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Buy and sell nowAiming high
James Batchelor enjoys a long-term test of Mazda's flagship SUV
The CX-80 is the largest and plushest car offered by Mazda in the UK. Sitting above the CX-60, it’s a three-row flagship SUV that sets out to rival everything from a Hyundai Santa Fe right up to the Volvo XC90 and Land Rover Discovery. Mazda has visions of becoming a premium carmaker in the future, and it feels that models like the CX-80 are part of that evolution.
Comfort – 86%
While other manufacturers have dived head-first into the world of electric cars, Mazda is doing things at its own pace. It had a small pure-electric SUV in the shape of the MX-30 for a couple of years, and the brand will return to the world of EVs in 2026 when it launches its 6e electric saloon. But the CX-60 and CX-80 twins, while coming with on-trend petrol plug-in hybrid power, can also be ordered with a large and powerful diesel engine.
The CX-80 uses the same platform and mechanicals as the smaller 60, but has had its wheelbase stretched by 250mm and it stands 26mm taller in order to fit in a third row of seats. The seven-seater format is the standard configuration, while six-seater (which features two individual ‘captain’s chairs’ in the second row) and six-seater with a console (a fixed console in between the two captain’s chairs) formats are optional, and give off that premium vibe that Mazda is pursuing.
Climbing into the third row is a bit tricky, but adults can easily fit back there, and there are even USB-C sockets to keep devices charged. The second row has acres of leg and knee room and pampers passengers with climate control; plus, in this range-topping Takumi Plus model as tested, heated and ventilated captain’s chairs.
Boot room is 258 litres when all six/seven seats are in place. Folding down the rearmost seats into the boot floor is remarkably easy and opens up 566 litres (687 litres when the second row is slid forwards), and with all seats down you have 1,971 litres (a bit less in this test car because of the rear centre console). The boot is wide and square, and has some neat touches like a three-pin socket. The roller-blind cover can be stored under the boot floor. The boot area is also the home for the towbar release button – it’s a semi-electric hook and costs just under £980.
In terms of trims, entry-level Exclusive-Line is well-equipped with leather upholstery, 18in alloys, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the interior vibe is rather muted. Range-topping Takumi models, however, ramp up the luxury with white Nappa leather seats, maple wood trim, and special stitching across the dashboard. It’s seriously sumptuous and makes the CX-80 a proper rival to premium offerings.
No matter which trim you go for, the interior is beautifully built and very thoughtfully constructed. Many carmakers have gone all-in on massive touchscreens and dispensed with physical buttons and knobs, but the CX-80 bucks that trend. When you’re on the move, the 12.3in screen is operated via a rotary dial on the centre console and there’s a row of buttons for the climate control allowing easy and quick adjustment.
Driving – 89%
Mazda only offers two engines in the CX-80. Both send power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) uses a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electric motor and a 17.8kWh battery, offering a potent 323bhp in total. The electric motor alone has 173bhp, which is on tap from the moment you accelerate from a standstill. The result is a 0-62mph time of 6.8 seconds, and despite the CX-80’s size and weight, it feels quick and urgent.
The other option is diesel power. At 3.3 litres and with six cylinders it’s a hefty lump that delivers a chunky 254bhp and creamy acceleration. It’s a mild-hybrid, too, with its 48V system recouping energy when coasting or slowing, and then using this to support acceleration.
Mazda claims more than 176mpg for the PHEV, but you’ll only get anywhere near this figure if you mostly drive on electric power, and if you plug in the car to a charging point at every given opportunity. A more realistic, real-world figure is around 35-40mpg, which is why, for many people, particularly caravan owners, the diesel will make more sense. Mazda says the derv will return 48.7mpg – and it can easily manage this as, in six months of driving this car, I have frequently managed 49mpg.
The CX-80 is easily one of the sportiest seven-seaters on the market to drive. While the steering is a little slow, it gives good feedback, and the car feels very planted on twisty roads. Part of this is to do with the suspension set-up – it’s stiffer than in most rivals, and despite the CX-80 getting the CX-60’s revised and softer suspension for 2025, it’s still on the lumpy side. Around town it can be affected by potholes that most rivals would glide over – this car’s 20in alloys don’t help, either. But the pay-off is tight body control on faster, twistier roads, and when towing.
Gallery
Towing – 90%
This particular CX-80 is my long-term test car, and I’ve been driving it since the summer of 2025. In that time I’ve pulled horseboxes and trailers with cars on, and it’s taken these tasks in its stride. It was also used as Mazda’s entry into the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Towcar of the Year 2026 competition, where it received strong praise from the judging panel in the 1,800-2,000kg caravan weight category. The lustiness of the diesel engine was a notable highlight, but also its flexibility in being smooth and having plenty in reserve for overtaking manoeuvres at over 60mph (during judging on a closed test track). All-round visibility was also praised, as was the car’s agility and strong handbrake on the tough hill-start test.
The CX-80 has a range of different driving modes, including a towing setting that adjusts the all-wheel drive system when pulling a heavy load.
Verdict – 88%
Boasting a beautifully-appointed interior, fine driving dynamics, and potent power, the CX-80 is every inch the premium product Mazda hopes to offer. The fact that it’s also an outstanding towcar is just the icing on the cake.
