Mazda’s foray into the (more) premium segment is showing promise, with robust sales of their CX-60 and CX-90 models bolstering the automaker’s profit margins. Following these successes, Mazda is poised to introduce a three-row crossover named the CX-80, targeting a number of markets outside North America, including Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Off-limits to North America which instead gets the slightly larger and wider CX-90, the CX-80 is a long-wheelbase version of the BMW X3-rivalling CX-60 that replaces the CX-8. Unfortunately, delays mean the performance-luxury crossover has been pushed out to early next year (the same goes for the wider, 5-seat CX-70 for US consumption); no firm explanation has been offered as to why the delay, but that doesn’t stop us from taking a spy-shot based illustrated preview.
Restrained Elegance
Mazda’s ‘Kodo’ design language has been in use for several years. Today, the automaker has evolved this expressive design language to maintain its distinctive Mazda identity while emphasizing powerful proportions and the interplay of light with the sheet metal.
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There are no surprises with the CX-80’s look, as it’s simply a lengthened CX-60. Differences between the two are incredibly minimal, with the most significant changes being the longer rear doors, redesigned lower rear bumper, and wider D-pillars, which have a unique trailing dip at the edge of the rear chrome-work.
A Premium Outlook
The CX-80 will borrow the Mazda CX-60 ‘s interior pictured above
Mazda’s new large car architecture heralded a new era for the Japanese automaker, emphasizing interior luxury at an affordable cost. The CX-80 will have the same cabin design as the shorter CX-60 and larger CX-90 stablemates, which isn’t bad, but we’d like to see more differentiation between models.
The good news, though, is rear seat occupants will enjoy added legroom for both second and third rows. Although, unlike CX-90, which can be had with eight seats, this will only be a 7-seat exercise. Cabin comforts will include a digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 360-degree surround-view monitor, head-up display, ambient lighting and a driver personalisation system that uses facial recognition.
Under The Skin
Built on Mazda‘s rear-drive-biased, large car platform, the CX-80 will sport the same dynamic handling traits as its other siblings, including a nicely weighted steering system and Kinematic Posture Control, which gently applies the brakes to the inside rear wheel to contain body roll. Don’t expect any adaptive damping here, although we hope the ride is more settled than the CX-60’s rough ride.
The CX-80 will have a longer wheelbase compared to the CX-60, which measures 113 inches (2,870 mm). However, it may not exceed the 122.8-inch (3,119 mm) wheelbase of the North American market CX-90.
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Under the hood, the CX-80 will offer multiple ICE choices with varying forms of electrification. Options include a mild hybrid, e-Skyactiv D 3.3-litre inline-six diesel, producing 251 hp (187 kW / 254 PS), a mild hybrid 3.3-litre e-Skyactiv-G, straight-six petrol making 280 hp (209 kW / 284 PS), and a 2.5-litre four-cylinder plug-in hybrid. The latter pumps out 323 hp (241 kW / 328 PS) and 500 Nm of torque. All models are equipped with Mazda’s own 8-speed automatic gearbox with power going to the rear or all four wheels.
Curiously, there is still one more inline-six variant to be revealed: a 3.0-litre SPCCI unit dubbed e-Skyactiv X. SPCCI, or Spark Controlled Compression Ignition as it’s known, uses a lean, homogeneous air-fuel mixture under compression. It’s unclear when more details about this unit will be revealed, but it’s tipped to be one of the most fuel-efficient inline sixes ever.
Rivals and Reveal
The CX-80 will face stiff competition, pitting itself against a range of rivals from the BMW X3 to lesser premium models including the Peugeot 5008, Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan X-Trail, Kia Sorento and Skoda Kodiaq, to name just a few.
With production of the CX-8 winding up by year’s end, an official reveal of the CX-80 will be within the next few months, with deliveries starting mid-2024. It’ll be sold in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and China among other markets.
Note: The illustrations featured in this article are not related to nor endorsed by Mazda.
