Review: 2025 Mazda CX-80 GT
Posted in Vehicle Reviews
Review: 2025 Mazda CX-80 GT (Diesel)
There's no question that all the latest models built on Mazda's new "Large Architecture" SUV platform look and feel remarkably similar. We'd tend to agree, however, the most recent iteration to land in our showroom - the CX-80 - is the one for which we've held the most anticipation.
You'd be forgiven for thinking it's the CX-60 although the big difference here is the extra row of seats that are sure to make it a hit with larger families.
We recently spent the weekend with the diesel-powered version of the CX-80 enjoying the full experience with the upper-middle GT grade model. Here are our thoughts.
What are our initial impressions?
In our opinion, among the major car brands in Australia, Mazda consistently designs the best-looking cars on the road. The CX-80 continues to uphold this status with graceful but powerful lines that exude both beauty and strength.
For even more appeal, the GT model is clad with glossy black trim with matching 20-inch alloy wheels. To top it off, our Cx-80 came with the Jet Black Mica paint so the midnight elegance vibes were through the roof.
It's a touch longer than the CX-60 to incorporate the third row although you wouldn't notice it at a glance - the proportions just seem so right.
Stepping into the cabin, genuine leather wraps a good portion of the cabin with a comfortable, soft-touch rubber-like material covering the rest of the dashboard and other touchpoints. This is complemented with contrasting orange stitching and satin-like silver elements for a touch of extra style.
How does the CX-80 drive?
The beauty of Mazda's new luxury SUV lineup is the option to choose from three different powertrains.
We've had the pleasure of driving both the petrol and plug-in hybrid with the CX-60 and CX-90 - and now the CX-80 has given us the chance to experience how the diesel compares.
Powertrain
The 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine is complemented by Mazda M Hybrid Boost 48-volt mild-hybrid system.
While it's the least powerful engine (187kW) among the three powertrain options, it leads the torque numbers with 550Nm, making it the ideal choice for towing (though the petrol option lists a greater towing capacity).
The mild-hybrid system does an outstanding job of improving the CX-80's efficiency with an impressive combined fuel consumption figure of just 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres.
The standout element of the diesel power though was its ability to cruise the highway with absolutely zero effort. Gone are the days of a noisy diesel - the CX-80 was almost EV-like with how smooth and quiet it cruised along.
Vehicle Dynamics
In terms of handling, the advanced vehicle dynamics meant it was an absolute pleasure to steer the CX-80.
We're going to attribute this to the latest Mazda SkyActiv technology that includes G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) and Kinetic Posture Control (KPC). Both these names sound like they're trying a little too hard but the resulting benefits are excellent.
In simple terms, these two systems work together to make the drive feel smoother and more stable.
GVC Plus tweaked the engine power and brakes as we steered, making the CX-80 move more naturally meaning we were making fewer minor corrections in our steering.
Meanwhile, KPC was working by adding a touch of brake to the inside rear wheel to keep things level and stop the car from leaning too much in corners. The overall result was a more balanced car which boosted our confidence in the drive.
How comfortable is the CX-80?
Comfort is certainly a key focus point for Mazda, especially for the CX-80 which is expected to be one of their big sellers.
Looking at the GT trim, all three rows have pretty sizable seats fitted, while the genuine leather on all of them means everyone is sitting in comfort. On top of this, first and second-row occupants get to enjoy the luxury of heated seating, although ventilated seating (a big win in our Brisbane climate) is unfortunately exclusive to the top-of-the-line Azami trim.
The driver's seat can be power-adjusted in any way you can think of with memory settings making it ideal as a shared family hauler.
Passenger Comforts
We love that the second row can be adjusted as well - it allowed the kids to maximise their second-row space when the third row wasn't in use.
They also had their dedicated second-row climate controls and vents, as well as a pair of USB-C charging ports, all neatly situated and easy to reach in the back of the centre console.
Speaking of kids, the huge, panoramic sunroof was also a hit with them as it stretched right back over the second-row giving them the same bright and airy environment as us adults up front.
We were also impressed with how much thought and design has been invested in the third-row seats to make them just as comfortable and practical as the rest. Their contoured design, dedicated cupholders and USB-C charging ports have ensured that there are no complaints from those relegated to the rear when carpooling.
How practical is the CX-80?
We were very impressed with the boot space in the CX-80 even with all three rows in use. There's a solid 258 litres of cargo volume which puts it above many of its segment competitors.
The third row can be raised and dropped easily, even from the back with handy pull straps so you're not trying to climb halfway into the car to adjust them. With the rear seats now lying flat on the floor, the cargo space opens up to a huge 566 litres of supremely useful space.
48V Battery Technology
This is also a good time to mention the practical benefits of the 48V mild-hybrid system outside of engine efficiency.
The larger battery capacity means the CX-80 can run devices and small appliances via a household AC power outlet capable of 150W of power.
No doubt this is a win for the road-tripping and camping crowd, or the perfect feature to cater for mum and dad on a weekend morning at the junior sports field.
How safe is the CX-80?
As expected, the CX-80 is a standout performer in the safety department.
Not only is the brochure loaded with a litany of advanced safety tech that's standard across all grades of the model, but our first-hand experience behind the wheel was filled with confidence and trust in the vehicle.
We'd list the range of advanced safety features but, honestly, it's such an exhaustive list, take our word that you, your family and other road users are well-protected.
