2025 Mazda CX-80 Review

Sitting at the pointy end of Mazda’s latest-generation SUV lineup, the CX-80 promises tonnes of family-friendly practicality with a reasonably affordable base model and some super premium variants at the top of the range.

While the names of Mazda’s latest-gen SUV range can be a bit confusing, you can think of the CX-80 as a slightly larger take on the CX-60 with a three-row cabin, without the excessive footprint of the CX-90 flagship.

It’s the cheapest seven-seat SUV in the Mazda lineup, though it also has no shortage of competition in the ever-competitive midsize SUV segment, meaning the Mazda CX-80 has its work cut out to make a lasting impression with Australian buyers.

Just how well does the Mazda CX-80 perform under the family test and hold up against its toughest rivals? Let’s take a look to find out.

Mazda CX-80 Competition

How Much Does the Mazda CX-80 Cost?

Prices for the MY25 Mazda CX-80 range kick off from $54,950 for the entry-level CX-80 G40e Pure, while stepping up to the CX-80 G40e Touring brings the price to $61,950.

The CX-80 D50e Touring is priced at $63,950 while the CX-80 G40e GT wears a $68,950 price tag and the D50e GT is priced at $74,150.

The Mazda CX-80 P50e Touring is priced at $75,000 while prices for the CX-80 D50e Azami stand at $76,150.

The CX-80 P50e GT is priced at $82,000 while the range-topping CX-80 P50e Azami is priced at $87,200.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Mazda CX-80 G40e Pure Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Mazda CX-80 Have?

Mazda’s entry-level CX-80 Pure comes riding on 18-inch alloys and receives LED headlights with LED daytime running lamps, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view monitor, cloth upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, dual-zone climate control, a head-up display, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, hill descent control, paddle shifters and a tyre repair kit.

Stepping up to the CX-80 Touring adds leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a wireless smartphone charger, heated front seats, a powered boot lift and an upgraded 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster for P50e variants.

Upgrading to Mazda’s CX-80 GT variants adds 20-inch alloys alongside adaptive LED headlights, a hands-free powered boot lift, a panoramic sunroof, body-coloured wheel arches, heated first and second-row seats and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Finally, the range-topping Mazda CX-80 Azami picks up bespoke 20-inch alloys, bright signature LED headlights, black Nappa leather upholstery with ventilated front seats and an ambient lighting system.

Mazda CX-80 Connectivity & Infotainment Features

Sitting as a latest-generation vehicle, the CX-80 is packaged with a lengthy list of technology and a great display sitting atop the dashboard.

The entry-level CX-80 Pure and mid-range Touring variants receive a 10.25-inch infotainment system, while the GT and Azami pick up a larger 12.3-inch unit.

Mazda’s displays look great, offering bright colours and crisp graphics thanks to the high-definition display, with easy navigation of menus with the help of the rotary dial; Mazda’s displays are in fact touchscreen, though they don’t always allow for touch inputs.

The CX-80’s infotainment systems are packaged with AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity and an eight-speaker sound system as standard.

Buyers stepping up to the CX-80 GT pick up a 12-speaker sound system courtesy of BOSE.

Mazda also bundles in a three-year subscription to the company’s Mazda Connected Services suite which offers emergency calls, stolen vehicle tracking, vehicle status and diagnostics, vehicle location tracking and remote locking.

Does the Mazda CX-80 Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

It should come as no surprise that Mazda’s latest generation SUV lineup offers the latest technology suite, which extends to wireless smartphone mirroring.

Every member of the MY25 Mazda CX-80 range offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, allowing you to simply step inside with your phone in your pocket while accessing your contacts, media and preferred navigation apps.

Is the Mazda CX-80 Comfortable to Drive?

One area that Mazda hopes the CX-80 to stand out from the ever-plentiful crowd of midsize SUVs is what’s lurking underneath that long, swooping bonnet.

That’s because buyers have the choice of a pair of six-cylinder petrol and diesel units, both of which receive mild-hybrid engine tech, as well as a flagship plug-in hybrid at the top of the range.

