But good news - it's taken its posh CX-60 SUV, stretched it a bit, and squeezed in two extra seats.
WHAT'S NEW?
The resulting CX-80 allows Mazda to rub shoulders with other carmakers who make large family SUVs, like Hyundai with its Santa Fe. And it also gets a step closer to taking on German premium brands like BMW. It debuts tweaks to address criticisms of the smaller CX-60.
WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?
The same choice of engines as the CX-60, so there's a plug-in hybrid and good old-fashioned diesel power.
For the PHEV, it's a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which works with a 173bhp electric motor, and this is fed by a 17.8kWh battery. Total power is a chunky 323bhp and 500Nm of torque, meaning it can dash to 60mph in just 6.8 seconds.
The real appeal of the PHEV will be to company car drivers as its 38-mile EV range means it slots into the 12% benefit-in-kind tax bracket.
The diesel is a thumping 3.3-litre, straight-six unit with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system - a 17bhp electric motor helps the engine when pulling away from standstill - and has 251bhp and 550Nm on tap.
Both engines are hooked up to eight-speed automatic gearboxes, get all-wheel drive and have 2,500kg towing limit.
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
The CX-60, while sharper and more engaging to drive than many of its peers, drew criticism for its hard and sometimes unforgiving ride.
The CX-80 debuts chassis tweaks to partly cure that (rolling out on CX-60s from this month) and ensure it has the refinement to match a larger, seven-seater SUV.
The ride is softer, the steering is communicative and the car feels more agile than equivalents.
But rivals do trade this handling for a better ride.
The PHEV glides nicely, even if the motor does whine, and has plenty of punch.
But the diesel is still superior, giving a smoother, creamier power delivery and thumping speed. You can coax the big 3.3 to 50mpg, which in the real world is better than the PHEV unless you religiously charge it before and after every trip.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
There's no escaping the stretched CX-60 appearance, with long rear doors exacerbating it - the wheelbase is almost as long as a Range Rover LWB's.
But it's still a very handsome car, with a large grille, slim headlights and unfussy bodywork highlights.
You get two excl...
WHAT'S NEW?
The resulting CX-80 allows Mazda to rub shoulders with other carmakers who make large family SUVs, like Hyundai with its Santa Fe. And it also gets a step closer to taking on German premium brands like BMW. It debuts tweaks to address criticisms of the smaller CX-60.
WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?
The same choice of engines as the CX-60, so there's a plug-in hybrid and good old-fashioned diesel power.
For the PHEV, it's a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which works with a 173bhp electric motor, and this is fed by a 17.8kWh battery. Total power is a chunky 323bhp and 500Nm of torque, meaning it can dash to 60mph in just 6.8 seconds.
The real appeal of the PHEV will be to company car drivers as its 38-mile EV range means it slots into the 12% benefit-in-kind tax bracket.
The diesel is a thumping 3.3-litre, straight-six unit with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system - a 17bhp electric motor helps the engine when pulling away from standstill - and has 251bhp and 550Nm on tap.
Both engines are hooked up to eight-speed automatic gearboxes, get all-wheel drive and have 2,500kg towing limit.
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
The CX-60, while sharper and more engaging to drive than many of its peers, drew criticism for its hard and sometimes unforgiving ride.
The CX-80 debuts chassis tweaks to partly cure that (rolling out on CX-60s from this month) and ensure it has the refinement to match a larger, seven-seater SUV.
The ride is softer, the steering is communicative and the car feels more agile than equivalents.
But rivals do trade this handling for a better ride.
The PHEV glides nicely, even if the motor does whine, and has plenty of punch.
But the diesel is still superior, giving a smoother, creamier power delivery and thumping speed. You can coax the big 3.3 to 50mpg, which in the real world is better than the PHEV unless you religiously charge it before and after every trip.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
There's no escaping the stretched CX-60 appearance, with long rear doors exacerbating it - the wheelbase is almost as long as a Range Rover LWB's.
But it's still a very handsome car, with a large grille, slim headlights and unfussy bodywork highlights.
You get two excl...
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The Chronicle (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 21, 2025