Mazda has previewed the final member of its four-model range of luxury-priced SUVs – the CX-80 – due to be revealed next week with a choice of six or seven seats.
The 2025 Mazda CX-80 is set to be unveiled next week, with a teaser image of the new seven-seater SUV shown ahead of the event.
While both the CX-80 and CX-90 are seven-seater models, the CX-80 SUV has been designed with Japan and Europe in mind – whereas the CX-90 was created by Mazda for the North American market.
Both the five-seat CX-60 and six or seven-seat CX-80 are ‘narrow-body’ models, with the forthcoming five-seat CX-70 and six or seven-seat CX-90 are ‘wide-body’ vehicles.
However unlike the CX-70 and CX-90 twins – which share nearly all of their bodywork – the CX-80 looks to be a stretched version of the CX-60, with different sheetmetal to accommodate its third row of seats.
Australia will be one of the only markets globally to offer all four vehicles – underpinned by Mazda’s new ‘Large Platform’ with rear or all-wheel drive, and six-cylinder or plug-in hybrid power.
The new models come at the expense of the CX-8 and CX-9 three-row SUVs, which are being phased out globally.
The CX-80 will be available as a six-seater – instead of the conventional seven-seat layout – with the option to choose more luxurious captain’s chairs in the second row, rather than a bench seat.
In January 2023, Mazda Australia admitted there was “some overlap” in its new line-up, given the similarities in size and price.
“Those four products on the Large platform [CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90], in the majority of the markets they’re picking only two,” Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi told Drive at the time.
“In Australia, we are very fortunate enough that we can continue our strategy of providing choice, so we elected to give consumers a bigger variety to pick from,” he said.
“Yes, there could be some overlap. But there’s a difference in size in packaging [and] in styling, so that’s the way we look at it, and we’ve always offered as many products as we can.”
The 2025 Mazda CX-80 is planned to debut on 18 April 2024 at 8:00pm AEST. Stay tuned to Drive on the night to get all the information as it comes to hand.
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