The battle in the upper echelon of SUVs is intensifying with the arrival of Mazda s first-ever CX-80. Essentially a larger, three-row version of the CX-60, the newcomer has more than a few things in common with the BMW X5. Not only does it have an inline-six engine and a plug-in hybrid version, but it also sits on a rear-wheel-drive-based platform.
While the CX-60 and CX-80 are for Europe, the CX-70 and CX-90 are for the United States. The American models are identically sized, with the only difference being the number of seats. It s a different story on the Old Continent where Mazda s new CX-80 is longer than the CX-60. All four utilize longitudinally mounted engines and are offered as PHEVs.
How big is it? At 4995 mm long, 1890 mm wide, and 1710 mm tall, it s 60 mm longer, 114 mm narrower, and 45 mm lower than its Bavarian rival. At the same time, it s 250 mm longer and 24 mm taller than the CX-60, while having the same width. With a massive wheelbase of 3120 mm, it s 145 mm longer compared to the X5 s. The distance between the axles is also 250 mm longer than on the CX-60.
It s an attractive midsize SUV, albeit a bit of variety wouldn’t have hurt. The CX-80 looks a lot like the other three models we mentioned, so much so it s difficult to tell them apart. That said, it s evident the newcomer is bigger than the CX-60 given the longer overall length and the stretched wheelbase. It also has a flatter roofline for greater headroom whereas the smaller SUV has a more rakish profile.
There are only two powertrains available. The first is a 3.3-liter, six-cylinder diesel producing 250 hp and 550 Nm of torque. The other one is a plug-in hybrid that combines a gasoline 2.5-liter four-cylinder unit with an electric motor. The combined output is rated at 323 hp and 500 Nm. Both have all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The electrified CX-80 is notably quicker as it hits 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.8 seconds as opposed to 8.4 seconds for the diesel. However, the PHEV maxes out at 121 mph whereas the diesel does 136 mph. Going for the hybrid unlocks a pure electric range of 33 miles thanks to a battery pack with a 17.8-kWh capacity.
The interior sure looks like a nice place to be in. After all, Mazda aspires to be a luxury brand. The cabin looks posh, and unlike inside the X5, there are plenty of physical buttons. The CX-80 has separate controls for the climate settings rather than moving everything inside the 12.3-inch touchscreen. The fully digital instrument cluster also has a 12.3-inch display. Speaking of BMWs, the iDrive-esque rotary knob seen in other Mazdas is there.
The CX-80 should be significantly cheaper than the BMW X5. The Germans aren t watching from the sidelines since a new X5 is in development. Carrying the G65 internal codename, the fifth-generation model is likely coming around 2027. We re hearing it ll have X-shaped headlights.
Source: Mazda
First published by https://www.bmwblog.com