Mazda CX-80
New from £50,205 / £551 p/m
Is the Mazda CX-80 SUV a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Erin Baker
"Large families rejoice: Mazda has finally brought a seven-seater SUV to the party. The CX-80 is in many ways a stretched CX-60, and comes with either a petrol plug-in hybrid system or a pure diesel engine. This is a competitor to the Kia Sorento/Hyundai Santa Fe, both in pricing and space, which may prove problematic for Mazda as both are excellent cars. Mazda offers the CX-80 in five trim levels, and with seven seats or six, for those wanting more space in the middle row."
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Running costs for a Mazda CX-80
A proper seven-seat SUV for under £50k, with the top-of-the-range model sitting under £60k? Where do we sign? There are very few extra-large SUVs on sale with this amount of kit, for this price. The powertrains on offer give drivers more potential savings: the plug-in hybrid will be good for those who pay Benefit In Kind (BIK) tax on a company car because it has relatively low emissions and sits at 8 per cent BIK, and it benefits those with a home charger, who can keep the battery topped up at very low cost. The diesel, meanwhile, offers excellent fuel economy for those who face long annual mileages. Residual values for Mazdas are normally high, based on excellent build quality and the reliability inherent in the brand.
Reliability of a Mazda CX-80
See above. You can’t beat Japanese engineering … unless you happen to be Kia or Hyundai, both of outperformed Mazda in the What Car? Reliability Survey 2024. Still, Mazda finished 16th out of 31 brands, which is good enough for consumer confidence and the Mazda network seems very welcoming and responsive to owner concerns. You get the bog-standard 60,000-mile warranty, which is a bit disappointing when faced with five years on the rivalling Hyundai and seven years on the Kia.
Safety for a Mazda CX-80
For reasons best known to itself, Mazda has installed permanent four-wheel drive in all versions of the CX-80. Impressive as it is we can't see many owners ever needing it to get out of muddy fields, over to ski resorts or up wet slipways, and the pay-off is more weight, more things to go wrong and an annoying central transmission tunnel carving up the car’s floor. But, it does give you extra traction and peace of mind. In terms of tech even the Exclusive-line base trim level gives you a parking camera and sensors front and rear, which is welcome, plus blind-spot monitoring (hurrah), emergency lane-keep assistance (ugh), lane-departure warning (ditto - turn it off), and traffic-sign recognition (meh). If you want adaptive cruise control (truly brilliant), you need Homura Plus.
How comfortable is the Mazda CX-80
The CX-80 is thankfully a proper seven-seater like the more expensive Volvo XC90 and not one of those '5+2' types with a couple of occasional seats in the boot for small children. However, you can feel the price difference between this and the Volvo given the doors shut with a tinny clack, and the whole car feels lacking in the weighty quality you get from the sound deadening and better materials in more expensive cars. Even the Sorento feels like a step up in quality. Storage space beneath the central front arm rest is meanwhile disappointingly shallow (no room for a drinks bottle which is really poor in such a massive car), presumably because of that stupid four-wheel drive. But third-row passengers get cup holders and properly supportive seats, and there’s still room in the boot for a few bags of shopping. If you want the panoramic glass roof (which you will), you’ve got to climb up to the Homura Plus level, which also gives you privacy glass. The top trim, Takumi, gives you a lovely pale leather and wood interior, although there are still some fussy design bits like the oddly stitched horizontal slash across the dash which rather spoil the elegance.
Features of the Mazda CX-80
Mazda’s tech designers have made one very brilliant decision in keeping the big rotary button in the middle to control the central screen. This design works 10 times better than any touch-screen ever invented, given you can rest your hand by the knob, you don’t need to avert your gaze from the road for long and it is simple and easy. Big tick for not bowing to the pressure of the touch-screen brigade. The layout is very bog standard, though, and lacking the pretty colours or snazzy graphics of many car brands these days. But we'll take ease of use. We also like the standard heated steering wheel, smartphone connection and the climate controls and USB-C charging for rear passengers.
