THE first plug-in hybrid from Mazda has arrived with the new CX-60 SUV signalling a fresh direction for the Japanese brand.

It is the largest and most powerful car Mazda has released in the UK and the plug-in is the first of three powertrains Mazda will be offering in the new model.

At some 15ft seven inches long the CX-60 is a whole seven inches longer than Mazda's CX-5 although still shorter than the likes of the Land Rover Discovery and a Range Rover.

The size puts the CX-60 in the big league of SUVs and its dimensions translate into a spacious cabin with generous boot space ranging from 570 to 1,726 litres.

Priced from £43,950 the CX-60 is also competitive in the plug-in SUV market and it has a zero emission range of up to 39 miles on a full charge.

A full recharge can be done in two hours and 20 minutes while officially the CX-60 is rated at 188mpg with emissions of 33g/km.

As with all PHEVs that's a fanciful figure yet in everyday use the petrol/electric system Mazda has created for its newcomer is very frugal for a vehicle weighing in at some 2.6 tonnes and realistically more than 55mpg is possible.

On our runs in the CX-60 we managed an average of 57.7 to the gallon and the way the vehicle recharges on the move is impressive.

In Sport mode - where we discovered battery regeneration to be most effective - we retrieved 35 miles of electric driving from a starting point of two miles EV range in less than 20 miles.

The CX-60 plug-in is powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine hooked up to an electric motor which combined delivers a whopping 500Nm of torque and 327ps making it the most powerful road-going Mazda to date.

Top speed is restricted to 124mph and the acceleration from 0 to 62 mph is a very lively 5.8 seconds - with typically adept Mazda handling making it feel very sporty for an SUV.

The car is permanently four-wheel-drive and with the battery pack slung under the middle of the body it feels nicely stable, aided by what Mazda calls its Kinematic Posture Control system first seen on the latest versions of the MX-5 sports car which keeps the vehicle feeling well planted when cornering.

An off- road mode is helped by a hill descent set up and the CX-60 has a maximum towing capacity of 2.5 tonnes.

Other modes are Normal for general use and a specific EV mode where the car runs purely on electricity.

The CX-60 is available in three trim levels - Exclusive-Line, Homura and top specification Takumi - with the mid-grade priced from £46,700 and £48,050 for the range topper we tried.

Eventually, Mazda plans to introduce petrol and diesel versions of the CX-60 using six-cylinder inline engines of either three or 3.3-litre capacities and with the option of being rear-wheel-drive.

Prices for those are still to be announced but are likely to be significantly cheaper than the plug-in while a seven-seat model called the CX-80 is in the wings and should be on the road by 2024.

While the CX-60 looks similar to the CX-50 it is noticeably larger and has two air ducts in the front bumper which give it a dominant pose.

The charging port is on the opposite side to the fuel filler at the rear off-side and cable storage is provided in an under-boot floor compartment.

Technology is high across the CX-60 range with all models featuring LED lights, sat nav, 12.3-inch display screens, a head-up display and a full set of safety systems while the Takumi grade sets new standards for Mazda.

As well as 20-inch alloys instead of the standard 18-inch rims, Takumi versions also feature a white-trimmed interior with a delicate Japanese stitching pattern included across the facia, leather upholstery and maple wood in the facia, door cappings and centre console.

There's also chrome trim outside, vented front seats, radar cruise control and a comprehensive 360 degree camera system while the car also features Mazda's new driver identification system which uses cameras to recognise the front seat occupant and adjust the car to their pre-set preferences such as seating and mirror positions, lighting and heating preferences and head-up display content.

Mazda says the CX-60 is a critically important vehicle to its future which will see more than 70 per cent of its sales be SUVs with plans to introduce a further three battery electric vehicles and five hybrids and PHEVs by 2025.

While it has suffered from production constrictions caused by the global semi-conductor shortage the car maker is confident there is light at the end of the tunnel and is adamant supply of the CX-60 will not be affected.

That can only be good for those who wish to experience the newcomer which with its low emissions of 33g/km and company car tax banding of 12 per cent is sure to become an attractive proposition.