Mazda is introducing a diesel version of its CX-60 large SUV, priced from £42,990 and with emissions from 129g/km.

Mazda says it’s targeting drivers with a high-quality large premium SUV with a clean and efficient diesel engine

Available to order now and starting deliveries early next year, it joins the recently launched plug-in hybrid version and “is designed to meet the needs of customers who want an efficient, long-distance driving car with great towing capacity”.

An in-line straight-six 3.0-litre e-Skyactiv petrol engine will join the CX-60 line-up at a later date while its CX-80 bigger brother, which features three rows of seating, will arrive next year.

The new e-Skyactiv D powered CX-60 will be offered in the same Exclusive-Line, Homura and Takumi grades as the PHEV version (read our road test of the PHEV here).

It debuts a brand-new powertrain: a 3.3-litre in-line six-cylinder e-Skyactiv D diesel engine that features Distribution-Controlled Partially Premixed Compression Ignition (DCPCI) technology – an advanced combustion technology said to make the new e-Skyactiv D unit one of the cleanest diesel engines in the world, achieving a thermal efficiency of over 40%.

It’s offered with a choice of two power outputs: 200hp with rear-wheel drive and 254hp with Mazda i-Activ AWD all-wheel drive. Both use a new 48v Mazda M Hybrid mild hybrid system and are said to combine high output with excellent fuel economy.

The 200hp output engine is solely offered in Exclusive-Line trim where it is matched to rear-wheel drive and has an entry price of £42,990.

The higher-output 254ps version of the new engine is also available in Exclusive-Line guise, priced for £45,630 and with all-wheel drive. All Exclusive-Line CX-60s can be specified with a Comfort Pack (£1,400) and Convenience and Driver Assistance Pack (£1,900).

The £48,380 Homura is offered exclusively with the 254hp AWD drivetrain, as is the range-topping £50,730 Takumi grade – these cars can be specified with the optional Convenience and Driver Assistance Pack, while a Panoramic Roof is optional on Homura and standard on Takumi.

The 200hp engine returns a WLTP average fuel consumption of 56.5mpg with CO2 emissions of 129g/km in rear-wheel drive Exclusive-Line guise, while the AWD 254hp Exclusive Line, Homura and Takumi WLTP average fuel consumption is 53.3mpg with CO2 emissions from 137g/km.

Mazda also promises driver-focused handling, impressive comfort and high-quality, along with a 2,500kg trailer weight towing capacity. The powertrain’s lightweight construction also helps handling balance; the engine weighs similar to the 2.2-litre Mazda Skyactiv D four-cylinder diesel engine used in the Mazda CX-5.

Mazda Motors UK managing director Jeremy Thomson said the new diesel was another demonstration of the brand’s ‘Multi-Solution Approach’.

“The company’s multi-solution strategy offers different products and technologies – including more efficient internal combustion engines and a wide range of electrified powertrains, that best suit the local market and society’s demand for sustainability.”

He added: “While the PHEV will be the biggest selling CX-60 in the UK, the new six-cylinder diesel is a fantastic example of Mazda’s long-standing reputation for engine innovation and it will be a superb choice for many retail customers looking for a high-quality large premium SUV with a clean and efficient diesel engine.”

Mazda is also launching five new electrified products in the next three years with its multi-solution platform architecture. After 2025, the company will introduce its brand-new Skyactiv EV Scalable Architecture, which will provide a common platform for EVs of all sizes.