Mazda’s G40e picks up a 3.3-litre turbocharged inline-six petrol with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, throwing 209kW of power and 450Nm of torque to all four wheels.

Tick the box of the CX-80 D50e and you’ve got a 3.3-litre turbo-diesel inline-six pushing out 187kW of power and 550Nm of torque.

The CX-80 with the P50e plug-in hybrid engine option pairs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol with an electric motor and a 17.8kWh battery pack that produces 241kW of power and 500Nm of torque while offering 65km of all-electric range.

This means that the CX-80 has no shortage of both power and character in six-cylinder form, while the extra grunt, silky-smooth power delivery and added convenience of all-electric range gives buyers the best of both worlds approach to family motoring.

While the acceleration is smooth and linear, the CX-80’s transmission is prone to having some sharp, snappy moments between shifts, though these aren’t a major or frequent issue.

In terms of the daily driving experience, the CX-80’s smaller footprint means it’s far more user-friendly, particularly around town.

The steering is easy to throw around while you’re parking and its reduced dimensions over the CX-90 make it far more pleasant on a run through a packed car park.

Pick up the pace and you’ll notice the CX-80 rides on the firmer side.

This lends itself well to agile handling, making for a zippy SUV package for the city and a great option for tackling a series of corners on the open road, making it a surprisingly sporty package.

This performance does, however, detract from driving refinement on a rougher stretch of country road or a pimply section of road around town.

On the highway, the CX-80 is a beast - chewing up hundreds of kilometres with ease.

The steering is accurate, power is ample across the engine lineup and Mazda’s attention to reducing noise, vibration and harshness inside the cabin makes the CX-80 a particularly great long-distance tourer.

Is the Mazda CX-80 Fuel Efficient?

Fuel efficiency depends largely on which engine you’re opting for in the Mazda CX-80, though for a package this size, economy figures are pretty healthy overall thanks to a mix of mild and plug-in hybrid tech.

It will come as no surprise that the P50e with the added assistance of an electric motor fed by a 17.8kWh battery pack is the fuel economy hero of the CX-80 range, consuming a claimed 2.7L per 100km on a combined cycle.

These figures do, however, require the battery pack to be charged to provide as much assistance for the petrol unit as possible.

The CX-80 with the G40e petrol unit is rated at 8.4L/100km on a combined cycle, while the D50e with its 3.3-litre turbo-diesel inline-six is rated at a very healthy 5.2L/100km on a combined cycle.

• CX-80 G40e: 8.4L/100km

• CX-80 D50e: 5.2L/100km

• CX-80 P50e: 2.7L/100km

Is the Mazda CX-80 Practical and Spacious?

The Mazda CX-80 is effectively a stretched-out version of the CX-60 midsize SUV platform, which has allowed the company to squeeze in a third row of seats for seven people in total.

This makes it a great option for families in need of some extra seating capacity but are unwilling to go for a less user-friendly package, like the flagship CX-90 which feels absolutely massive in a tight-quarter car park.

How well has the stretched-out recipe worked? Pretty well, actually.

In terms of aesthetics, Mazda remains at the top of the class when it comes to classy interiors, offering even a base model that looks great and picks up some premium touches like a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The driving position is also fully adjustable while the tall roofline is more than accommodating to even the tallest of drivers while aiding great forward visibility; you’ll certainly need it over that long bonnet.

Storage options in the front of the CX-80 are solid, with a substantial centre console separating the driver and front passenger that offers a split folding armrest with tonnes of storage inside, a pair of covered cup holders and decent real estate in the tray hiding behind the gear lever.

Move to the second row and the CX-80 provides a great amount of legroom, with no issues in comfortably accommodating tall adults back here.

The windows aren’t quite as tall as the first row which eats up some of the light entering the cabin, though there isn’t much to complain about in terms of headroom, either.

