Mazda CX-80 PHEV review

The Mazda CX-80 is the brand’s biggest UK car to date, but how does this seven-seat plug-in hybrid measure up to its rivals?

Mazda, it’s fair to say, is one of the brands taking the shift to EVs cautiously.

It currently only has one electric model on sale – the MX-30 – with the Mazda 6e coming to Europe later this year and the UK in early 2026. Its longer-term plan is for a full-scale launch of battery electric models between 2028 and 2030, in what it calls the ‘dawn’ of the EV era.

But it’s not against electrification and is embracing hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology even as it ventures into uncharted territory and enters the seven-seat SUV market for the first time with the CX-80.

It’s a fairly small segment to enter for the first time but Mazda reckons it’s a good place to win over new customers to the brand. But does the CX-80 have what it takes to compete with ICE and EV alternatives?

Design, interior and technology

The Mazda CX-80 is a brand new car but from a distance it looks very similar to an existing model – the slightly smaller CX-60.

That’s not a bad thing. Mazda’s designers are masters of subtle style and, like the CX-60, the CX-80 uses a few simple lines to sketch out its shape. The showiest element is undoubtedly the grille which, on this 1.9m-wide car is a big old chunk of real estate. It’s not as gaudy as some brands’ ‘faces’ but it is pretty pronounced. That’s true of the rest of the design, too. Mazda’s simple design language is tasteful and calm but can’t disguise the fact that this is a tall-sided, 5m-long SUV.

The large footprint outside translates to a large passenger space inside. Like any big SUV, the CX-80 feels long but it’s the car’s width that is particularly apparent. From the broad but slightly unsupportive seats to the huge centre console and sweeping dash, everything emphasises the extra space the CX-80 offers over the CX-60.

Front seat passengers are well provided for, and the second row is perfectly spacious for even tall adults, but letting them stretch out fully leaves the rear feeling incredibly cramped. You can sacrifice some middle-row legroom to create more space for the rear seat passengers but the back row remains best kept for children. Some rivals, such as the Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008 struggle similarly but cars like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento feel more spacious all round.

As well as the standard seven-seat option, the Mazda CX-80 comes in two six-seat configurations. One features a slim walk-through gap giving slightly easier access to the rear seats. The other, more appealing one, fills the space between the seats with a broad, practical centre console and arm rests.

Design-wise, the CX-80 follows Mazda’s usual simple, high-quality approach. All the controls and switchgear feel worthy of a premium price tag, and there’s a logical layout plus proper physical controls for all the most important functions.

Inside, the CX-80 comes in three main trim levels, each with quite different interior ambiences.

The Takumi trim is bright and fresh with cream leather seats and a white fabric dashboard. That material with its unique ‘dropped stitch’ motif on the dash is more appealing than the shiny faux leather of the Homura’s dash. On the flip side, its maple wood elements have a strange jaundiced hue, and the pin-striped black of the Homura is more attractive.

All models come with a head-up display and a 12.3-inch infotainment system. This can be controlled via a smart rotary controller or by touch and gives access to the usual phone mirroring, navigation and other connected services. It works well enough but lacks the visual polish and some of the more advanced features of rival offerings.

Motor and performance

Despite the prevailing market, the Mazda CX-80 comes with a diesel option  – a massive 3.3-litre inline six. But here at EV Powered, we’re concerned with the plug-in hybrid model.

This uses a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine and a 129kW electric motor to provide 323bhp and all-wheel drive. A 17.8kWh battery provides an official EV-only driving range of 38 miles and helps Mazda declare WLTP efficiency of an unlikely 176mpg.

On the road, over a route of very mixed driving, taking in everything from narrow village streets to twisting rural A roads and long, lazy motorways, I saw a real-world average of 45.7mpg.

The 323bhp of the powertrain certainly gives the Mazda an advantage over the likes of the 192bhp Peugeot or 250bhp Hyundai, and will get the 2.3-tonne CX-80 to 62mph in just 6.8 seconds. Like a lot of PHEVs, though, rapid acceleration is accompanied by lots of engine noise and transmission dithering.

A slightly softer right foot, however, reveals a pleasantly refined drive train that neatly balances the petrol and electric elements and shifts seamlessly through its eight-speed transmission.

A more relaxed approach also suits the car’s driving dynamics better. While it grips well and rides pretty smoothly, the CX-80s height and weight is pretty obvious on tight roads. Conversely, this means it feels rock solid and composed cruising along the motorway, even if there’s a bit of wind and tyre noise.

Seven-seat SUVs seem to come married to the idea of towing things and the CX-80 can haul trailers of up to 2,500kg. That’s better than most PHEV or EV rivals, although the more expensive Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90 can match it.

Mazda CX-80 price and specification

Prices for the Mazda CX-80 start at £49,670 for the entry level Exclusive-line grade, rising to £56,420 for the top-spec Takumi Plus.

That puts it in the same region as the Hyundai Santa Fe but more expensive than the Peugeot 5008 PHEV, the plugless Nissan X-Trail or Skoda Kodiaq. It’s also in the same ballpark as the Volvo XC60 PHEV – a car Mazda references as a rival, despite only coming as a five-seater.

Seven seats are standard across the CX-80 range, and the different six-seat configurations are offered on the Homura and Takumi trims for around £750.

Every CX-80 features the sort of equipment that is now expected on a £50k+ car. So leather upholstery is standard, as are heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control and wireless smart phone mirroring. LED headlights, a power tailgate and all-round parking sensors are also fitted, although a parking camera doesn’t feature on the entry-grade car.

The higher trims bring nicer upholstery, 20-inch wheels instead of entry-spec 18s, heated rear seats, privacy glass and rear window blinds as well as a 360-degree parking camera and three-zone climate control.

Verdict

Entering the seven-seat SUV market for the first time seems like a bold move for Mazda, but it’s made a decent stab at it with the CX-80.

Like the CX-60, it’s positioned as a slightly posher alternative to the mainstream and, for the most part, it works, providing a new contender in this small but important market.

It shows all the usual Mazda qualities of a classy exterior and interior design, and premium-grade construction, as well as offering competitive space and pricing. The PHEV powertrain, however, isn’t particularly groundbreaking and offers middling efficiency and refinement that is slightly at odds with the rest of the premium ambience.

Mazda CX-80 PHEV Homura Plus

• Price: £55,480 (£56,120 as tested)
• Powertrain: 2.5-litre turbo petrol, two electric motors
• Battery: 18.3kWh
• Power: 323bhp
• Torque: 369lb ft
• Top speed: 121mph
• 0-62mph: 6.8 seconds
• EV range: 38 miles
• WLTP weighted fuel economy: 176.6mpg
• Consumption: 2.5m/kWh
• Charging: up to 7.2kW