Mazda CX-80 review

You can’t expect much from a gigantic seven-seater and the CX-80 delivers on that front: its handling is reasonable and it turns in sharply and decisively, although there's no real feel to the wheel. There’s a danger a large car like this can feel like a barge, something the CX-80 commendably resists. It’s not as nice to drive as, say, a Skoda Kodiaq, which is more at one with the road.

Is it a comfortable car? 

There’s a bit of roll as you turn into corners, but the fancy suspension quickly accounts for it and smooths things out.  Large roundabouts can feel a little tense as the car fights the laws of nature, but overall it's impressive.

We did find that the ride was smooth over bumps, but it felt a little gritty on the move – Mazda says it has intentionally softened the springs and tightened up the dampers to try and account for the extra size and weight of the 80 over the 60. We drove the car on 20in wheels, but we suspect it'll perform better on the 18in wheels of the entry car.

What’s the performance like? 

You won’t be picking the CX-80 as your traffic light grand prix entry: the PHEV’s 6.8 seconds to 62mph look good on paper, but in practice heavy acceleration results in a lot of noise for not a lot of movement.

The eight-speed auto can be ponderous in the plug-in as the computer brain tries to juggle everything. That's not a problem in the diesel car, which - although 1.6s slower to 62mph - feels like it’s making more progress because you get out what it puts in.

Which powertrain is better? 

The diesel is objectively a better drive, with a bit less weight for the suspension to cope with and a smoother application of power and torque. The straight six motor has a strangely appealing sound to it, and unlike the PHEV the noise and forward motion sync up. It's more natural, in other words.

Of course, the diesel doesn’t really make too much sense these days, especially if you’re a company car driver. But if you put in the motorway miles and can’t charge at home...