We got behind the wheel of the CX-80 to see whether Mazda has created an SUV that justifies its position as a range-topping model. Here, we deliver our impressions of the diesel model ahead of a full lab test of the plug-in hybrid CX-80.

The CX-80 is the second large SUV in Mazda’s European range, and shares much with the slightly smaller CX-60. It’s the brand's first since the Mazda 5 MPV to seat more than five people and goes up against everything from the Skoda Kodiaq and Kia Sorento to the BMW X5 and Audi Q7.

It comes in three basic trim levels. The Exclusive-Line model is at the bottom of the range, while the Homura comes with electrically adjustable nappa leather seats and an uprated stereo. The Takumi is the most luxurious model in the range, while both the Homura and Takumi models are available as ‘Plus’ models, which come with extra safety kit, a panoramic sunroof and adaptive headlights.

We took the Takumi Plus model for a first drive. Here’s what we learned based on our initial drive…

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1. It’s obvious why it costs what it does

Our test car had a list price of £60,815 (including metallic paint and ‘captain’s chairs’), which makes it around 10-20% more expensive than other family seven-seaters such as the Skoda Kodiaq and Kia Sorento. But it’s around £20-30,000 cheaper than high-end diesel SUVs such as the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, and there are plenty of reasons why.

For a start, there are some material quality issues. We thought the roof headlining was quite wobbly, while some of the lower interior plastics were quite basic (if well-assembled). The A-pillars aren’t foamed and are made entirely of hard plastic, while the feel of much of the switchgear isn’t as premium as more luxurious cars.

Our biggest surprise was with the metal used for the body, which felt much thinner towards the front of the car than the back. Despite this, the relatively low list price is impressive, given it has some impressive features.

2. It has some very upmarket feature options

Takumi and Takumi Plus cars come with maple wood panels on the centre console and doors, which, combined with attractive stitching and thickly padded fabric areas, give the interior an attractive look. The white nappa leather seats also help, although we’re not sure how these will cope with family life as they’ll get dirty quickly. Vinyl leather and metal or wood-effect trims are standard on other trims, along with black leather seats.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of our Takumi Plus car was the two individual ‘captain’s chairs’ (wider than the standard outer rear seats) fitted to the second row, which is a feature appearing on more SUVs (such as the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Santa Fe).

A setup with a central gap is a no-cost option on Homura and Homura Plus cars, but you have to pay extra for Takumi Plus cars with these chairs. They have a fixed centre console and ventilated seats, which are typically found on only the most high-end luxury cars (and even then as an option).

You would have to spend more than £78,000 on a top-spec Land Rover Discovery to get rear ventilated seats on a diesel three-row SUV.

No BMW SUV is available with them even as an option, while the only diesel Mercedes-Benz SUV to feature rear ventilated seats is the mid-range GLS, which costs at least £117,500.

3. The interior is logical, if quite basic

The CX-80 shares a lot with the smaller CX-60, including its interior. This is no bad thing, as the CX-60 has one of the most intuitive interiors we’ve come across in recent years.

It's very easy to use, and all the controls are located in easy-to access places. You also get physical climate control buttons, which are easy to operate without distraction, even if you can’t adjust the temperature with rotary dials.

Like most other Mazda cars, the CX-80’s touchscreen only works as one when the car is parked. Otherwise, you have to use a rotary controller knob and easy-to-read direct selection buttons to adjust the screen. This is a good thing, as once you’re familiar with the few menu structures on the screen (which can be quite complex), the risk of distraction is virtually eliminated.

The large font on the screen helps, too, although the screen isn’t without issues. It froze several times during our time with the car and took some time to reload.

We also thought the instrument cluster and head-up display were easy to read, although the instrument cluster can’t be configured much.

4. Its touring abilities are mixed

The CX-80 doesn’t have an adaptive or air suspension option like many of its rivals, which can make it very uncomfortable to drive over poor roads. But it’s generally a refined place to be, while the firm suspension helps to absorb undulating stretches of road well. One clear weakness is the car’s steering, which isn’t very communicative at high speeds. You’ll struggle to find the centre position and may have to make a lot of corrections to keep in a straight line. It’s generally accurate and direct, and there’s barely any body roll to contend with when cornering.

