Mazda’s CX-80 flagship landed in the UK last autumn, complete with six- or seven-seater configurations, a fleet-friendly plug-in hybrid and a diesel mild hybrid option. Al Suttie puts the derv model to the test.

Mazda CX-80 3.3D Homura

List price (BiK): £54,280 (34%)    CO2: 151g/km    Economy: 48.7mpg    Test efficiency: 39.0mpg

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Monday

Mazda is broadening its SUV range with the arrival of the CX-80, its largest car of this type to be sold in the UK. While it’s similar in size to the Land Rover Discovery and Volvo XC90, its rivals are likely to be the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Škoda Kodiaq. Those competitors are not pushovers, so the CX-80 has its work cut out. In this case of this particular car, it’s powered by a 3.3-litre straight-six turbodiesel engine, albeit with modest hybrid assistance.

Tuesday

The 254hp straight-six engine in this CX-80 gives it a very distinct character, which reminds me of the BMW X5 in the best possible way. Much of this is due to the sound the engine makes and the way it delivers its strong 550Nm of shove, which reaches its peak at a mere 1,500rpm and remains there till 2,400rpm. As a result, the CX-80 always feels authoritative and brisk when accelerating or overtaking but without any discernible sudden surge.

Wednesday

Coupled to an eight-speed automatic gearbox – and what isn’t these days, it seems – the CX-80 has no trouble in dealing with a mix of motorway and A-roads. There are paddle shifters if you feel that way inclined, plus a choice of Normal, Sport and Off-Road modes with the Mi-DRIVE selector. Frankly, Normal is all you need and all you’ll bother with after an initial play with the settings.

Thursday

A slight surprise with the CX-80 is the underlying firmness of the ride quality. The Homura spec of this car means it sits on 20-inch wheels, which are not the largest for this type of car and class by any stretch of the imagination. However, they do pick up on too many minor grazes and nicks in the road surface, as well as the occasional jolt over larger bumps. Ultimately, it means the otherwise relaxed nature of the diesel CX-80 is undermined.

Friday

In seven-seat form, as this car is, the CX-80 is more than able of carting you, the kids, and their chums around in top-notch comfort. There’s ample space for everyone, and even the dog gets a good deal as there’s a decent boot left in place when all seven seats are raised. Drop the third row pair and the dog can bring her chums as it creates a vast space.

Saturday

There will only be a small section of large SUV buyers looking for a car with a big diesel engine that emits 151g/km. For those who need to tow, this CX-80 can haul up to 2,500kg, so not as much as a Discovery but still very useful. Its emissions will make it pricier for running costs compared to its plug-in hybrid sister model, though some will make that trade-off for the diesel engine’s greater refinement.

Sunday

The Mazda CX-80 is a welcome addition to the large SUV segment. It has a magnificently high level of build quality, the cabin is sumptuous, and the driver’s environment is faultless. Is it at its most fleet-friendly with this large diesel engine? No, but it does still have a place for those looking to tow or who really do fill every seat in the car often. Niche, yes. Nice, definitely.