Mazda NZ quick to reinforce previous message about CX-70.

JUST to be absolutely clear - this is the one we’re not getting.

Previous commitment to steer clear of selling Hiroshima’s latest large platform-based sports utility here has been repeated by Mazda locally now that model, the CX-70 (above), has been formally unveiled.

The local, Auckland-based operation has gazumped any media speculation fuelled by CX-70’s overnight global reveal, with a simple statement today that says the five-seater simply isn’t needed.

“Mazda New Zealand does not plan to introduce the CX-70 in the local market,” a statement says.

“Towards the end of 2023 the five seat Mazda CX-60 and seven seat Mazda CX-90 were launched in our market, and the next Large Platform product to launch locally will be the seven seat Mazda CX-80.

“The first-ever Mazda CX-80 has been confirmed for New Zealand, and we will be sharing more information in due course.”

What’s the diff? Dimension and seat count, really.

CX-70 is basically a CX-90 without the rearmost seat row. Identical in length, wheenbase and width as the biggest model, just with more boot space. It aims at North American families that don’t need three rows - but still need space.

CX-80, on the other hand, is a CX-60 … with an extra row, to facilitate seven occupant opportunity. That’s a popular selling point in NZ, even to those buyers who don’t intend to fill the rearmost bench much.

How will CX-80 fit in? It’s a worthwhile question. Ostensibly, it becomes what today’s CX-8 is to the CX-5 – a long-body version designed to accomodate more seats, but without the wide footprint of a full-size, seven-seat SUV.

You might think it will replace the CX-8, but just as realistically it fills the gap left by the CX-9. CX-90 didn’t do that because it moved into a higher price bracket, being more than $10,000 more than the CX-9.

CX-8 has become the sole CX here with diesel. All the others are petrol only, in four and six cylinder, though CX-60 also provisions as a plug-in hybrid.

Mazda has yet to provision images of CX-80 and has not nailed down a firm local launch date.