There aren’t many storage areas in the front cabin: the storage area under the central armrest isn’t that deep, while the bottle holders in the doors are quite small. Things improve in the back, where the centre console has a much deeper storage area and a helpful drawer underneath it.

When all seats are in use, the boot has a claimed capacity of 258 litres, while there’s a useful storage area under the floor for the parcel shelf. 687 litres is available with the third row folded away, while 1,971 litres is available when both rear seating rows are folded. The seats nearly fold flat, too. Tall people should be mindful of the fact the boot lid doesn’t rise very high when opened.

There is plenty of space for tall passengers in the first and second rows, although headroom was compromised somewhat by our test car’s panoramic sunroof. Legroom is also slightly tight in the second row. The third row seats are only suitable for smaller people because of the limited headroom.

The second row of seats can be reclined and moved back and forth, although they can’t be removed, don’t swivel and are controlled manually (electric seats are standard on most seven-seat cars). All bar the rearmost seats are comfortable, even if the driver’s seat doesn’t have a massage function, a movable lumbar support or an extending leg support.

But if you drive long distances, there’s one feature you’ll appreciate: the 74-litre fuel tank should give you a driving range of more than 800 miles.

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5. The engine is very civilized

Like the Mazda CX-60, the CX-80 uses Mazda’s highly unorthodox 254hp turbocharged 3.3-litre straight-six diesel mild hybrid engine, which uses lots of technology to improve refinement and reduce fuel consumption.

On the whole, the engine is very refined: vibrations are kept to a minimum, and it’s quiet when cruising. It’s also quick to accelerate, even if there’s a clear delay before deploying full power and the car accelerating. Only when you accelerate hard does the engine get louder, and you may appreciate the engine roar and sound of the turbocharger firing up to deliver extra power. But it’s not quite as quiet as the latest large diesel engines from BMW or Mercedes-Benz (especially in town), and sound-reducing acoustic glass isn’t available on the CX-80.

It’s also very economical for such a large SUV with a big engine; official figures suggest the diesel CX-80 will average between 48.7 and 49.6mpg, and we think this is possible when outside of traffic and not driving aggressively or too fast. But as we saw in our lab test of the Mazda CX-60 with the same engine (which was able to average 62.8mpg in mixed use outside of lab conditions), you can do a lot better if you make the most of the mild hybrid system and drive with restraint.

We averaged 68mpg on a long motorway drive when driving at 56mph, which is very impressive for a car of this size with such a large engine.

6. It has impressive safety credentials

It may have only been launched in late 2024, but the CX-80 already has a five-star Euro NCAP rating and was named as the best large SUV for safety by Euro NCAP for 2024.

All CX-80 models come with a lot of safety kit, including a driver’s knee airbag, blind-spot monitors, front-cross traffic alert and a head-up display. Surprisingly, adaptive cruise control is only standard on ‘Plus’ models and is optional elsewhere. This is standard for all current models of the much cheaper Mazda 2 Hybrid.

No CX-80 comes with a lane-change assist function, either. In our experiences, much of the safety technology (such as the driver attention alert) was less intrusive than we’ve seen on other cars, although the intelligent speed assist (ISA) system became noticeably less reliable during our time with the CX-80.

7. UK drivers get a shorter warranty

Last but not least is the disappointing warranty.

The three-year/60,000 mile package on new Mazda cars in the UK is the bare minimum we would expect for a new car, but more concerning is that most other European countries (including France) owners get a six-year/150,000km warranty.

When we questioned Mazda on this, a spokesperson told us that they are ‘currently investigating different options specifically for the UK market’.

First thoughts on the Mazda CX-80

It may carry a price premium over the CX-80 PHEV (and, going by sales figures for the CX-60, is likely to account for an eighth of CX-80 sales), but the diesel CX-80 is a distinctive and, relatively speaking, good-value choice. 

While it's quite basic, its efficient engine, easy-to-use-interior and plentiful equipment levels impressed us. It’s just a shame UK owners appear to be getting a raw deal with the warranty.

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