Mazda's flagship and the brand's first plug-in hybrid: In the new CX-60, the manufacturer wants to know and is also modernizing its infotainment. After the driving report of the editors in October, we have now extensively tested the electronics of the young Japanese.

Michael Spehr

Editor in the "Technology and Motor" department.

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The first detail is surprising: Like some Subaru vehicles, the CX-60 also comes with camera-based biometric facial recognition. She looks the driver in the eye. The device only works when the vehicle is stationary. You enter your height, take off any sunglasses you may be wearing, look left and right several times, and then the system automatically adjusts the seat and steering wheel as well as the head-up display and the exterior mirrors with detected eye level and the specified body size.

In addition, more than 250 settings made in the vehicle, including those relating to the audio system and air conditioning, will now be stored and switched over when the driver changes. All this may appeal as a comfort function. However, we did not like the calculated sitting position, and not everyone will appreciate the constant observation. The "Driver Personalization System" is part of the standard equipment of the two higher-quality model variants.

More space a gain in clarity

What Mazda has done really well is the redesigned cockpit landscape. The otherwise rather small on-board monitor now grows to a diagonal of 12.3 inches. The navigation map shows more details. As always, more space is a gain in clarity, and the now better displayed menus also benefit from the lush size. For once, the system is not operated with the finger on the display, but only with the controller, a rotary knob that can also be pressed, it is located in front of the center armrest. Surrounding keys lead directly to the submenus. The air conditioning is also operated with physical buttons. The Mazda menu system is clearly structured and easy to use. In the plug-in version, a very differentiated charging planning for the battery is added.

A second display, also with a diagonal of 12.3 inches, is located in front of the steering wheel and is the instrument display for the driver. It displays a simulated analog speedometer and the status of the electronic helpers as well as the current flow, but can only be individualized to a very limited extent. The head-up display is part of the standard equipment, only the cheapest model variant Primeline has to do without it. The special feature of the large and easy-to-read display is that vehicles approaching from behind in the blind spot are shown with a discreet symbol, a very nice detail.

Hands-free kit, connectivity services via the Mazda app on the smartphone, navigation and support for Apple Carplay and Android Auto are also standard. Interestingly, driving instructions of the Apple navigation are even shown in the head-up display. The voice control for entering navigation destinations or for starting telephone calls works great, but is a circumstantial shopkeeper when entering destinations. We could not check the quality of the real-time traffic data due to the lack of online services, the subscription costs 90 euros per year and also includes POI searches on the net and the display of fuel prices.

An exciting detail is the built-in warning of danger spots with speed cameras, which does not work in Germany.