Mazda CX-60: which version to buy — 3.3 diesel RWD vs AWD vs 2.5 plug-in
There is one generation of the Mazda CX-60 (from 2022-06-01, still in production) and three versions in this catalogue: 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV Automatic, 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic, and 2.5 i e-Skyactiv. The choice is not “which generation” — there is only 1 generation and one body, SUV 5-doors.
There is one generation of the Mazda CX-60 (from 2022-06-01, still in production) and three versions in this catalogue: 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV Automatic, 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic, and 2.5 i e-Skyactiv. The choice is not “which generation” — there is only 1 generation and one body, SUV 5-doors. The choice is which of the three powertrains matches the job: rear-wheel diesel, all-wheel diesel, or plug-in with AWD.
All three use an Automatic gearbox with 8 gears. All three list mixed consumption as 1.5. That figure does not separate the versions, so economy cannot be the tie-breaker here. What does separate them is power, torque, 0–100, top speed, drive, engine layout, and — for the plug-in only — measured weight, tank, CO2, and wheels.
Specs table: every CX-60 version
| Version | hp | Nm | Displacement (cc) | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV Automatic | 200 | 450 | 3283 | Diesel | 6, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 8 | RWD |
| 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic | 254 | 550 | 3283 | Diesel | 6, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 8 | AWD |
| 2.5 i e-Skyactiv | 327 | 500 | 2488 | 95 | 4, Inline | not measured | Automatic, 8 | AWD |
Engine type in the data: the two 3.3 versions are Diesel; 2.5 i e-Skyactiv is Plug-in. Injection for all three: Direct injection (direct). Valves per cylinder for all three: 4. Front suspension on all three: Independent, spring. Rear suspension on all three: Independent, spring. Front brakes: Ventilated disc. Rear brakes: Disc.
Which generation changed what
Only 1 generation is listed (key 7290), start 2022-06-01, stop not measured (still current). Body is SUV 5-doors. There is no second generation and no restyling row in the data, so you are not choosing between years of architecture — you are choosing among three versions that all start on the same date.
What did not change between versions: mixed consumption 1.5, Automatic / 8, independent spring suspension both ends, ventilated disc front / Disc rear, 4 valves per cylinder, Direct injection (direct).
What did change: drive (RWD vs AWD), power (200 vs 254 vs 327 hp), torque (450 vs 550 vs 500 Nm), 0–100 (8.4 vs 7.4 vs 5.8 s), top speed (212 vs 219 vs 200), engine placement (Front, transverse on both diesels vs Front, longitudinal on the plug-in), cylinder count (6 vs 4), displacement (3283 vs 2488 cc), boost (Turbo vs not measured), fuel (Diesel vs 95), and which chassis numbers are filled in (kerb, gross, tank, CO2, wheels are measured only on 2.5 i e-Skyactiv).
Engine: power per litre and what the extra output buys
3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV Automatic makes 200 hp (147 kW) at 3000 rpm from 3283 cc. That is 200 / 3.283 ≈ 60.9 hp per litre. Peak torque is 450 Nm at 1400 rpm. Placement: Front, transverse. Boost: Turbo. Drive: RWD.
3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic uses the same 3283 cc Diesel 6 Inline Turbo formula, but outputs 254 hp (186 kW) at 3750 rpm and 550 Nm at 1500 rpm. Power per litre: 254 / 3.283 ≈ 77.4 hp/L — about 16.5 hp/L more than the RWD 3.3, and 54 hp / 100 Nm more in absolute terms. Peak power arrives 750 rpm later (3750 vs 3000); peak torque arrives 100 rpm later (1500 vs 1400). You pay those extra revs for 54 hp and AWD.
2.5 i e-Skyactiv is the other architecture: 2488 cc Plug-in, 4 Inline, Front, longitudinal, fuel 95, compression 13, bore × stroke 89 x 100, boost not measured. Output is 327 hp (240 kW) at 6000 rpm and 500 Nm at 4000 rpm. Power per litre: 327 / 2.488 ≈ 131.4 hp/L — more than double the RWD diesel’s 60.9 hp/L, and about 54 hp/L above the AWD diesel. Versus the AWD 3.3 it has 73 hp more but 50 Nm less (500 vs 550). Versus the RWD 3.3 it has 127 hp more and 50 Nm more (500 vs 450). Torque peak is much higher in the rev range: 4000 rpm against 1400 / 1500 on the diesels.
If the buying question is “most horsepower per litre,” 2.5 i e-Skyactiv wins by a wide margin. If the question is “most newton-metres,” 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic wins at 550 Nm. If the question is “torque as early as the data shows,” 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV Automatic peaks at 1400 rpm.
