• Seven seats as standard
• Excellent rear legroom
• Clever seat access

How much space is there?

If you’re looking for a seven-seat SUV, spaciousness is a top priority, and the CX-80 doesn’t disappoint. Mazda has put those large dimensions to good use, with a flexible and practical interior. The smaller CX-60 always felt a bit of a pointless product as, despite being much larger and more expensive than a Mazda CX-5, it didn’t really offer that much more space inside. 

Unlike rivals such as the Skoda Kodiaq, the CX-80 comes with seven seats as standard – and on the plug-in hybrid too – though higher-spec Homura and Takumi are available in a six-seat configuration that sees the second-row bench of seats replaced by two individual captain’s chairs. While it undoubtedly makes the cabin feel more luxurious with six seats, we think having the full seven seats is more of an advantage. 

Access to the third row is surprisingly easy, too, with the middle row seats sliding a long way forward. While it’s not a car we’d choose to use for transporting seven adults, it’s suitable for such use for short distances, as one of our testers at just shy of six feet tall could sit in the third row without too much of a squash, but they’re best saved for small passengers. There are USB-C sockets in the third row too, along with plenty of storage. Middle-seat space is also plentiful, though the panoramic sunroof’s sunblind does eat into available headroom if you have it closed. 

Mazda CX-80 boot space and storage

Boot space with all seven seats up is 258 litres – enough for a couple of cabin bags. Drop the third row and you get 687 litres, while folding everything flat opens up 1,971 litres. That’s decent, but a Skoda Kodiaq does better with all seats up. The boot floor is high, and while the electric tailgate is standard, taller adults might find it opens a little low.

Cabin storage is a bit mixed. There’s a deep central cubby and decent door bins, but the glovebox is small and rear-seat storage is less impressive than you might expect in a family-focused SUV.

Is it easy to park?

For a car this big, the CX-80 is surprisingly easy to place. Visibility is good all round and standard-fit parking sensors and a reversing camera help massively. Homura Plus and Takumi Plus add a 360-degree camera that’s genuinely useful in tight car parks.

Safety

• Five-star Euro NCAP (2022, shared with CX-60)
• Loads of driver assist tech
• Optional 360-degree camera

The Mazda CX-80 shares its safety credentials with the CX-60, which scored five stars from Euro NCAP in 2022. It’s a reassuring result, even if testing has become tougher since. Full results are here: Euro NCAP CX-60

Every CX-80 comes with a solid safety spec, including automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. More advanced kit like a 360-degree camera and matrix LED headlights are reserved for the top models, but it’s good to see the basics included from the start.

We also like the inclusion of Mazda’s door exit warning system – it helps prevent passengers opening their doors into passing cyclists or traffic.

Watch: Euro NCAP Mazda CX60/CX80 safety test