Power for a Mazda CX-80
It was less the power delivery that disappointed us, more the lack of finesse with which it arrives. In electric mode the petrol plug-in hybrid makes an unusual whine, and it doesn’t set off with the runway smoothness associated with most electrically assisted cars. Many cheaper rivals manage to be silent and far smoother in battery mode, which is one of the benefits. The electric range, at a max 37 miles, feels almost pointless in a seven-seater as well. If you fill the car with people, you’ll be lucky to get 20 miles on electric driving out of it, which is low these days when some hybrids offer 60 miles on electricity. The diesel likewise seemed unnecessarily noisy, with too much vibration inside the car. Mazda normally engineers its cars to steer, corner, accelerate and brake like a dream, so the CX-80 is a little disappointing here. But the diesel is a six-cylinder 3.0-litre job with 250 horsepower, which is unusual in this anti-diesel age and welcome. 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds is a meaningful benefit, and you should get well into the 40s for miles per gallon.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
£711.42
Monthly payment
£4,268.54
Initial payment
- 7 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- 2.5 litres
£724.80
Monthly payment
£4,348.83
Initial payment
- 7 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- 3.3 litres
£708.22
Monthly payment
£4,249.35
Initial payment
- 7 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- 3.3 litres
£732.90
Monthly payment
£4,397.37
Initial payment
- 7 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- 3.3 litres
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Mazda CX-80 SUV. This may vary between trim levels.
- 12.3in Colour Centre Display with Touch-Screen Functionallity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 12.3in Colour TFT Display
- 12V Outlet - x1 Front and x1 Luggage Compartment
- AM-FM-DAB Radio with 8 Speakers
- Amazon Alexa Car Integration
- Integrated Bluetooth
- Mazda Connected Services
- Mazda Hybrid Navigation System
- USB-C Inputs - x2 Front - x2 Second Row and x2 Third Row
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- e-Call with GPS
- 20in Alloy Wheels - Silver
- Auto Dimming Drivers Door Mirror
- B-Pillar and C-Pillar Garnish - Gloss Black
- Body Coloured Electrically-Adjustable - Heated - Auto Power Folding Door Mirrors
- Electric Windows - Front and Rear with One-Touch Auto Down - Up
- Emergency Tyre Repair Kit
- Front Grille - Gloss Black - Bar Type
- Front Signature Wing - Bright
- Front Wing - Side Garnish - Bright
- Front Wiper De-Icer
- Kodo Turn Signal
- Low Washer Fluid Warning Lamp
- Lower Bumper Wheel Arch and Side Mouldings - Satin Black
- Roof Rails - Bright Finish
- ABS - Anti Lock Braking System
- Airbags - Front Central
- Airbags - Front Driver Knee
- Airbags - Front Passenger Deactivation System
- Airbags - Front and Rear Curtain Airbags
- Airbags - Front and Rear Side
- Airbags - Single Stage Front Driver and Passenger Airbags
- Coming Home-Leaving Home Lights
- DSC - Dynamic Stability Control
- Distance and Speed Alert
- Driver Monitoring
- Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold Function and Auto-Disengage Function
- Emergency Lane-Keeping
- Emergency Stop Signalling System - ESS
- Front Cross Traffic Alert - FCTA
- Head-on Traffic Avoidance Assist
- Hill Descent Control
- Hill Launch Assist - HLA
- ISOFIX Child Seat Anchorage - Attached to Outer Rear Seats
- Internal Combustion Engine Sound Emulator
- Kinematic Posture Control
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning System
- Pre-Crash Safety - Smart Brake Support - SBS
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert - RCTA
- Remote Central Locking with Deadlocking and Automatic Door Lock when Driving
- Road Keep Assist
- Seatbelt Reminder Audible Warning
- Smart Brake Support - Rear
- Smart Keyless Entry
- Thatcham Accredited Alarm and Immobiliser
- Trailer Stability Control
