We get to grips with the classy CX-80 seven-seater SUV – Mazda’s new flagship…
If you need a big SUV that’s capable of carrying seven people in reasonable comfort, there’s already a pretty good choice.
The new Mazda CX-80 is a welcome addition to the more affordable end of the list, which includes the Skoda Kodiaq, Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan X-Trail, SEAT Tarraco, Peugeot e-5008 and Kia EV9.
Priced from £49,670, it looks familiar because it’s essentially a stretched version of the smaller CX-60 SUV.
At nearly five metres long, the CX-80 is no shrinking violet. From the front, it’s easily mistaken for a CX-60, but that profile with its huge 3,120mm wheelbase (longer than a Kia EV9 and BMW X7) is something else, and it’s 26mm taller.
The good news is that these dimensions result in a third row of seats and there’s a choice of layouts, so the middle row can either have two “captain’s chairs” (six seats in all) or a three/two-seat bench. Both bench and individual seats fold and slide backwards and forwards (by 120mm) for added practicality.
As always, I tried the third row for size, and as a 5’11” adult I can confirm that there is space as long as the middle row is pushed forward a little. The important takeaway is that it is just possible for passengers my height to sit behind each other
There’s plenty of load space in the CX-80 too, with a reasonable 258 litres with all the seats up, 566 litres with the third row down and 1,971 litres with all the seats flat.
Powered by the same engines as the Mazda CX-60, there’s a choice of plug-in hybrid or diesel, and all-wheel drive (rear-biased) is standard.
The 2.5-litre petrol engine and plug-in hybrid set-up produces 323bhp (369lb ft of torque) for a 0–62mph of 6.8 seconds, while the 17.8kWh battery is good for an official 38 miles of electric-only range and CO2 emissions are just 35g/km.
If you prefer diesel, the 3.3-litre six-cylinder paired with a 48V mild hybrid system, pumps out 251bhp (406lb ft), is good for an 8.4-second 0–62mph dash and can manage a claimed 49.6mpg (CO2 emissions 148g/km).
Both engines are rated at 2,500kg for towing, but naturally, the diesel makes more sense when it comes to grunt and long-range economy. Incidentally, there’s a clever drive mode available which improves stability and driving performance when towing. Additionally, a “Trailer Hitch View” rear-facing camera makes it easier to align the car and a “See-Through View” helps when manoeuvring in tight car parks and city streets.
The CX-80 is packed with the latest safety and driver assistance technology and achieved a maximum five stars in Euro NCAP tests. In fact, it was named Best in Class in the Large SUV category, narrowly beating the Audi Q6 e-tron.
All in all, the CX-80 has a premium look and feel throughout the cabin. And Mazda does things differently, so there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch central display, but the latter is not a touchscreen. Control is via a rotary dial in the centre console, or Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa, which is built-in and can control music, air-conditioning, navigation and third-party apps such as Spotify. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard.
On the road, the Mazda CX-80 doesn’t feel any more substantial than the CX-60, while visibility is decent and where it’s more challenging (the far-off rear when manoeuvring), the 360-degree camera helps out.
For me, the seating position at its lowest setting is still too high for me, but then that’s not unusual.
The ride is on the firm side, which is not helped by the big 20-inch wheels on the higher grade models, so probably best to stick with the 18-inch wheels on the entry-level Exclusive-Line if comfort is your priority.
It handles well for such a big SUV and feels planted, while body lean is minimal in faster corners. The steering is well weighted and responsive, while good grip gives you the confidence to push on.
Ultimately, your CX-80 experience is likely to be determined by your choice of powertrain.
The big turbodiesel is a joy. While it’s not quite up there with an equivalent six-cylinder BMW unit, it’s smooth, sounds the part, and is blessed with plenty of low-down grunt.
I averaged around 42mpg with a high of 46mpg, during my test, which isn’t bad for a car this size. With a little restraint, the claimed 49.6mpg on a steady run may well be achievable.
The plug-in hybrid is a mixed bag. You’ll have to take it very easy to get close to 38 miles of pure EV range (which in itself is modest compared to a Kodiaq’s 62 miles, for instance).
Then once you’ve run out of juice (or you put your foot down) the petrol engine kicks in. The transition isn’t always the smoothest and the four-cylinder unit is on the harsh side when pushed.
That said, it’s powerful enough, but economy will drop below 40mpg when the battery is drained, which isn’t ideal on a longer journey. On shorter runs, closer to 100mpg is possible (as high as 176.6mpg) in theory.
Weirdly the PHEV feels lighter and more agile, even though it’s heavier than the diesel, while the slick eight-speed automatic on both models is just the job.
A Sport drive mode, which boosts throttle response and handling, s available with both engines, but default Normal offers the best balance of performance and economy.
As ever, with a big SUV, it’s at its best cruising, soaking up the miles in comfort.
Verdict: The big Mazda CX-80 is a welcome addition to the seven-seater SUV category. Distinctive, safe, spacious and engaging to drive, it’s a premium car at a reasonable price.