent, and the D50e diesel is estimated to account for the remaining 17 per cent.
Even though the same sales split could occur if the 2.5-litre base engine is added to other models, Mazda’s local arm has ruled out expanding its availability to the other Large Architecture models.
“No, it's not even an option,” Mazda Australia managing director, Vinesh Bhindi, said when asked by Drive if the boost in expected sales volumes for the CX-60 would be mirrored across CX-70, CX-80, or CX-90.
“It's not available from the factory. They haven't done any engineering work on a two-five [referencing the 2.5-litre engine] on the other cars.”
Slashing power from the largest and heaviest vehicles in the Mazda range may not prove successful.
The lightest version of each of Mazda’s six-cylinder Large Architecture cars shows the CX-60 already kicks off from 2005kg, the CX-80 from 2084kg, the CX-90 from 2190kg, and the CX-70 from 2198kg.
“The size gets bigger, then the engine probably doesn't align well with where that vehicle would be,” Bhindi said, “I think as you go bigger, then … the inline-six makes more sense.”
The entry-level four-cylinder CX-60 brings kerb weight down to 1847kg, with its smaller engine and lack of all-wheel drive running gear contributing to a 158kg weight saving over the six-cylinder version.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
