2023 Mazda CX-60 earns five-star safety rating

The 2023 Mazda CX-60 has been awarded a five-star safety rating, as deliveries of the mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid medium SUV begin in Australia.

The five-star safety rating covers all variants of Mazda’s five-seat CX-60 available in Australia, across inline six-cylinder turbo petrol or diesel engines, and the Japanese car-maker’s first plug-in hybrid system in local showrooms.

Although the score is being published in Australia in 2023, it was tested in Europe last year under ANCAP and sister organisation Euro NCAP's 2020-2022 test protocols – which were superseded by stricter standards this year.

The Mazda CX-60 scored the equal-highest Child Occupant Protection rating under the Australasian New Car Assessment Program’s (ANCAP) 2020-2022 test protocols – matching the Ford Everest SUV, Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok twins, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Pathfinder and Qashqai.

MORE: 2023 Mazda CX-60 price and specs

Applicable to all Mazda CX-60 variants sold in Australia, the SUV received scores of 91 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 93 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 89 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection (pedestrians and cyclists), and 77 per cent for Safety Assist technology.

ANCAP noted the CX-60’s rear seats could allow the installation of all selected child restraints tested by the independent assessors, leading to near-perfect scores across the criteria.

In its Adult Occupant Protection tests, ANCAP said the Mazda CX-60’s driver’s knee airbag only partially opened, leading to weak protection of the driver’s upper legs – though the SUV scored full marks in the side and far-side impact, oblique pole, and rescue and extraction tests.

The Mazda CX-60 offers good protection to pedestrian’s heads when struck by the bonnet, ANCAP said, though weak and marginal results were recorded for the front edge of the bonnet.

Despite the SUV’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) forward-facing pedestrian detection system receiving full marks, the optional pedestrian prevention system in reverse was not scored as it is not available on all variants.

According to ANCAP, the Mazda CX-60 returned mixed results for its advanced driver assistance systems, with its AEB junction assists and car-to-car technology performing well, though the SUV’s lane support systems received the largest point penalty.

The 2023 Mazda CX-60 is now on sale in Australia, priced from $59,800 plus on-road costs for the entry-level Evolve six-cylinder petrol, $61,800 plus on-road costs for the entry-level Evolve six-cylinder diesel and $72,300 plus on-road costs in the Evolve plug-in hybrid guise.