Mazda CX-80 long-term test: report 1

The car Mazda CX-80 2.5 e-Skyactiv PHEV AWD Homura Run by Steve Huntingford, editor

Why it's here To see if Mazda's flagship SUV is worth a place on the shortlist of anyone looking for a frugal yet upmarket seven-seater

Needs to Combine comfort and refinement with a classy and family-friendly interior, and good real-world efficiency

Mileage 842 List price £53,230 Best price £53,230 Price as tested £56,080 Test economy 199.9mpg Official economy 176.6mpg Options fitted Convenience and Driver Assistance Pack (£1950) and Soul Red Crystal paint (£900)

3 August 2025 – Quality and quantity

The idea that space is the ultimate luxury has been expressed by philosophers, architects and even a pastry chef. And if it’s a sentiment you agree with, chances are you’ll love my new Mazda CX-80, given that this seven-seat SUV is about as roomy as the average airship hangar.

But, at the same time, if you think luxury has more to do with craftsmanship and material quality, this car’s interior should still win you over, because the standard of assembly is exceptional, and all of the major surfaces are made from swish plastics or covered in leather.

True, Mazda’s quality has long been good, so this isn’t really surprising. However, I find it refreshing that it’s maintaining its standards at a time when a lot of premium brands aren’t; for example, the CX-80’s interior shames that of the BMW X3 I ran previously.

Another example (that I applaud) of Mazda not blindly following trends with this car is that it has retained separate, physical climate controls instead of squeezing them onto the touchscreen where they’d be fiddlier.

Meanwhile, the infotainment system can not only be operated by pressing the 12.8in screen on top of the dashboard, but also via an accurate Amazon Alexa-based voice control system and a physical rotary dial between the front seats that minimises distraction when you’re cycling through menus.

Every version of the CX-80 comes with leather upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, three-zone climate control and a head-up display that projects key info – such as your speed and sat-nav instructions – onto the windscreen.

I, though, upgraded to Homura trim (the second rung of four), which brings softer, Nappa leather upholstery, electrically adjustable and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats and 20in alloy wheels (in place of the 18s you get with the entry-level car).

In addition, I added the £1950 Convenience and Driver Assistance Pack, primarily because this includes adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree parking camera. But, as a bonus, ticking this option box has brought me adaptive LED headlights, rear privacy class, a wireless phone charging pad and a 1500W power socket, which can keep a laptop topped up on the go.

As for what powers the CX-80 itself, Mazda offers a muscular 3.3-litre six-cylinder diesel unit, which impressed us in a recent group test. However, because my commute is on congested urban roads, I instead decided to go for the plug-in hybrid model.

This combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a total output of 323bhp and a relatively swift 0-62mph time of 6.8sec. Alternatively, you can run purely on electric power for up to 38 miles (officially). Yes, that figure is a little disappointing when you consider that our current Plug-in Hybrid of the Year, the MG HS, can manage 75 miles, but it's still enough for me to get to work and back without burning any petrol or plugging in.

Indeed, so far, the trip computer suggests I’m averaging 199.9mpg, which is even better than the official fuel economy (176.6mpg). But it will be interesting to see what I get on longer drives, when I have to make greater use of the engine.

If there’s an area where the CX-80 isn’t living up to expectations at this early stage, it’s the driving experience. You see, Mazda has a reputation for building cars that are fun to drive, but while it would obviously be unrealistic to expect this 2.2-tonne SUV to handle like an MX-5 sports car, I do think it’s a shame the steering is both numb and unnecessarily heavy.

At the same time, the ride isn’t as plush as I’d hoped, with my car making more of a meal of bumps and potholes than the diesel CX-80 we tested – although the fact that had smaller wheels might well be a contributing factor.

Still, even here it’s not all bad news, because body lean through corners is pretty well controlled, and the car never displays the sort of floatiness that tends to induce travel sickness.

As a result, I remain hopeful that in the months ahead the CX-80 will prove itself to be a fine family car. But whatever my final verdict turns out to be, this is the space where you'll find it.

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