KEEPING UP WITH THE BIG BOYS

MAZDA CX-80 DELIVERS A SMOOTH SEVEN-SEATER THAT STANDS OUT AMONG ITS RIVALS

- 

Like most carmakers, Mazda has been busy focusing on SUVs and it hasn't offered a new seven-seater for the past decade. But good news - it's taken its posh CX-60 SUV, stretched it a bit, and squeezed in two extra seats.

WHAT'S NEW?

The resulting CX-80 allows Mazda to rub shoulders with other carmakers who make large family SUVs, like Hyundai with its Santa Fe. And it also gets a step closer to taking on German premium brands like BMW. It debuts tweaks to address criticisms of the smaller CX-60.

WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?

The same choice of engines as the CX-60, so there's a plug-in hybrid and good old-fashioned diesel power.

For the PHEV, it's a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which works with a 173bhp electric motor, and this is fed by a 17.8kWh battery. Total power is a chunky 323bhp and 500Nm of torque, meaning it can dash to 60mph in just 6.8 seconds.