By Ian Strachan.
The first thing you notice about Mazda’s all-new flagship model – the CX-80 – is just how big it is. This superbly-styled seven-seater is huge.
My test car came in a beautiful Artisan Red paint finish – one of the nicest vehicle colours I have seen in a long time. Combined with the CX-80’s striking good looks this car is a real head-turner.
The Mazda CX-80 that I tested is powered by a potent 2.5 litre petrol engine, supported by a plug-in 17.8 kWh battery which together deliver a powerful 327 bhp, giving brisk, sporty performance. Its 0-60mph time is around 6.5 seconds, with a top speed where allowed of 121mph.
This big 4×4 has an electric-only range of 38 miles, so its appeal to the high mileage driver will be limited. But for drivers with low daily mileage and a home charging point it’s a serious contender.
The CX-80 handles exceptionally well for a big car, with an intelligent drive system backed up with sensible suspension settings. Cornering is sure footed with no body roll, and you get a comfortable ride. A drive mode selector allows you to move between standard, sporty, off-road or towing.
The engine provides superb performance throughout the speed range, delivering power smoothly but with plenty of mid-range pull. It’s helped by Mazda’s pleasant eight-speed automatic transmission.
Performance engines can have a penalty with unimpressive fuel consumption, particularly in big vehicles. However, this hybrid Mazda manages a combined 176.6 mpg in mixed driving. The Mazda’s frugality is appreciated, as filling the big 70 litre tank can be an expensive exercise.
The interior is well laid out and spacious with three rows of seats. The third row reduces luggage capacity to 258 litres, but with seats folded this can be increased to 1971 litres. The tailgate is electrically powered and hands-free.
I tested the all-wheel drive Homura Plus specification and equipment levels are generous. Standard features on this version include smart 20 inch alloys, a good 12-speaker Bose sound system with Apple CarPlay, USB ports and a clear navigation system with a 12.3-inch colour display, steering wheel-mounted controls, panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera and 360 degree monitoring, an excellent three-zone climate control system with rear vents, leather upholstery, and electric windows all round. You also get ambient lighting, radar cruise control, lane assist, cross traffic alert front and rear, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention alert and rain sensing wipers.
This is a solid and enjoyable vehicle that combines superb good looks, capability, practicality and high specification. The vehicle I tested comes at £55,580 on the road which undercuts many of its established rivals in this sector. that gorgeous Artisan Red finish comes at an extra £900.
