All-New Mazda CX-80 Is An Upmarket 7-Seat SUV.
New Mazda CX-80 – Is An Upmarket 7-Seat SUV.
As Mazda continues to move their vehicles upmarket, they have introduced their first seven-seat SUV in almost a decade, the CX-80, which is the largest car Mazda has ever sold in Europe, and it’s the second to use the company’s Large Product Group platform. The first model to utilise this platform was the CX-60 which was launched in 2022, and the new CX-80 shares almost everything with its 5-seat sibling, including its engines, suspension, front and rear styling, and cabin fixtures and fittings.
Superior Style.
The CX-80 is a much bigger version of the already sizable CX-60 and is positioned in terms of price and dimensions just above the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008, and just below larger seven-seat SUVs like the Volvo XC90. It is the same market segment that Hyundai and Kia occupy with the Samta Fe and Sorento respectively, but the Mazda CX-80 aims to provide a more superior style.
Sculpted Exterior, Spacious Cabin.
The CX-80 is, essentially, a stretched version of the CX-60, and it comes with an extra 250mm in the wheelbase and a third row of seats in the back, thereby turning it into a spacious seven-seater. It is an attractive car, with sculpted sides and a long bonnet that allows it stand out against many of its boxy rivals. The cabin is well built with appealing materials and a good combination of colour and trim options to suit all tastes. The dashboard sticks with Mazda’s more traditional approach, with a proper climate control panel that consists of physical buttons, and the 12.3-inch infotainment screen is controlled by a rotary dial, which makes it easy to navigate through when on the move. Overall, the infotainment system is refreshingly simple to use, and it keeps distractions to a minimum. Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa, comes built-in and can control the car’s music, navigation and air-conditioning as well as the usual phone and music apps. Boot space with all seven seats in place is 258-litres, with five seats in place this rises to 566-litres with underfloor storage, and with the middle row of seats folded down, there is an excellent 1977-litres of space available.
Well-Specified Trim Options.
The entry level trim is Exclusive-Line which comes with a lot of attractive features, including: 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, keyless entry, tri-zone automatic climate control, LED headlights, roof spoiler and rails, powered tailgate (handsfree function) and a head-up display to name a few. Standard safety equipment includes, Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), Hill Hold Assist, Dynamic Stability Control, Front Smart Brake Support, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Monitoring, Drive Attention Alert, and Traffic Sign Recognition, along with front and rear parking sensors and a rear camera. The next trim is the Homura, which has a sportier look and feel due to the darkened trim, 20-inch black metallic alloy wheels, and an array of extra equipment. Takumi has a more luxurious feel to it due to the white leather upholstery, grey metallic alloy wheels, and additional chrome highlights. Both Homura and Takumi trims can be upgraded with an optional Plus Pack, which adds high-end features such as a panoramic sunroof, adaptive headlights and privacy glass on the rear windows and tailgate.
Diesel & PHEV Powertrains.
Mazda offers two powertrains for the CX-80: a 3.3-litre (e-Skyactiv D) straight-six diesel, which produces 254PS (251bhp) and 550Nm of torque, and a plug-in hybrid (e-Skyactiv PHEV), which pairs a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce 327PS (323bhp) and 500Nm of torque. This results in 0-100km/h sprint times of 6.8-seconds, and 8.4-seconds respectively. Both powertrains in the new CX-80 come with an 8-speed automatic transmission as standard, and power is sent to all four wheels for all-wheel drivability and outstanding roadholding.
Car on Test.
My test car was a CX-80 Diesel AWD in flagship Takumi trim with an optional Plus Pack, and it was finished in Machine Grey metallic paintwork (a €990 option). The 3.3-litre diesel engine powering the CX-80 represents one of Mazda’s most sophisticated powertrains ever, and it delivers its power with a refinement that belies its compression-ignition nature, as the inline six-cylinder configuration inherently produces fewer vibrations than four-cylinder diesel engines found in competitors, contributing to the premium feel Mazda is aiming to achieve. The engine excels in mid-range acceleration, where the abundant torque enables confident overtaking ability, and the power delivery is progressive rather than explosive, aligning with the vehicle’s premium positioning. The CX-80 is enjoyable to drive and very easy to live with on a daily basis, and the comfort afforded to all occupants is impressive. Road noise is well supressed at motorway speeds, visibility is excellent, and it is easy to find an ideal driving position – a task that is made so much simpler by using Mazda’s Driver Personalisation System (trim dependent). The steering is well-weighted and accurate, and while body roll through bends is present, it is well controlled. Despite an unladen weight in excess of 2,000kg, it feels reassuringly stable at speed, and the well-judged suspension ensures maximum levels of comfort are provided to occupants at all times. Mazda’s enviable reputation for manufacturing cars that are engaging to drive definitely holds true with the new CX-80, as it is one of the more enjoyable large SUVs to drive. Mazda quote an official WLTP fuel consumption figure of 5.8l/100km, and this is not far off the combined figure of 6.0l/100km that my test car recorded during my time with it. All versions of the new CX-80 can tow a braked trailer up to 2,500kg, or an unbraked trailer up to a maximum of 750kg.
Verdict, Prive & Warranty.
The Mazda CX-80’s stylish exterior, well-designed interior, and intuitive infotainment technology, along with its impressive array of standard specification across the range make it an interesting alternative in the 7-seat SUV market. On-the-road pricing for the new CX-80 e-Skyactiv PHEV starts at €62,380 for the Exclusive Line trim, with the e-Skyactiv D versions priced from €73,940. A comprehensive 6-Year/150,000km Mazda warranty comes as standard across the entire Mazda passenger car range.
Visit www.mazda.ie for further information.