Better yet, the CX-80’s second row sits on rails that allow it to slide back and forth, allowing you to apportion from more real estate for those in the third row or to stretch your legs if no one is seated behind you.

Amenities in the second row include a pair of USB-C charging ports, air vents, a folding armrest with cupholders and large bottle holders in the door sills, alongside ISOFIX anchors and three top tether mounts.

Over the CX-60 that it’s based on, the CX-80 has a wheelbase measuring 250mm longer, which means it’s the most cost-effective means of acquiring a seven-seat package in Mazda’s current lineup.

Climb into the third row and it’s clear to see that it’s more of a part-time seven-seat package, perfect for when you need two more seats for some friends or family members, with limited headroom and legroom on offer.

After all, it’s a seven-seat midsize SUV package and not a fully-fledged large SUV, so you’ve got to cut it some slack with respect to the third row.

How Big is the Mazda CX-80’s Boot?

The Mazda CX-80 has a pretty healthy amount of boot space for a seven-seat package.

When you take under-floor storage into account, the CX-80’s boot measures 258L with three rows standing in a seven-seat format.

Fold down the third row and you’ll extract 566L of boot space, putting it in the good-to-great portion of the midsize SUV segment.

Folding both rows of seats down means you’ve got 1,971L of cargo space when it’s time to lug around sports equipment or camping gear.

• Seven-Seat Boot Space: 258L

• Five-seat Boot Space: 566L

• Maximum Boot Space: 1,971L 

Is the Mazda CX-80 Safe?

All members of the CX-80 range come jam-packed with active safety equipment, with just a few things reserved for the range-topping Azami grade.

As standard, CX-80 buyers pick up forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking with junction assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection as well as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and both front & rear cross-traffic alerts.

The CX-80 range is also packaged with lane-keep assistance, a surround-view monitor with front & rear parking sensors, safe exit warnings, driver attention alerts, emergency lane-keep assist and tyre pressure monitoring.

Does the Mazda CX-80 Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Mazda CX-80 is yet to receive an official ANCAP safety rating, though the CX-60 that it’s based on has previously scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

While this rating does not apply to the CX-80, it’s a useful reference point of where the CX-80 would likely sit if it were to be put under the test by ANCAP.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 91%

• Child Occupant Protection: 93%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 89% 

• Safety Assist: 77% 

What Warranty Does the Mazda CX-80 Come With?

Mazda offers the CX-80 lineup with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty as well as five years of roadside assist.

The company also offers five-year, capped-price servicing packages for the CX-80 range which we’ll detail below for all three engine options.

Buyers opting for the P50e plug-in hybrid pick up an eight-year/160,000-kilometre warranty for the lithium-ion battery pack.

• CX-80 G40 (petrol) five-year capped price servicing: $3,469

• CX-80 D50e (diesel) five-year capped price servicing: $3,299

• CX-80 P50e (PHEV) five-year capped price servicing: $2,676

Service intervals for the CX-80 stand at 12 months or 15,000-kilometres, whichever elapses first.

Our Verdict: Is the Mazda CX-80 Worth it?

Mazda’s decision to include a seven-seat SUV package that shares a similar wheelbase to the smallest CX-60 makes the CX-80 a very worthwhile addition to the company’s lineup.

While it’s not a fully-fledged seven-seater, the CX-80 is still an immensely practical offering that offers a surprisingly sporty nature - but this does come at some detriment to comfort levels on a daily drive.

That said, it handles far better than the majority of its midsize SUV rivals while offering a lovely interior design and lengthy equipment lists even in the base model, which is a very admirable move.

We think that the entry-level G40e Pure is so well-equipped and benefits from all the great inherent aspects of the CX-80 platform that, for many buyers, upgrading to a higher trim level isn’t a necessity.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying specialists who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Mazda CX-80 Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Eight-year/160,000-kilometre battery warranty for plug-in hybrid variants

3. Three engine options

4. 2.7 - 8.4L/100km fuel economy figures (combined cycle)

5. 258 - 566 - 1,971L boot space figures