Mazda CX-80 adds to its seven-seater SUV line-up

The new Mazda CX-80 has broken cover and is due here soon. It follows in the footsteps of the recently launched CX-60 and CX-90. Like the latter, this can also tote seven occupants.

CX-80, which shares Mazda’s Large Architecture platform with the two earlier arrivals, is 4995mm in length, 1890mm in width and 1750mm tall. It has the extended wheelbase of the CX-90 (3120mm, 250mm longer than that of CX-60), giving it room for the extra row of seats at the rear. 

Sharing Kodo design features, the CX-80 also has a minimalist aesthetic likes its stablemates, eschewing lines for curves. Mazda says it combines a striking design both inside and out, “featuring the highest quality materials within the cabin”.

The CX-80 shares its powertrain with that of the CX-60, an e-Skyactiv PHEV unit. It combines a 2.5L four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor. System output is 241kW (at 6000rpm) and 500Nm (at 4000rpm). This offers “strong and engaging performance matched with outstanding environmental credentials”. Its transmission is an eight-speed automatic.

Expect a similar pure electric driving range of around 50km for the plug-in hybrid, which uses a 17.8kWh battery. Mean fuel use we would expect to be around the same as that of the CX-60, roughly 2.5L/100km. The initial claimed WLPT figure is 1.6. A sprint time to 100km/h of 6.8sec is stated. Braked towing capacity is the same as CX-60’s at 2500kg.

The output is processed by Mazda’s i-Activ all-wheel drive system. This is a rear-biased, permanent all-wheel drive set-up and it “combines the stability and traction of AWD with the neutral cornering characteristics of a rear-wheel drive set-up”. Mazda says it delivers a unified driving experience, as with all their models. A low centre of gravity because of the battery pack and torque vectoring by brake are said to enhance dynamics.

On the practicality front, luggage capacity is said to be 258L with all seats in use, rising to 687L with five occupants and 1221L when all rear seats are folded away.

Mazda also says its new CX-80 “will confidently add to the Mazda SUV range and offer a new level of refinement and performance to large SUV customers in New Zealand”.

Production has begun and first delivered are expected in the second half of 2024, when further information on powertrains, specification and pricing will be released.