Mazda Has Mostly Fixed The CX-60 (Suspension Change & Transmission Update 2024 Review)
Summary
TLDRIn response to criticism of the Mazda CX-60's initial ride quality and transmission issues, Tom Baker from Chasing Cars reviews the significant running changes made by Mazda, including suspension hardware and software updates. The upgrades have improved the ride by about 40%, making it more disciplined and comfortable, though not the best in its class. The transmission issues have been resolved, transforming the CX-60 from an initially unrecommendable vehicle to one that is now acceptable and worth test driving for those who prefer a firm and sporty ride.
Takeaways
- 🚗 The Mazda CX-60 had initial issues with ride quality, body control, and transmission calibration that were not acceptable to reviewers.
- ⏱ Mazda acknowledged these faults and made significant running changes to the suspension and transmission, both in terms of hardware and software, for new builds.
- 🆓 Early customers of the CX-60 are eligible for a free upgrade to the new suspension hardware and a software update at their dealer.
- 🔧 The changes made to the CX-60 were substantial and unusual for the industry, reflecting a serious response to criticism received at launch.
- 📈 Tom Baker, the reviewer, had previously run a long-term test of a CX-60 and found it impossible to recommend due to the aforementioned faults.
- 🔄 The upgraded CX-60 features new suspension hardware and software, as well as transmission software updates, which have improved the vehicle's performance.
- 🛣️ The improvements are most noticeable on bumpy roads, where the previous model suffered from poor damping and body control.
- 🚀 The ride quality has seen an estimated 40% improvement, moving from 'unpleasant' to 'acceptable', though still not the best in its class.
- 🔄 The transmission issues have been largely resolved with the software update, providing a smoother and more expected driving experience.
- 🚀 The CX-60 is now considered 'acceptable' and 'livable', a significant turnaround from its initial reception.
- 🌟 The response by Mazda to address the issues is seen as commendable and highlights the importance of independent road testing in vehicle evaluation.
Q & A
Who is the presenter of the 'Chasing Cars' video?
-Tom Baker is the presenter of the 'Chasing Cars' video.
What was the initial issue with the Mazda CX-60 when it was first released?
-The initial issues with the Mazda CX-60 included unacceptable ride quality, body control, and transmission calibration.
What changes did Mazda make to address the issues with the CX-60?
-Mazda made significant running changes to the suspension hardware and the transmission software at the production line for new builds. They also offered a free upgrade to early customers, swapping out the suspension hardware and providing a software update.
How does the presenter describe the CX-60's ride quality before the upgrades?
-The presenter describes the CX-60's ride quality before the upgrades as impossible to recommend due to its poor handling on normal and bumpy roads.
What was the main criticism of the CX-60's suspension before the upgrades?
-The main criticism was that the car felt like the front and rear axles weren't communicating properly, with the front end feeling overdamped and the rear end underdamped and lacking control.
What improvements did the presenter notice after the suspension and transmission upgrades?
-The presenter noticed a 40% improvement in ride quality and body control, making the CX-60 more disciplined and comfortable, especially over bumps. The transmission was also significantly improved, with the software update fixing previous issues.
How does the presenter suggest potential buyers approach a test drive of the upgraded CX-60?
-The presenter suggests that potential buyers should test drive the CX-60, ideally overnight, to experience the firm ride and see if it aligns with their preferences for a premium SUV.
What was the initial reaction of the presenter to the CX-60's transmission before the software update?
-The presenter found the transmission to be bizarrely calibrated, with a sound that resembled a slipping clutch effect, which was not expected for this type of automatic transmission.
How does the presenter evaluate the CX-60's ride after the upgrades in comparison to its competitors?
-While the CX-60's ride is improved and now acceptable, the presenter still considers other vehicles in the class, such as the BMW X3 with adaptive dampers and the Volkswagen Touareg with air suspension, to be better.
What does the presenter emphasize about Mazda's response to the criticism and the subsequent upgrades?
-The presenter emphasizes the importance of Mazda's acknowledgment of the issues and their proactive approach in making significant changes to address the criticism, which should be celebrated.
What role does independent road testing play according to the presenter's perspective?
