Mega Mazda! All-new Mazda CX-80 is a flagship 7-seater SUV

• All-new flagship SUV
• Choice of six or seven-seat layouts
• Available with PHEV or diesel engines

European carmakers seem to have a grip on the large SUV market at the moment, but Mazda will be hoping to change that with the all-new Mazda CX-80. The three-row SUV is the largest model ever sold by the Japanese marque in Europe, sitting as the new flagship in its lineup. With up to seven seats and a choice of plug-in hybrid or diesel engines, Mazda claims the CX-80 has been “created to challenge the established premium brands in the European market”.

The CX-80 will have to square up against popular large SUVs in the UK, such as the Skoda Kodiaq, as well as the more upmarket Volvo XC90. Its starting price of £48,920 places it neatly between these rivals, although more expensive trim levels will be offered, swapping cloth upholstery for leather and adding more interior kit.

What does the Mazda CX-80 look like?

There’s no avoiding the size of the new CX-80. It’s just 5mm shy of the five-metre mark and 250mm longer than the Mazda CX-60, which shares the same platform. That extra length has been added between the wheels, creating more interior space that has allowed Mazda to package an extra row of rear seats. Its silhouette is defined by a long bonnet and an absence of sharp body lines, with chrome trim bordering the windows and ahead of the front doors.

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The front-end styling is essentially carried over from the smaller CX-60, with similar LED headlights and a bright grille surround. The rear looks familiar, too, using near-identical L-shaped tail-lights. Unlike the CX-60, Mazda has hidden the exhaust pipes behind the lower bumper on the CX-80, in an effort to create a “cleaner, more elegant appearance”. There’s a new 20-inch alloy wheel design, along with a choice of nine paint colours.

What does the interior of the Mazda CX-80 look like?

Much like its exterior, the interior of the CX-80 appears to have been largely carried over from the smaller CX-60, the key difference being the third row of seats found at the rear. Mazda claims they’ve been designed to accommodate passengers up to 1,700mm (five foot, seven inches), and they can fold flat to increase boot space from 258 to 687 litres.

There are three configuration options for the second row of seats. For maximum passenger capacity, buyers can opt for the middle bench seat, accommodating seven passengers in total. Alternatively, Mazda offers two captain’s chairs for the second row, either with a walk-through to the third row of seats or a middle console.

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Up front, the driver gets a 12.3-inch digital display, along with a central 12.3-inch infotainment screen. All models come with Alexa voice control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, heated seats, a heated steering wheel and three-zone air conditioning, while higher trim levels get Nappa leather upholstery along with maple wood trim.

What engines are available for the Mazda CX-80?

Mazda will offer the CX-80 with two engine options: a plug-in hybrid and a diesel. Both come as standard with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a rear-biassed four-wheel drive system. Both powertrains have a maximum towing capacity of 2,500kg, while cornering is aided by Mazda’s ‘Kinematic Posture Control’ system – the same handling tech found in the Mazda MX-5 sports car.

The plug-in hybrid uses a 189bhp 2.5-litre petrol engine alongside a 173bhp electric motor, combining for a total system output of 323bhp. A pure-electric driving mode will deliver up to 33 miles of zero-emissions driving before the petrol engine has to kick into life. Official WLTP fuel economy stands at 141mpg, but you’ll have to keep the battery topped up to achieve this figure in the real world.

The diesel engine is a 3.3-litre six-cylinder unit producing 251bhp. It’s assisted by a 48V mild hybrid system which helps to improve fuel efficiency – Mazda claims up to 50mpg is possible. 

How much does the Mazda CX-80 cost and when can I buy one?

Prices start at £48,920 for the CX-80 in base Exclusive-line trim – around £3,500 more than the CX-60. More expensive Homaru, Takumi, Homaru Plus and Takumi Plus trim levels will be offered, each bumping up the price and level of equipment. Prices for these models will be confirmed later in the year, closer to the CX-80’s autumn release date.

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