I’m glad I didn’t read this thread before buying my CX60 Homura. It is really sad that early adopters have been used as unofficial user testers to help Mazda iron out bugs. Sadly, I have found this practice to be very common in astronomy, cameras, optical equipment and similar technology from the far east. But thanks to those early adopters, my more recently built car seems to have none on the stated faults, but a few oddities. Switching from ICE to PHEV has a learning curve.
For example. In cold weather mine forecasts 28 miles EV, and I initially moaned to my dealer, but in actual driving I have typically travelled over 40 actual miles before the ICE kicked in and MPG on the instrument panel changed from - - - to 100 MPG. To be fair, my longest round trip has so far been merely around 90 miles, but for that it recorded 2.5 miles per kWh and 88 MPG. I ran that journey wholly in EV mode for circa 28 miles, then switched to Normal + Charge. My speed rarely dropped below 25MPH and I respect a 70MPH national speed limit . It restored battery range back up to 14 miles, and that then cost me £3.20 using my 7kW home charger to recharge it back up to 100%, which now forecasted 31 miles. Actual and forecast seem to differ dramatically (for good and for bad!) and both are materially impacted by car heating (air-con, seats, steering wheel) and colder weather. In summary, I reckon I did 90 miles for a total cost of around £5, which I think is excellent, but over much longer distances I can see how that will progressively worsen and those that report around 48 MPG are probably close to the mark. However, the car excels for shorter, largely all EV commutes.
The <charge> button is really strange until you work it out. Press it to activate, and it invites you to <change the target> or <cancel>. Do the latter, or press it again, and it switches off. You have to press it once (and once only!), and then leave it alone so that its information window then closes by itself, which can take many seconds. Took me a few days to work this out and I wonder if some early adopters were pressing it again to close it? Simply leave it on until the window closes itself, and the dashboard <charge> warning light will stay illuminated and <charge> then works fine. Here, I found that lowering the target setting to 40% works best. If you choose (say) 80% to 100% it then heavily impacts on consumption.
My dealer told me that he had received a email that the boot kicker function had been disabled “because folk have been injured”. He was most surprised when I got it to work! But beware here, as it swings up and wide and if you park close to a (rear) wall or back to back with another car you must leave enough clearance.
Much has been made of the “ride”, but mine takes potholes in its stride. My previous Mercedes E350D with low profile tyres would thud and shudder over potholes and I had to replace three tyres and repair two alloys in three years. My previous Jaguar XJL, again low profile tyres, was very similar. Early CX60 cars evidently did have ride problems, but I don’t feel that my later production model rides any worse than any other 2 tonne + SUV. It’s at least as sporty and better equipped as my previous E350D AMG Line Premium Plus and its more upright seating more comfortable for a 6” 2” male built like a Rugby Second Row. I couldn’t even squeeze into a BMW X3 or Mercedes GLC. Their doors, seating and steering adjustment don’t suit tall, well built people.
I prior looked at and test drove BMW X5, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60 and Land Rover Discovery Sport PHEVS, but all had long delivery delays and I had already sold my Mercedes via CarWow (I got a better price than p/x!). I would never have entered a Mazda showroom had those known premium brands got stock. I’m glad they hadn’t, as I instantly fell in love with the soul red crystal Homera CX60 with panoramic roof and convenience and driver packs. It still took me a sleepless night to convince myself to step outside being a ‘brand snob’. The fact that I saved around £10,000 compared to the equivalently equipped German PHEVS finally convinced me.
Sorry to hear early adopters have had a horrible experience and hopefully their dealers have remedied the glitches. Early reviews were also under par. But I am delighted with my car, and if anything, the thing I take from this is don’t buy a new model at launch, as whether BMW, Ford or Mazda, they all rely on early adopters to user test. Hope this helps those considering a 2023 purchase.