On the road in Laois: The new Mazda CX-80 is a 'delightful revelation'

Mazda were already represented within the luxury SUV segment by their CX-60 but the CX-80 while looking similar and sharing most components differs in that it's 250mm longer and boosts a full seven seats or in Homura specification a six seat layout with individual chairs.

There are five trim levels to choose from, namely, Exclusive-Line, Homura, Homura Plus, Takumi and Takumi plus. I spent some 500km behind the wheel of the Homura Plus model to see what this luxurious new Mazda is really like. Prices start at a competitive €61,380.

First Impressions

It's an imposing looking machine with a profile not unlike a BMW X3. I love the style with the large bold front grille and neat slim LED headlights. The side profile does have a lot of metal and I felt it could have done with a black or dark trim strip along the base of the doors to disguise its size a bit. The rear is really smart and the whole design really does look very good indeed.

What’s it like inside?

Slip inside and one is immediately impressed by the look and feel of the cabin. This interior is as good if not better in design and execution than some premium German brands. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO

There is lots of really high quality leather upholstery, chrome detailing and attractive trim. It simply looks fabulous and makes the cabin of the new CX-80 a lovely place to be whether as a driver or a passenger.

Standard equipment beats any other rival really and is just too long a list to include here. Highlights however include facial recognition, which allows multiple drivers to store all their preferences for climate, audio, seat and mirror position and so on. Upon recognition it all magically adjusts to your settings.

I was most impressed with the dashboard layout. I really like the digital analogue style dials, which are both clear and classy to look at. The head -up display works very well and the functionality of all the switches and instruments is superb.
Well done Mazda too on bestowing the CX-80 with a full bank of switches under the centre screen and further praise for the excellent rotary controller which operates that screen. ( it is also a touch screen for some functions if you wish). The panoramic glass roof with a front section glass sunroof bathes the cabin in light.

Accommodation is not lacking either with masses of head and legroom both front and rear and a large load area accessed via the electric rear tailgate. Access to the final row of seats is easy thanks to the clear folding mechanism of the middle row captains chairs.

READ MORE: Laois featured in new edition of William Bulfin's travelogue 2025 

What’s under the bonnet?
A 2.5 litre petrol engine supported by a battery powered 173 bhp electric motor giving a combined power output of 323 bhp, which endows this pretty big Mazda with a good turn of speed. 0 to 100km/h takes a claimed 6.8 seconds while top speed is 200km/h.
The CX-80 uses an 8-speed auto transmission to drive all four wheels. I found real electric range to bearound 45km in mixed pricing conditions. As with all PHEV’s you need to be disciplined and plug in at every opportunity to get the best from thecar. On the fuel consumption side it averaged 5.9 litres per 100km.

What’s it like to drive?
In short, very nice indeed. Its smooth and quiet with one exception, when you demand acceleration from the engine, it can sound a bit harsh at times. Otherwise this is a serenely quiet car. From a driver's standpoint it rides and handles very well. Passengers will love the roomy well equipped cabin.

Verdict
I really liked the new Mazda CX-80. Its beautifully built and matches or even beats many others. It rides and handles well and it's superbly equipped. This new CX-80 goes to the top of my ‘definitely recommended” list! It really is a superb top quality package with an individuality sadly lacking in its many rivals. Model tested costs €69,280.