Not just electric: Mazda CX-80 – new sizes and luxury drives

Mazda completes its model range with a large flagship SUV. ntv.de has already had the opportunity to check out the CX-80 hovercraft and do a seat test.

In fact, a little sadness emerges when looking at the new Mazda CX-80. Knowing full well that there’s an option for a massive six-cylinder diesel under the hood, I can’t suppress the thought of how this engine would look in a classy sedan. But most of the world’s paying car customers want SUVs and Mazda will have to be smart enough to ignore that demand.

So – the community of fans of large models of Mazda can at least be happy that the SUV, which is about five meters long, is at least attractive offered. And with the beautiful appearance of the chrome window, it even includes a touch of noblesse – at least with the dark red color “Artisan Red”, which is available only for the CX-80 and which is of course also worn by the presented presenter. here. There’s also a radiator grille with an attractive chrome surround and lots of eye-catching vertical spines – it certainly looks something.

Things are luxurious in the CX-80

And inside? Basically, Mazda developers have created the CX-60 in the XL model which is based on its younger brother visually and technically. The interior is equally popular with brand experts. The monitor, which is easy to use and see, sits high on the center console. But not the greatest, as is common today. “You can go too far,” Mazda seems to think. The Japanese also only allow touch if, for example, Apple CarPlay is activated. Otherwise the control in the central console must be used – or the volume control.

And car manufacturers from Hiroshima also claim a sense of aesthetics and tradition. An instrument cluster as a screen, yes of course – but not just as an empty screen with lots of numbers, but always with several virtual circles. Maple trees and the so-called “Musubu” seams also create extravagance.

What also strikes you when you try it is the abundance of space. In front and especially in the second row, where there is a lot of space between the knees and the backs of the front seat. But the issue of accommodation is more complicated with the CX-80. The customer can choose between different seating configurations. The second row is equipped with a full-length bench or two individual seats. This means the Mazda can transport six or seven people. Of course, the armchairs (including the bench, by the way) can be moved in height by twelve centimeters.

As for the two folded seats in the third row, Mazda promises balance for people with a body height of 1.70 meters. You have to test it in practice. And how you can go back depends on whether you want a middle console between the two back seats or choose a variant with a bundle.

Diesel is not out yet

Mazda leaves its customers spoiled for choice when it comes to engine options. Plug-in hybrid or diesel? That is the question. In the latter case, it is a 3.3-liter expansion of the in-line six with 254 hp and 550 Newton meters of torque. The CX-80 does not do less than that (the CX-60 is also available with a smooth 200 hp). And the diesel is a real high-tech engine with special combustion technology – more on that in the driving report later (autumn) – with an electric motor working on the input shaft of the transmission with 17 hp and 153 meters of Newtons of torque. It gets juice from a battery with a capacity of 0.3 kWh, fed mainly by impulse recovery.

As a second option, the Japanese offer the CX-80, similar to its younger brother, with a plug-in hybrid line. A 2.5 liter four-cylinder petrol engine (192 hp) and a 175 hp electric unit work together to produce a system output of 327 hp. It is supposed to go faster than the diesel (6.8 instead of 8.4 seconds to 100 km/h), but Mazda engineers allowed the diesel engine to run at a speed of 219 km/h, while the PHEV put only 195 things. And with electricity only, the top speed is 140 km/h until the battery is about 18 kWh empty. By the way, the WLTP electric range is an average of 60 kilometers.

Things should be fine in the CX-80

But for now it’s all still a theory. Just like Mazda’s promise to give the CX-80 a milder tuning with revised double wishbones at the front and more links at the rear axle than Mazda’s previous range offers. What makes you sit up and take notice is the feature that, as part of the stability control, can implement brake intervention on the rear wheels to reduce the lateral tendency of the body. However, Mazda engineers do without active chassis gadgets such as all-wheel steering or level control. This kind of advanced technology would suit business class well, especially since the Japanese consider themselves to be in the first league.

Before ntv.de says goodbye to the CX-80 today, which the Mazda PR team presented at the local development center in Oberursel, Hesse, a few more messages for practical customers: The hardware store group can expect a high standard. loading volume of 1,971 liters and trailer load of 2.5 tons. You can work with that. Goodbye, CX-80. In the next opportunity, the big tourist will have to prove himself on the road instead of just in the studio.