Mazda CX-60 & CX-90: No immediate fix for suspension, transmission concerns

As the newly revealed CX-70 nears its Australian debut, Mazda has told Wheels that a solution to ride quality concerns and low-speed transmission niggles with the new CX-60 and CX-90 is not imminent.

The Mazda CX-60 and CX-90 have been criticised by local and international media for having an “overly firm ride” and low-speed hesitation from Mazda’s new in-house eight-speed single-clutch automatic transmission.

Testing the CX-60 at its Australian launch event in 2023, contributor Tony O'Kane wrote: “The CX-60 is possibly too sporty for its own good. It handles great but it rides poorly, with dampers that are far too sensitive to minor bumps and an overabundance of tyre and transmission noise."

Alex Inwood, given a long-term opportunity to assess the CX-60 in diesel form, wrote: "A bigger issue, however, is the transmission. The eight-speed unit was developed in-house by Mazda and it’s unpleasantly clunky and jerky at low speed."

Following this week's reveal of the Mazda CX-70 five-seat large SUV, Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi told Wheels the brand is aware of these comments about its Large Platform architecture vehicles – but no immediate product updates are planned.

“We've seen those comments not just from customers, but some of your [media] colleagues. And as always, we ensure every comment – plus or minus – does go back to the program team because they're excited to hear about their product; the evaluations, especially from [the media]” he said.

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“In the end, when we launched CX-60 and CX-90, we had the program manager for both of them here with us in Australia and their ambition and desire was sportiness and a firm ride, to deliver the jinba-ittai ['horse and rider as one'] feeling, and they believe they’ve met all the targets they set for themselves.

“But like any other product, there's a constant evolution, improvement, changes, tinkering, et cetera that goes on behind the scenes – and this will be no different. What that is and when that is, is something I really can't comment on because I don't have the knowledge.”

Mazda has indicated it could fit adaptive dampers – which alter the extent to which suspension resists movement – to the CX-60 and CX-90 in future to address the firmer ride of both models.

Will anything change for the CX-70 and CX-80 before launch?

As the new CX-70 is a two-row version of the CX-90, and the CX-80 is heavily related to the CX-60, both vehicles could suffer from similar suspension and transmission concerns at launch – assuming Mazda does not move to that adaptive suspension plan sooner.