Mazda CX-60 vs Hyundai Tucson

The $5,340 price gap is significant at this end of the market. For context, that is roughly 12 months of fuel costs for either car. The Tucson Active at $38,900 is one of the cheapest ways into a properly sized mid-size SUV from a major brand, and it does not feel stripped-out at that price.

Fuel costs are almost identical here. At $1.90/L for 91 unleaded and 15,000km per year, the CX-60 G25 costs around $2,166 annually and the Tucson about $2,223. That is just $57 per year difference, which is nothing. Neither car demands premium fuel at these base trims, which keeps things simple.

Servicing is where things get interesting. Mazda's capped-price servicing for the CX-60 averages around $350 per service, while Hyundai's iCare program for the Tucson sits closer to $300. Over 5 years of ownership at 15,000km intervals, you are looking at roughly $250 more for the Mazda in total servicing. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.

Insurance tends to be comparable for both. Expect to pay between $1,200 and $1,800 annually depending on your age, location, and driving history. Neither car sits in a particularly expensive insurance bracket.

Both cars hold 5-star ANCAP ratings, and both come loaded with the active safety gear that matters most: autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert. At this price point, neither manufacturer is cutting corners on safety.

The CX-60 adds a couple of extras worth noting. It gets a driver monitoring system that watches for fatigue and distraction, plus a front cross-traffic alert for pulling out of driveways and tight car parks. These are genuinely useful in daily driving, particularly the front cross-traffic alert if you regularly reverse out of angled parking bays.

The Tucson Active counters with forward collision avoidance that works at intersections (not just straight-line scenarios) and a leading vehicle departure alert, which nudges you when the car in front moves off at traffic lights. Handy for those of us who check our phones at the lights. Both are safe, modern SUVs. No concerns either way.

This is where the CX-60 starts to justify its higher price tag. The G25 Pure comes standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment display, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, and Mazda's excellent rotary controller for the infotainment. The materials inside feel premium: soft-touch plastics, real stitching on the dash, and an overall design language that is restrained but classy. Mazda is genuinely trying to compete with European brands here, and in terms of cabin ambience, they are getting close.

The Tucson Active at $38,900 is more modest but not embarrassing. You get an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloth seats, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display, and manual air conditioning. It is a base model and it feels like one, but everything works well and the ergonomics are sound. Hyundai's infotainment is responsive and logically laid out.

If you step up to the Tucson Elite ($42,500), you get the dual 10.25-inch screens, Bose audio, and leather-appointed seats. At that point you are within $1,700 of the CX-60 and the feature comparison is much closer. But at the base-trim comparison we are making here, the CX-60 is in a different league inside.

The CX-60 G25 uses Mazda's 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder making 138kW and 250Nm. Crucially, this is a rear-wheel drive car with a longitudinal engine layout, which is unusual for this price bracket. Most competitors, including the Tucson, are transverse-engine front-drivers. The rear-drive layout gives the CX-60 a noticeably different steering feel: lighter, more natural, and more communicative. It feels like a proper driver's car in a way the Tucson simply does not.

The Tucson Active runs Hyundai's 2.0-litre Smartstream petrol engine producing 115kW and 192Nm through a 6-speed automatic to the front wheels. It is adequate but not inspiring. The 6-speed auto is smooth enough in normal driving but can hunt for gears on hills or when you need a burst of overtaking power. In pure straight-line terms, neither of these base models is quick. Both feel comfortable up to highway speeds but neither will pin you to the seat.

The CX-60's 8-speed torque converter automatic is a better gearbox than the Tucson's 6-speed unit. Shifts are smoother, there are more ratios to play with for optimal cruising, and it responds better to manual override via the paddle shifters. If you do a lot of highway cruising, the extra ratios help keep revs lower and the cabin quieter.

Towing is a meaningful difference: 2,000kg for the CX-60 vs 1,650kg for the Tucson. If you tow a small camper trailer, jet ski, or box trailer, the CX-60 gives you more headroom. The Tucson's 1,650kg limit is fine for a single-axle box trailer but gets tight with anything heavier.

Boot space is close but the CX-60 wins with 570 litres to the Tucson's 539 litres (both seats up). The CX-60's boot is also a more usable shape with a lower load lip, which makes loading heavy items easier. Both fold the rear seats 60/40 to open up a flat-ish cargo area.

Rear seat space is where the Tucson fights back. Despite being the cheaper car, it has slightly more rear legroom and headroom. The CX-60's rear seat is adequate for adults but not as generous as you might expect from a car this size. The sloping roofline eats into headroom for taller passengers. If you regularly carry adults in the back, test-drive the CX-60 specifically for rear-seat comfort.

Front seat comfort is excellent in both. The CX-60's seats are a highlight: well-bolstered, supportive on long drives, and with a low seating position that feels more car-like than SUV-like. The Tucson's seats are more typically SUV: upright, good visibility, comfortable but not as sculpted.

Both come with 5-year, unlimited-kilometre warranties, which is now the standard for mainstream brands in Australia. Roadside assistance is included for the warranty period on both.

Resale is where things get interesting. Historically, the Tucson holds value well in Australia because of sheer volume: everyone knows what a Tucson is, dealers are everywhere, and parts are cheap. The CX-60 is newer to the market and does not have the same resale track record yet. Early signs suggest it holds value reasonably well, but it does not have the Tucson's established secondhand market.

Running a quick 5-year cost estimate: the Tucson will cost approximately $5,340 less to purchase, roughly $285 less in fuel over 5 years, and around $250 less in servicing. Total 5-year saving for the Tucson: approximately $5,875. Whether the CX-60's superior interior, bigger boot, better towing, and rear-drive handling are worth that premium is a personal call.