Capable of returning 13.51 km/L on a combined city/highway cycle, the Mazda CX-60 e-Skyactiv-G 3.3-liter turbo gasoline engine offers identical fuel efficiency ratings to that of the non-turbo Mazda CX-5 AWD Sport. This is despite the fact that the CX-60 having two more cylinders, almost 50 percent more power, and close to twice the amount of torque on tap.

In addition, its CO2 rating is one gram lower (171g/km) than the normally-aspirated CX-5 2.5, and a full 10 percent lower than the turbocharged CX-5.

According to Mazda, the secret to the CX-60’s impressive fuel economy figures is a combination of “right-sizing” the engine and electrifying it with a mild hybrid system.

The larger displacement allows the engine to take in a higher volume of air enabling a more complete combustion and a wider lean-burn range. This also allows the turbocharged engine to take on regular 91-octane fuel.

Meanwhile, the 48-volt M Hybrid Boost system supports the engine during the light-load range (idle to low speed)—where internal combustion engines are typically not very efficient—via an electric motor mounted between the engine and gearbox.

The 3.3-liter inline-6 and its 284 horsepower, 450 Nm of torque outputs allow the CX-60 to sprint from rest to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds—0.8 second faster than the CX-5 Turbo.

Furthermore, the inherent balance of an inline-six configuration brings myriad other benefits, including smooth operation, packaging, thermal efficiency and crash performance, as well as a characterful and involving engine note.

Although it’s still not officially confirmed to arrive for the Philippine market, Mazda dealerships across the Philippines are already taking in “expressions of interest” (aka reservations) for the first-ever CX-60.