Advanced Driver Safety
One thing we think Mazda does exceptionally well is the audible, visual and haptic feedback from features like blindspot monitoring, driver attention alert, and emergency lane keeping among others.
Many of these technologies are a necessary inclusion for automakers nowadays if they want to achieve a high ANCAP rating (five stars in the case of the CX-80), although the end-user experience often feels like more of a nuisance than an enhancement.
Mazda ensures the CX-80's safety feedback enhances your driving with visual elements such as the digital chevrons on the instrument cluster as opposed to blaring red symbols, audible elements such as soothing chimes instead of jarring alarms, and extra subtle haptic feedback that provides just enough resistance on the steering wheel to ensure you're aware of your surroundings.
Out of all the cars we reviewed, it is one of the best attention and monitoring systems we've experienced.
How well connected is the CX-80?
In our eyes, all new cars should feature wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so we love that the CX-80 features both of these regardless of trim level. The centre console dial also makes it super easy to control meaning there's no leaning forward to fiddle with the touchscreen - it's all within handy reach by your side.
It's also great to see a wireless phone charger featured across (almost) the whole range (the base model Pure in petrol version misses out). We love a dedicated spot to place your smartphone while also providing utility.
It's also worth mentioning the crispy, 12-speaker Bose premium system - it did a great job pumping the beats.
Mazda Connected Services
The CX-80 also features Mazda Connected Services which gives you a surprising amount of control over the car via the MyMazda app on your smartphone.
It eventually incur an annual subscription fee, but you get three years complimentary when you purchase your CX-80 (which is the same duration as the average car ownership in Australia).
There's a range of features that may only be useful to certain demographics - for example, driver alert, parent control and geofencing options are great for parents to keep an eye on the older kids when they're borrowing the family car.
If you're the forgetful type, the vehicle locator map is great for finding your way back to your car. It doesn't feature vertical positioning but, if you get nearby but still can't see the car, you can flash the lights from your smartphone (or even your Apple Watch).
There are a couple we reckon you'll probably use the most - at least these were the ones that we did.
Firstly, remote locking was excellent for avoiding the trek back down to the apartment garage after lugging all our groceries upstairs but forgetting to lock the car.
Secondly, the brutally hot weather we experienced that weekend meant we made sure to use the remote start feature so we could pump the aircon a few minutes before we got in.
What else do we love about the CX-80?
There were a few more features that we enjoyed that are worth mentioning.
Firstly, the heads-up display (or Active Driving Display as Mazda calls it) is such a great addition, especially as it's available as standard. This certainly instils the premium offering that Mazda has been pursuing with their latest range of models.
In terms of convenience, the front and rear parking sensors and 360-degree monitor are particularly helpful in a model like the CX-80 that's just a little longer than you're expecting.
We love that these are another feature that comes standard, although, the top-spec Azami adds a See-Through View on its 360-degree camera which is just that little extra touch to make you feel special.
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How much does the CX-80 cost?
The price range for the CX-80 is quite broad as you've got the choice of four trim levels and three engine options.
Out of all the models in Mazda's latest SUV range, it's evident that the CX-80 offers the best value for money, and this starts with the entry-level Pure trim. The petrol is the only powertrain available in the Pure and starts the range off at just $59,990 drive away (or just $3,000 less than the CX-60 which has two fewer seats).
We like that you get to choose from three paint options (Jet Black Mica, Platinum Quartz Metallic, and Deep Crystal Blue Mica) regardless of grade - a much more satisfying choice than a standard white or red you're stuck with from some other automakers.
The Pure is clearly the price point model because the numbers jump up from there with the most affordable second-tier Touring grade available to drive away for $67,309 (petrol version). From there, each trim increases in price at a similar rate regardless of engine option. The GT has a premium between $7,200-$7,400 over the Touring, while the top-spec Azami is just under $5,400 more than the GT.
Each engine option also has a pretty consistent price premium with the petrol-powered models sitting at just under $2,100 less than their diesel-run counterparts, while the plug-in hybrid models cop a significant increase of around $10,000 over the diesel engines.
When added all together, this means the top-spec Azami PHEV is $91,845 drive away - almost $32,000 more than the entry grade.
If you like the diesel GT in Jet Black Mica that we test-drove, it's available for $76,624 drive away.
Optional Extras
If you didn't have you have enough decisions to make, think again - there are two extra wheel options you can choose from to snazzy up your CX-80, or add the SP Package to your Azami for $5,000.
This will get you tan Nappa Leather seats, fresh 20-inch alloys, gloss back exterior elements, suede on your dashboard, a two-tone steering wheel, and the piece-de-resistance - second-row captain's seats (including ventilation) and a dedicated second-row centre console (with storage).
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What do we think overall?
The all-new Mazda CX-80 is by far one of the nicest seven-seat SUVs we've driven in a while.
We highly rate the diesel powerplant and its ability to effortlessly eat up the highway kilometres, however, after driving the CX-60 PHEV and CX-90 petrol, we'd be more than happy to drive any of the available powertrains.
Mazda continues to design beautiful interior spaces and we can't say a bad word about the CX-80's cabin. It provides a feel-good sensation that goes unmatched amongst its closest competitors.
The winning ingredients of the CX-80 formula, though, are the seven-seat layout and the entry-level pricing.
It's clear Mazda thinks they can lead the market segment with the CX-80 and we reckon there's a very high chance they'll reach this goal.
If you want to see if the CX-80 is the right car for your family, drop into the showroom at Browns Plains Mazda, or book a test drive and experience it today.