- Vehicle Exit Warning
- AC Charging - 2-Phase 7.2kW
- Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA)
- Remote Pre-Heating and Cooling
- Type 2 Mode 3 Cable for AC Charging via Home or Public Charge Points
- i-Stop System
- Blind Spot Assist
- Blind Spot Monitoring
- Cruise Control with Manual Speed Adjustment and Adjustable Speed Limiter
- Driver Attention Alert - DAA
- Front and Rear Parking Sensors
- Mi-Drive
- Multimedia Commander
- Rear Seat Alert
- Reversing Camera with Dynamic Lines and Trailer Connection Support View
- Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA)
- Trip Computer
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
- Windscreen Projected Colour Active Driving Display - HUD
- Bright Interior Trim Styling Accents
- Centre Console Panel - Mesh Metal Film
- Dashboard Panel - Black Vinyl Leather with Silver Accents
- Door Panel Trim - Black Vinyl Leather with Mesh Metal Film Inlay
- Door Pocket Illumination and Front and Rear Door Courtesy Lights
- Door Pockets - Driver - Front Passenger and Two Rear
- Driver - Front Passengers and Two Rear Grab Handles with Rear Coat Hooks
- Frameless Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror
- Front Centre Storage with Two Cupholders
- Front Rain-Sensing Wipers with Adjustable Speed
- Glovebox with Interior Illumination
- Grey Roof Lining
- Heated Front Seats with 3-Stage Settings
- Integrated Sunshade - Fitted to Rear Doors
- LED Interior Lighting - Front and Rear
- Leather-Wrapped Gear Shift
- Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel with Dark Stitching
- Luggage Compartment - LED Illumination
- Luggage Compartment - Retractable Tonneau Cover
- Power Liftgate with Hands Free Function
- Power Start-Stop Button
- Rear Seats - 60-40 Split Fold Down
- Roof Mounted Sunglasses Holder
- Seatback Pocket - Driver and Front Passenger
- Seats (2nd Row) - Three Height-adjustable Head Restraints
- Seats (3rd Row) - Two Head Restraints
- Seats - Drivers Manual Tilt - Slide - Recline and Height Adjustment
- Seats - Front Passenger Manual Slide - Recline and Height Adjustment
- Seats - Third Row 50-50 Split Fold
- Seats 2nd Row - 3-Seat Bench Featuring Folding Centre Armrest Equipped with Two Cup Holders
- Seats 2nd Row - Manual Slide and Recline
- Seats 3rd Row - 2-Seat Bench
- Steering Wheel - Heated
- Steering Wheel - Manual Telescopic and Tilt Adjust
- Steering Wheel - Paddle Shift
- Steering Wheel Mounted Audio and Bluetooth Controls
- Sunvisors - Drivers and Front Passengers with Covered Vanity Mirror and Drivers Ticket Holder
- Three-Zone Climate Control Air-Conditioning with Rear Air-Vents for 2nd and 3rd Row
- Top-Down Centre Console Illumination with Front and Rear Footwell Lighting
- Headlights - Dusk-Sensing Lights
- Headlights - Washers
- High Beam Control
- LED Headlights with Automatic Headlight Levelling
- LED Rear Signature Combination Lights
- Signature LED Daytime Running Lights
Your questions answered
Monthly rentals ('payments') are not an offer of credit. Payments are based on offers available today which may be withdrawn or varied at any time in the future without notice.
Contract Hire ('Leasing') is subject to status and approval and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Vehicle must be returned with no more than fair wear and tear to avoid further charges. You will not own the vehicle. Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply.
Autotrader Limited (Firm Reference Number: 735711) is a credit broker and not a lender. Autotrader Limited introduces you to Autotrader Leasing Limited, which acts as a credit broker in its own right. Autotrader Leasing Limited, No.3 Circle Square, 3 Hawkshaw Street, Manchester, M1 7BL (Firm Reference Number: 630748) may go on to introduce you to one of a limited number of leasing companies. Autotrader Leasing Limited will typically receive a commission or other benefits from the leasing company as a result of this introduction.
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