-According to the presenter, independent road testing is crucial for providing an unvarnished opinion on vehicles, which can lead manufacturers to address and correct issues, as seen with the Mazda CX-60.
Outlines
🔧 Mazda CX-60 Suspension & Transmission Upgrades
Tom Baker, the presenter, discusses the significant improvements made by Mazda to the CX-60 in response to critical reviews. Initially, the vehicle's ride quality, body control, and transmission calibration were deemed unacceptable. Mazda acknowledged these issues and made bold changes to the suspension hardware and software, as well as the transmission software. These upgrades are available for new builds and as a free upgrade for early customers. The video aims to determine if these upgrades have successfully addressed the previous faults. The presenter shares his experience with the upgraded CX-60, noting that while the car still has a firm and sporty ride, which is in line with Mazda's intention, the improvements have made it more disciplined and comfortable, especially over bumpy roads. The 40% improvement in ride quality and body control makes the CX-60 more livable and recommendable for test driving.
🚗 Evaluating the Impact of Mazda's Upgrades on CX-60
This section delves deeper into the specifics of the CX-60's upgrades and their impact on the vehicle's performance. The suspension hardware has been completely replaced, and the shock absorbers have been retuned, resulting in a more disciplined ride, particularly over rough surfaces. While the car still exhibits some float from the rear end, the overall body control has improved noticeably. The transmission, which was previously criticized for its bizarre calibration, has been significantly improved with a software update, simulating a torque converter automatic and providing a smoother, more seamless driving experience. The presenter concludes that the CX-60 is now acceptable and worth considering, highlighting the importance of independent road testing in driving improvements in vehicle design and performance.
🛣️ The Importance of Independent Road Testing
In the final paragraph, the focus shifts to the role of independent road testing in the automotive industry. The presenter emphasizes the importance of honest and unbiased reviews in identifying and addressing vehicle issues. The Mazda CX-60's case study illustrates how constructive criticism can lead to significant improvements in vehicle performance. The presenter commends Mazda for addressing the issues and for the transparency in making the necessary upgrades. The video concludes by reinforcing the value of independent testing in ensuring that vehicles meet consumer expectations and industry standards.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Mazda CX60
💡Ride Quality
💡Body Control
💡Transmission Calibration
💡Running Change
💡Suspension Hardware
💡Software Update
💡Long-Term Review
💡Upgrade
💡Bumpy Roads
💡Independent Road Testing
Highlights
Mazda acknowledged faults in the CX60's ride quality, body control, and transmission calibration and made significant running changes.
The CX60 underwent both hardware and software updates to the suspension and transmission at the production line for new builds.
Owners of early CX60 models are eligible for a free upgrade, including suspension hardware swap and software updates.
The reviewer had previously found the CX60 impossible to recommend due to the initial faults.
The upgraded CX60 has improved ride quality and body control, moving from 'impossible to recommend' to 'acceptable'.
The reviewer noted a 40% improvement in ride quality and body control after the upgrades.
The car's firm and sporty ride has been maintained intentionally by Mazda, contrary to some media reports suggesting a softening.
The initial problems with the CX60's suspension felt like the front and rear axles were not in sync.
Mazda completely swapped out the suspension hardware and revisited the suspension tune, addressing the previous issues.
The transmission calibration was bizarre and problematic straight from the factory, especially with the diesel and plug-in hybrid models.
The software update for the transmission has resulted in a 'night and day' difference, fixing previous issues.
The reviewer suggests test driving the CX60 overnight to experience the firm ride and determine if it meets personal preferences.
The CX60's ride is now more disciplined, especially noticeable over the worst bumps.
While there is still room for improvement, the CX60 is no longer bucking over multiple bumps, making the suspension acceptable.
The reviewer emphasizes the importance of independent road testing and how it can influence manufacturers to address issues.
Mazda's response to criticism and the subsequent fixes demonstrate the effectiveness of road testing and consumer feedback.
