Mazda CX-80 2.5 PHEV Executive Line review

“Most people remember Mazda’s
catchy rhymes-with-Boom Boom
advertising jingle. You may not
have heard the Zoom Zoom catchline
for a while, but Mazda is still making
cars drivers can enjoy...”

FOR MANY YEARS the Zoom Zoom ident accompanied every single launch of the Japanese brand's driver-focused sports cars and hatchbacks. These days, though, Mazda is much more about family cars and SUV models.

Family-friendly or not, there is something sporty about the way the new CX-80 SUV drives. Considering its enormous size — it's the biggest model in Mazda's UK range — the CX-80 has an athletic feel. Which, for an SUV weighing over 2.2 tonnes, is a real achievement.

So exactly what is the CX-80? It's the first seven-seater in Mazda's UK line-up for many years in a role once long ago performed by the Mazda5 MPV. The CX-80 is unashamedly big: at close to five metres long, it's the size of a long-wheelbase limo. And measuring 2.18 metres wide from mirror to mirror, you may have trouble negotiating tight spots in one.

But the trade-off is huge interior space. Up front, the wide cabin and lofty roof give you plenty of room, while the second row is very generous too.

“Mazda’s CX-80 SUV
is an impressive seven-
seater with a sporty
touch but it’s a left-field
choice in a market
populated by very
talented rivals...”

Mazda fits a third row of two seats behind these, but they're best for kids: if you're taller than 1.7 metres, your head will touch the roof. Oh, and there's almost no space for your feet in row three either. As you'd expect, with all seven seats in use there's minimal luggage space. However, fold down the rearmost pair of seats — a very easy job — and you'll still have five seats plus an enormous 687-litre boot to play with.

What about that sporty drive I mentioned? I tested the PHEV (plug-in hybrid) version that combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 129kW electric motor and a 17.8kWh battery. Total power is generous, at 327bhp. Unsurprising, then, that it's so eager when you put your foot down — 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds.

That said, you really need to hoof the accelerator to get the best performance, and when you do that the eight-speed automatic gearbox sends the revs right up to the rev-counter's redline (nearing 7,000rpm) with an accompanying cacophony of noise. Moreover, the electric motor provides its assistance in an inconsistent way so full power takes a while to come on stream. Overall, the PHEV powertrain feels more suited to gentler driving.

Which is why the 3.3-litre six-cylinder diesel may be the better choice. Although it has a lot less power (254bhp) and a correspondingly slower 0-62mph time (8.4 seconds), it doesn't feel slow. Indeed, with its superior torque, it pulls very willingly indeed. And being an inline six, the engine is extremely smooth and unexpectedly refined for a diesel. Overall, I prefer the diesel to the PHEV. The downside? It's about Ł2,500 more expensive and sits in a higher tax bracket.

This isn't necessarily a car you'd buy to hustle along back roads. But the CX-80 does its job well here, too. The steering is accurate and feelsome, the suspension finely tuned to deliver keen handling and the all-wheel drive system offers excellent grip. Sure, there's some body roll. Overall, though, this is one of the sportiest big SUVs on the market.

One demerit is ride quality, at least in the versions I drove, which were Exclusive-Line models fitted with the optional 20-inch wheels. These wheels are big and heavy, so thump over bumps; an uncomfortable feeling that's exacerbated by the firm suspension. I suspect the standard 18-inchers would serve up a superior ride.

“Good news is the
close-to-hand and
fuss-free rotary wheel
to control the
touchscreen — safer and
you can keep your eyes
on the road...

The cabin is nicely put together, with a solid feel and pleasant materials (except for some hard plastics in lower areas). The main central display screen is mounted high up but — unusually these days — it isn't a touchscreen. Instead, you use a rotary wheel in the centre console, which works very well and doesn't require you to take your eyes off the road as much as a touchscreen does. That noted, after extensive scrolling through a dense thicket of sub-menus, I never did succeed in turning the super-annoying speed limit warning bongs off, despite unticking said box. It's one of the unavoidable 'joys' of all new cars in 2025!

The CX-80 PHEV is capable of driving in EV (electric-only) mode for up to 38 miles. That's not a lot by modern PHEV standards and denudes the potential for great fuel economy. In fact, on my test drive I averaged low-30s mpg. The diesel was notably better, in the mid-30s.

The CX-80 is an impressive seven-seater with a sporty touch but it's a left-field choice in a market populated by very talented rivals such as Hyundai's Santa Fe, the Kia Sorento and Mercedes GLB. Bottom line? That old Cockney saying: You pays yer money and takes yer choice! ~ Chris Rees

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