Mazda CX-80 is the best Large SUV of 2025: DRIVEN Car Guide AA Insurance NZ Car of the Year – Driven Car Guide
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Never has such a long SUV looked so lithe.
The CX-80 seven-seater might just be the ultimate expression of Mazda’s new Large Platform models (its sister SUVs are the CX-60 and CX-90). After all, it’s the true replacement for the popular CX-9 in Mazda New Zealand’s lineup, but also takes the brand very much into a new generation.
Can a large SUV be sexy-looking and still super-practical? CX-80 proves it can. The curvaceous styling speaks for itself, but the stretched wheelbase also liberates generous passenger space; the third row is occasional, as is the norm in this segment, but Mazda says it’s still fit for passengers 1.7m tall.
The 80 has the most luggage space of any Mazda SUV, thanks to underfloor storage. Even with all seven seats in use it boasts 258 litres; as a five-seater you get 566l.
Can a large SUV actually be fun to drive? Again, CX-80 proves it can. It’s AWD, but the LP architecture is rear-drive biased. If you want the most powerful/most economical version, by all means go for the plug-in hybrid – although even Mazda admits it didn’t quite get the petrol/electric transition as smooth as it should be in this model.
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The inline-six mild hybrid, on the hand, is a smooth and sonorous delight that’s still impressively efficient and carries a lower price than the PHEV. Either way, you’re getting a special seven-seater.
Runners up: Peugeot 5008, Skoda Kodiaq (2024 winner).
And don’t forget the Overall Winner will be announced at 7am on Friday, December 5.
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