Transcripts
I'm Tom Baker this is chasing cars and
next to me is a Mazda cx60 when the cx60
first came out last year its ride
quality was not acceptable its body
control was not acceptable its
transmission calibration was not
acceptable it took a bit of time but
Mazda itself has now acknowledged these
faults and it's taken the Bold step of
making a significant running change to
the suspension and the transmission of
the cx60 both the hardware and in the
case of the transmission also the
software at the production line for new
builds while customers who took delivery
of early 660s are eligible for a free
upgrade at their dealer where the
suspension Hardware will be swapped out
and the car will also have a software
update these sorts of running changes
happen from time to time but they're not
usually this significant and it is a
response to the criticism the cx60
received on launch including from this
Outlet because if you're a subscriber
you'll know that I ran a dark blue cx60
diesel for 6 months and found that these
faults meant the car was impossible to
recommend now the upgrade is ready and
the white cx60 aami SP diesel 6-cylinder
next to me is identical to my long-ter
except for the paint color and the fact
that it has the upgraded suspension and
transmission this video has a simple
premise have the upgrades worked let's
find out chasing cars honest reviews of
your next car brought to you
by but we can't film this video at our
test track at least not the actual
driving commentary because while it's a
great facility it is very smooth and for
this video we need bumps because bumps
were what were upsetting the Mazda
cx60 that and bad transmission
calibration and in this video I'm going
to be addressing whether or not those
things have been fixed by the emergency
running change that's been made to the
cx60 in response to criticism of these
two factors criticism which included our
long-term review which was pretty
forceful if you're a subscriber you will
have seen my comments about the cx60
good and bad after living with one in a
very similar specification to this for 6
months and if you want to know my
thoughts about the interior and the
price and other factors of the vehicle
some of which are very good points make
sure you look at that long-term review
of the blue beast but today we're in a
white car which is otherwise identical
inspect to my long termer it's a diesel
6-cylinder aami SP except
that this vehicle has the new suspension
Hardware it's got the new suspension
software and it's got the new
transmission software as well and I'm
pleased to report that the changes have
partially worked thank goodness because
this program would not have been cheap
for Mazda for a car company to not only
make a sudden change at the production
line level to all new suspension
Hardware which would of course have had
to have been tested at The Proving
Ground and then put into production
that's expensive but Mazda is even going
as far as offering the hardware change
and the uh software update to owners of
vehicles which were already on the road
that was basically CX 60s built in the
first 6 months of production now we
don't usually see stuff like this
happening and is of course a tased
acknowledgement of the fact that this
car was not right from when production
started now often you know the first
year of cars we generally you know
suggest avoiding the first year the
teething problems have to be ironed out
but this was a big teething problem so
what was the problem to summarize the
car felt like the front and the rear
axles weren't talking to each other in
terms of the damping it felt overdamped
and really stiff at the front end and
underdamped poorly disciplined and
lacking control at the rear end which
was unpleasant on normal roads while
commuting and really really awful and
noticeable on bumpy country roads just
like the one we're driving on today
which if you're from Sydney you might
know this road it's the one that runs
down to Akuna Bay nice Road speed limit
isn't too high a lot of people like to
tour on this road but it's really poorly
surfaced with no sign of improvements on
the way so perfect for our purposes
today what has Mazda done well on the
suspension front it's a pretty
significant change because the hardware
has been swapped out completely
different shock absorber and there's
also a different tune on the suspension
M has gone back and Revisited the tune
they say they've only mentioned the rear
tune but the front also feels like it's
had a little bit of a rune as well
although it wasn't as problematic at the
front end then there's also new software
in terms of transmission calibration and
you know what it has largely worked I'm
not going to go out and tell you that
everything is perfectly fixed everything
is perfectly good and the cx60 rides as
well as say a BMW X3 on adaptive dampers
but it is noticeably better than before
I'm going to go ahead and call it about
a 40% Improvement in the ride situation
now it's still firm it's still quite
sporty which I think is bda's intention
for the cx60 this car isn't meant to be
soft and floppy and I've read a few
media reports suggesting that the change
was intended to make it softer I don't
think that's true I think that firm you
know plenty of Road feel sort of
attitude is what Mazda wants for its
Vehicles including the cx60 instead of
making it softer what the change has