Performance: 0–100, top speed, and the 1.5 mixed figure
| Version | 0–100 | Top speed | Mixed consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV Automatic | 8.4 s | 212 | 1.5 |
| 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic | 7.4 s | 219 | 1.5 |
| 2.5 i e-Skyactiv | 5.8 s | 200 | 1.5 |
City consumption: not measured on all three. Highway consumption: not measured on all three. Mixed is 1.5 on all three, so this catalogue does not show an mpg (or mixed) gap between RWD diesel, AWD diesel, and plug-in.
Sprint ranking by the numbers: 2.5 i e-Skyactiv at 5.8 s is 1.6 s quicker than the AWD 3.3 (7.4 s) and 2.6 s quicker than the RWD 3.3 (8.4 s). The AWD diesel is 1.0 s quicker than the RWD diesel.
Top-speed ranking is the opposite of the plug-in’s sprint win: 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic at 219 is fastest, 7 above the RWD 3.3 (212) and 19 above 2.5 i e-Skyactiv (200). The plug-in is the quickest to 100 and the slowest at the top of the speedo.
Buy 2.5 i e-Skyactiv if 0–100 is the performance number you care about. Buy 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic if the number you care about is top speed plus 550 Nm. Buy 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV Automatic only if you accept 8.4 s and 212 in exchange for RWD and the lowest power/torque of the three.
Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels: only one version is fully measured
Kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, tank, CO2, and wheels are not measured on 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV Automatic and not measured on 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic. You cannot compute kg per horsepower for those two from this data.
2.5 i e-Skyactiv is the version with a filled chassis card:
- Kerb weight: 2055
- Gross weight: 2667
- Payload implied by those two figures: 2667 − 2055 = 612
- Weight per horsepower: 2055 / 327 ≈ 6.28 kg per hp
- Tank: 50
- CO2: 33
- Ground clearance: not measured
- Wheels: 235/60 R18 and 235/50 R20
If you need a catalogue line for kerb, gross, tank, CO2, or wheel size, only 2.5 i e-Skyactiv supplies it. Ground clearance is not measured on any version, including the plug-in.
Drive and layout: RWD diesel vs AWD diesel vs AWD plug-in
3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV Automatic is the only RWD CX-60 in this set. Both others are AWD. If the buying rule is “must have AWD,” drop the RWD 3.3 immediately.
The two diesels share Front, transverse placement; the plug-in is Front, longitudinal. That is a real layout split in the data, not a marketing line: same generation, two engine orientations.
Boost is Turbo on both 3.3 diesels and not measured on 2.5 i e-Skyactiv. Compression and bore × stroke are measured only on the plug-in (13, 89 x 100). Do not invent those figures for the diesels.
Which version to choose
Choose 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV Automatic when you want the 3.3 Diesel 6 Inline Turbo and you specifically want RWD. You get 200 hp, 450 Nm, 8.4 s to 100, 212 top speed. You give up 54 hp, 100 Nm, 1.0 s in 0–100, 7 of top speed, and AWD versus the other 3.3. Kerb, gross, tank, CO2, wheels, city and highway use, ground clearance: not measured.
Choose 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic when the comparison that matters is “same 3283 cc diesel family, more of everything that is measured except mixed consumption.” Versus the RWD 3.3 you gain 54 hp (200 → 254), 100 Nm (450 → 550), AWD, 1.0 s quicker (8.4 → 7.4), 7 more top speed (212 → 219). Versus 2.5 i e-Skyactiv you keep 50 Nm more torque (550 vs 500), 19 more top speed (219 vs 200), Turbo, and the 6-cylinder 3283 cc Diesel — and you give up 73 hp, 1.6 s in 0–100, and every chassis number that is only filled on the plug-in. Mixed use is still 1.5. Weight and tank: not measured.
Choose 2.5 i e-Skyactiv when the buying question is acceleration, specific output, and a complete weight/tank/wheel card. You get 327 hp, 131.4 hp/L, 5.8 s 0–100, AWD, Plug-in, fuel 95, tank 50, CO2 33, kerb 2055, gross 2667, wheels 235/60 R18 and 235/50 R20. You give up the diesel’s early torque peak (4000 rpm vs 1400–1500), 50 Nm versus the AWD 3.3, and 19 of top speed versus that same AWD 3.3 (200 vs 219). Boost is not measured. Ground clearance is not measured.
A short arithmetic ranking for this catalogue:
- Most hp: 2.5 i e-Skyactiv (327)
- Most Nm: 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic (550)
- Fastest 0–100: 2.5 i e-Skyactiv (5.8)
- Highest top speed: 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic (219)
- Only RWD: 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV Automatic
- Only version with measured kerb/gross/tank/CO2/wheels: 2.5 i e-Skyactiv
- Mixed consumption: no ranking — all 1.5
- Generations to pick among: one (1 generation, from 2022-06-01)
Prices are not in the data, so “what the extra money buys” here means what the extra 54 hp / 100 Nm / AWD buys between the two 3.3 diesels, and what the extra 73 hp / 1.6 s / measured mass card buys when you step from 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV AWD Automatic to 2.5 i e-Skyactiv.