Mazda CX-80 seven-seat SUV confirmed for Australia, CX-8 to live on
The third model in Mazda's new range of high-priced family SUVs – the seven-seat CX-80 – has been confirmed for Australia. The cheaper, older CX-8 will remain on sale for the foreseeable future.
The Mazda CX-80 seven-seat family SUV has been confirmed for Australian showrooms alongside the smaller CX-60 and larger CX-90 – to fill the gap after the imminent demise of the CX-9.
The CX-80 is to the upcoming CX-60 mid-size SUV what today's CX-8 is to the CX-5 – a long-body version designed to accomodate a third row of seats, but without the wide footprint of a full-size, seven-seat SUV.
Australian showroom arrival timing is yet to be confirmed, though Mazda says further details – likely including photos and specifications – will be announced "later this year".
The CX-80 and larger CX-90 will serve as replacements for the current CX-9 seven-seat SUV, which will be discontinued later in 2023 after seven years of the current model and 15 years as a nameplate locally.
But Mazda has confirmed there are no plans to discontinue the CX-8 – which is due to receive a facelift this month – despite reports it will be axed in its home market of Japan.
"We are definitely not in a position to confirm end dates for any of the nameplates," Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi told Drive.
Mazda Australia marketing boss Alastair Doak added: "We want to give as much choice to customers as possible and we're pretty comfortable with our plan that we'll continue to deliver that breadth of choice, breadth of price point, breadth of equipment."
Pricing is not due to be confirmed until after its unveiling, but using the CX-60 as a guide – and the difference between the CX-5 and CX-8 – the CX-80 may be priced from about $60,000 to $65,000 plus on-road costs.
This represents a significant increase over the current CX-8, which is priced from $42,060 to $71,410 plus on-road costs.
The Mazda CX-60 range is priced from $59,800 to $85,675 plus on-road costs, while Drive has previously estimated prices for the CX-90 between $70,000 and $100,000 plus on-road costs.
If the CX-8 and CX-5 are a guide, the CX-80 is likely to share its choice of inline six-cylinder petrol and diesel, or four-cylinder plug-in hybrid power with the CX-60.
Available features are expected to include widescreen infotainment and instrument displays, heated and ventilated nappa leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels, and standard all-wheel drive.
More details are due closer to the Mazda CX-80's global unveiling, which is expected later this year.
Confirmation of the CX-80 for Australia will see it be the third model in Mazda's new range of four rear- and all-wheel-drive SUVs locked in for local showrooms.
The range is split up by body width – the 'narrow-body' CX-60 and CX-80 for Europe and Japan, and the 'wide-body' CX-70 and CX-90 for the US – and seating capacity (two rows of seats for the CX-60 and CX-70, three for the CX-80 and CX-90).
The CX-70 – a mid-size to large SUV sharing the CX-90's wide-body design, but only five seats – is the only model of the initial four yet to be confirmed for Australia.