We familiarize yourself with the stylish CX-80 seven-seater SUV – Mazda’s new flagship…
Should you want an enormous SUV that’s able to carrying seven folks in affordable consolation, there’s already a reasonably good selection.
The brand new Mazda CX-80 is a welcome addition to the extra reasonably priced finish of the record, which incorporates the Skoda Kodiaq, Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan X-Path, SEAT Tarraco, Peugeot e-5008 and Kia EV9.
Priced from £49,670, it appears to be like acquainted as a result of it’s basically a stretched model of the smaller CX-60 SUV.
At practically 5 metres lengthy, the CX-80 is not any shrinking violet. From the entrance, it’s simply mistaken for a CX-60, however that profile with its enormous 3,120mm wheelbase (longer than a Kia EV9 and BMW X7) is one thing else, and it’s 26mm taller.
The excellent news is that these dimensions end in a 3rd row of seats and there’s a selection of layouts, so the center row can both have two “captain’s chairs” (six seats in all) or a 3/two-seat bench. Each bench and particular person seats fold and slide backwards and forwards (by 120mm) for added practicality.
As all the time, I attempted the third row for dimension, and as a 5’11” grownup I can verify that there’s area so long as the center row is pushed ahead slightly. The essential takeaway is that it’s simply attainable for passengers my peak to sit down behind one another
There’s loads of load area within the CX-80 too, with an affordable 258 litres with all of the seats up, 566 litres with the third row down and 1,971 litres with all of the seats flat.
Powered by the identical engines because the Mazda CX-60, there’s a selection of plug-in hybrid or diesel, and all-wheel drive (rear-biased) is customary.
The two.5-litre petrol engine and plug-in hybrid set-up produces 323bhp (369lb ft of torque) for a 0–62mph of 6.8 seconds, whereas the 17.8kWh battery is sweet for an official 38 miles of electric-only vary and CO2 emissions are simply 35g/km.
Should you want diesel, the three.3-litre six-cylinder paired with a 48V gentle hybrid system, pumps out 251bhp (406lb ft), is sweet for an 8.4-second 0–62mph sprint and may handle a claimed 49.6mpg (CO2 emissions 148g/km).
Each engines are rated at 2,500kg for towing, however naturally, the diesel makes extra sense relating to grunt and long-range economic system. By the way, there’s a intelligent drive mode out there which improves stability and driving efficiency when towing. Moreover, a “Trailer Hitch View” rear-facing digital camera makes it simpler to align the automobile and a “See-By way of View” helps when manoeuvring in tight automobile parks and metropolis streets.
The CX-80 is full of the most recent security and driver help expertise and achieved a most 5 stars in Euro NCAP checks. In actual fact, it was named Greatest in Class within the Massive SUV class, narrowly beating the Audi Q6 e-tron.
All in all, the CX-80 has a premium feel and look all through the cabin. And Mazda does issues otherwise, so there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch central show, however the latter is just not a touchscreen. Management is through a rotary dial within the centre console, or Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa, which is built-in and may management music, air-conditioning, navigation and third-party apps reminiscent of Spotify. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are additionally customary.
On the highway, the Mazda CX-80 doesn’t really feel any extra substantial than the CX-60, whereas visibility is respectable and the place it’s tougher (the far-off rear when manoeuvring), the 360-degree digital camera helps out.
For me, the seating place at its lowest setting remains to be too excessive for me, however then that’s commonplace.
The journey is on the agency aspect, which isn’t helped by the large 20-inch wheels on the upper grade fashions, so in all probability greatest to stay with the 18-inch wheels on the entry-level Unique-Line if consolation is your precedence.
It handles effectively for such an enormous SUV and feels planted, whereas physique lean is minimal in quicker corners. The steering is effectively weighted and responsive, whereas good grip offers you the arrogance to push on.
In the end, your CX-80 expertise is prone to be decided by your selection of powertrain.
The large turbodiesel is a pleasure. Whereas it’s not fairly up there with an equal six-cylinder BMW unit, it’s easy, sounds the half, and is blessed with loads of low-down grunt.
I averaged round 42mpg with a excessive of 46mpg, throughout my take a look at, which isn’t dangerous for a automobile this dimension. With slightly restraint, the claimed 49.6mpg on a gentle run might be achievable.
The plug-in hybrid is a blended bag. You’ll must take it very straightforward to get near 38 miles of pure EV vary (which in itself is modest in comparison with a Kodiaq’s 62 miles, for example).
Then when you’ve run out of juice (otherwise you put your foot down) the petrol engine kicks in. The transition isn’t all the time the smoothest and the four-cylinder unit is on the cruel aspect when pushed.
That stated, it’s highly effective sufficient, however economic system will drop under 40mpg when the battery is drained, which isn’t perfect on an extended journey. On shorter runs, nearer to 100mpg is feasible (as excessive as 176.6mpg) in principle.
Weirdly the PHEV feels lighter and extra agile, though it’s heavier than the diesel, whereas the slick eight-speed automated on each fashions is simply the job.
A Sport drive mode, which boosts throttle response and dealing with, s out there with each engines, however default Regular affords the perfect steadiness of efficiency and economic system.
As ever, with an enormous SUV, it’s at its greatest cruising, absorbing the miles in consolation.
Verdict: The large Mazda CX-80 is a welcome addition to the seven-seater SUV class. Distinctive, protected, spacious and fascinating to drive, it’s a premium automobile at an affordable worth.
Mazda UK
