03/05/2026

Contributing Editor Keshy Dhillon / keshy@piston.my Editorial

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SUNDAY | MAY 3, 2026

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Strong but imperfect

Plenty to like about Mazda CX-80 but it’s not without compromise

biggest talking point. On paper, it sounds promising enough. In practice, it still feels like it needs better calibration. The most surprising part is that the pow ertrain can feel jerky even in EV mode. That is what makes it difficult to excuse, because smoothness should be one of the natural strengths of a PHEV setup. The issue seems to stem from the trans mission itself. As with cars like BMW’s Phevs, electric power is fed through the gearbox. But if the gearbox is not especially smooth to begin with, then that lack of pol ish carries through regardless of whether the petrol engine is running or not. So while the CX-80 can be quiet and refined in brief moments, there are also times when it feels less seamless than it should. When the petrol engine joins in, that sense of inconsistency becomes more obvious. The whole experience feels busier than expected in a large premium SUV. This is not to say the car is unpleasant to drive. It is not. The overall control weight ing still feels typically Mazda, and there is a naturalness to the steering and general responses that many rivals lack. But in the CX-80, those qualities do not shine through quite as strongly as they do in the CX-60. Part of that is the driving position. It is still good, but slightly raised compared to the CX-60, likely due to the battery packag ing. That makes it feel a little less low-slung and less inherently natural than its smaller sibling, whose seating position is one of its

BY SHAUN LEE

TO dive into this immediately, the Mazda CX-80 looks handsome, almost majestic, feels thoughtfully engineered in many areas, and has an interior that is easily one of the most tasteful in its class. There is a sense of restraint and maturity to the way Mazda does cabins that contin ues to stand out, especially now that so many rivals seem to equate luxury with larger screens and more ambient lighting strips. And in this plug-in hybrid (Phev) form and spec, the CX-80 certainly looks and feels like a premium product. The colour scheme works beautifully, the two-tone steering wheel looks almost Bentley-like, and details such as the ventilated seats give it the sense of occasion you would expect at this price point. The issue is that once you move past the styling, ambience and equipment, the CX 80 also reveals a few limitations that make it harder to wholeheartedly recommend than the smaller CX-60. Part of that comes down to price. At roughly RM 100,000 more than a CX-60, expectations naturally rise. And while the CX-80 does offer more space, more seats and more equipment, it does not always feel like a proportionate step up in the areas that matter most. The Phev powertrain remains the

The cabin is well put together, feeling segments ahead and much more luxurious than its price point.

as the best in the business. In the CX-80, that matters more because comfort is likely to be much higher on the priority list than outright handling preci sion. Inside, however, the CX-80 continues to make a strong case for itself. The cabin is lovely. Full stop. Materials and textures are thoughtfully chosen, the design feels clean and expen sive, and there is enough physical switch gear to make everyday use intuitive.

standout strengths. Ride quality is another area where the CX-80 is decent rather than exceptional. On smoother roads and high ways, it cruises well enough and settles into a relaxed rhythm. But on rougher urban surfaces and sharper edges, it still does not have the level of sophistication expected at this price. This has long been a point of discussion with Mazdas. The body control is generally sound, but they do not always round off sur face imperfections with the same deftness

Perhaps the biggest talking point is the powertrain that lacks refinement expected in this segment.