Mazda CX-60 review: Does 3.3-litre diesel prove there’s life in the oil burner yet?

Just as all the other car giants are dumping diesel power, the Japanese outfit has decided to swim against the tide and showcase a new oil burner in its flagship SUV.

Not only is the CX-60 sipping from the black pump, the ­3.3-litre in-line engine is a proper six-cylinder monster that generates 254bhp and drives all four wheels.

It also boasts of mild hybrid tech – in the guises of a 12kWh motor – which means this hulking beast is returning 5.2 litres/100km, or 54mpg, and road tax of €210 per annum.

This large off-roader is seen as a natural progression of the popular CX-5 and is 170mm longer and 45mm wider. There is 44mm more shoulder room than its sibling and 50mm more in the rear.

It’s super-sumptuous too and is clearly targeting German rivals who have dominated the luxury SUV segment for years.

To help them take a few scalps here, the designers have added a long list of must-haves such as stonking 20-inch rims, piano-black honeycomb grille and matching door mirrors.

There are also a range of eye-catching colours, such as platinum quartz (above) and rhodium white, which give it serious street cred.

Inside, the cabin is typically Mazda of recent years – really top class and well put together.

The simplicity of the ­cockpit is worthy of special praise with actual buttons to control all the essentials such as heat/AC, sat-nav, music and phone. You’ll be spoiled by the larger leather-clad seats and the soft-touch materials in the upper dash add an extra dollop of premiumness.

Tech fans need not fret as the new offering comes with a digital driver’s binnacle and a 12.3in high-res touchscreen which is home to the infotainment system.

Other gizmos include new software that recognises the driver and automatically adjusts seat position, steering wheel, mirrors, head-up display and even the sound and climate control settings.

It’s also loaded with safety kit, including cruise control (i-ACC), which can now incorporate speed limits from traffic sign recognition and vehicle exit warning (BSM) for rear-approaching road users.

Irish customers have a choice of four trim levels – Prime-line, Exclusive-line, Takumi and Homura – and standard kit includes 18in alloys, dual-zone air conditioning, a 12in colour touchscreen, sat-nav, cruise control and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Boot space is massive too, at 570 litres, which expands to 1,726 litres with the rear seats folded flat, and low lip and power tailgate makes awkward loads a doddle.

When first launched in 2022, the petrol plug-in failed to set our pulses racing, so is the diesel a better option?

In a word, yes. The power output is instant and you can feel the low-down torque as the six-pot shifts the 2.1 tonne body effortlessly.

The eight-speed automatic gearbox is sublime too, as it powers all four corners and boasts a towing capacity of 2,500kg. There’s a throaty roar from the engine and this gets louder with more aggressive acceleration and initially sounds a bit gruff.

After a couple of days it became strangely addictive and was a reminder of older and larger diesels, bringing back fond memories of my Mercedes E300 of yesteryear.

It is quite lofty and suffers a bit from body roll on more challenging roads, but it made up for it on the motorway, where it cruised like a luxo barge, while sipping the juice.

I grew to love it and would have it over the PHEV any day. Prices for the Mazda CX-60 diesel start at €63,640.

Fiat Panda reborn as full electric and hybrid

Hot on the heels of the Fiat 600 comes another iconic model from yesteryear – the new Panda.

Named the Grande Panda, it is the first model of the new global line-up based on a multi-energy platform and will be available in both electric and hybrid versions.

Keeping the compact styling of the original 1980s favourite, this B-segment model measures under four metres long but has enough room for a family of five.

The new models get a futuristic and aggressive look, featuring a unique pixel design on the nose that incorporates signature LED cubes arranged in a chessboard configuration.

Skid plates front and rear and thick rubber cladding in the lower sills and around the wheelarches gives it a “go anywhere, do anything” feel.

In homage to the classic Panda 4x4, the 3D Panda letters are emblazoned across the tailgate, while snazzy 17-inch X-design alloys give a more exclusive look.

The new offerings will be built on the same platform as the current Citroen C3 and will be powered by either a 1.2-litre petrol mild hybrid that generates 99bhp, or the all-electric with a claimed range of 318km.

An industry insider tells us that after the initial launch later in the year, Fiat will unveil a new model every year until 2027.

These include a mid-sized SUV, a customisable MPV/Camper van and even a pick- up for the more adventurous.

No word on pricing as yet, but some are speculating that the entry-level model could come in under €20,000 when it is unveiled this winter.

BMW M2 gets greater power and is more fun

The new BMW M2 has upped the ante in the performance stakes by adding 20 horses and bumping the total grunt to a face-peeling 480bhp.

That will see this two-door pocket rocket sprint from 0-100kmh in four seconds flat and it has a governed top speed of 249kmh.

Drivers keen for a more engaging performance experience, with even more direct interaction with the powertrain, can specify the six-speed manual gearbox as an option. This links up with the gear shift assistant, which uses special software to ensure slip-free operation when downshifting under braking into corners.

The new offering is now available in 14 exterior paint colours, including Sao Paulo yellow and BMW Individual paint finishes Java green, voodoo blue and twilight purple.

Priced from €115,760, the new M2 is available to order, with customer deliveries starting in autumn. The entry-level 2 Series Coupe starts at €52,730.