done is to make the CX 60s ride more
disciplined and if particular the body
control Improvement is very noticeable
over the worst of bumps where the body
vertically pitches up and down you still
do feel a little bit too much float from
the rear end and things can still jump
around a little bit in the boot if
they're not tied down but it is
considerably less so than before and
that's really on the worst bumps on the
sort of standard bumpy poorly surfaced
Country Roads the whole experience is
much more pleasant much more comfortable
much more settled there are still cars
in the class which are better I
mentioned the X3 on adaptive I also
think the Volkswagen tour egg on air
suspension for instance is better than
this car but it's a damn site better
than what was coming out of the factory
at the start and that's good as I
mentioned there are still some moments
where the rear end feels like it's not
tied down enough and still not perfectly
in sync with a relatively crisp
relatively well damped front end I think
the front is maybe not quite as over
damped as it was before the rear is
still a little bit underdamped but less
so than before you might even be able to
notice in this PTC a little bit of that
sort of head toss vertical motions a
little especially there exactly
illustrating my point the vertical
motion is a little bit exaggerated but
definitely less so than before so I'm
going to go ahead and call it a 40%
Improvement in terms of ride it's now at
the point where it's not a factor that
would have me recommend that you simply
don't buy this car which is where I was
at with it before I I now think it's
worth test driving but if possible try
and get a cx60 test drive overnight so
you can see whether the firm ride
actually reflects the characteristics
that you want from a premium SUV but now
I'm going to go ahead and say that it's
definitely livable the better news comes
on the transmission front the
transmission was really bizarre in terms
of its calibration from Factory uh
across all of the powertrains but
especially the diesel and the plug-in
hybrid which I haven't tested after it
received the same upgrades just like for
like with my long-term tester which was
diesel like this car the transmission is
night and day different it is much
better than it was before the update it
used to do really weird stuff it sounded
like it it sounded like slipping clutch
effect even though that shouldn't be
happening on this particular type of
automatic it kind of sounded like a boss
like a like a weird single clutch
automatic now it honestly does a good
simulation of a tourque converter
automatic which is exactly what I want
from an auto in a vehicle like this you
just don't want to think about it
pulling away
here shifting
crisply nothing to remark just working
like a normal Auto so I'm going to go
ahead and say that Mazda have solved the
transmission issues with the software
update that they've done for this car at
least on the diesel though I think to
you know draw a final line under all
this all of this recent unpleasantness
about the cx60 we probably do need to
test the petrol and also the plug-in
hybrid the plug-in hybrid was the one
that suffered the worst particularly in
the ride department but when it comes to
the diesel the ride is better the
transmission's fixed good to see Mazda
at least getting out on the front foot
and addressing these problems even if I
think a big established car manufacturer
like Mazda who's been doing this for a
long time they should have got this
stuff right the first time but you know
what at least they're addressing it now
so the summary of my findings I've said
that there's a 40% Improvement in the
overall ride of the cx60 both the ride
quality and especially the body control
it now moves the cx60 from really quite
unpleasant to drive on a bumpy road to
acceptable it's still not the most plush
or the best rounded vehicle in the
segment but I think I could live with it
and I think if you actually like quite a
lot of Road feel and firmness you will
like the cx60 and the fact that it's no
longer bucking crazily over multiple
bumps means that the suspension is now
okay I could certainly live with it and
the transmission well as far as I'm
concerned on the diesel that's fixed so
that is definitely a win the cx60 wasn't
able to be considered in my estimation
before now but the upgrade has made it
acceptable and that goes to show Mazda
has realized the error have largely
corrected the error and that should be
celebrated but I think it's also a
moment to reflect on the importance of
independent Road testing that's what we
do here at Chasing Cars we're powered by
budget direct which means that we can
give you our straight opinion about the
vehicles that we test good bad
unvarnished we called out this car for
not being good enough our criticism was
joined by others Mazda have largely
fixed the problem that's the way Road
testing should work that's what we do
here at Chasing Cars
Voir Plus de Vidéos Connexes
2024 Kia Sportage Vs. 2024 Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-5 or CX-50? | Which Would I Buy?
모두 긴장! 벤츠 E클래스 E300 4matic AMG라인 시승기, 2024 Mercedes Benz E300 4matic AMG Line test drive, review
2024 BMW X5M Competition LCI // REVIEW on AUTOBAHN
NYESEL BELI MAZDA CX-5, Owning Experience Mantan Pemilik Honda CRV
PENGALAMAN 2 TAHUN MEMAKAI MAZDA CX 5
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)