All-wheel-drive and PHEV seems set for NZ circulation.

THREE-row seating sports utilities hold strong currency in this market and Mazda NZ will be banking on the CX-80 reviving that interest.

Effectively a larger, longer three-row version of the five seat CX-60, the ’80’ unveiled internationally overnight will effectively slip into national sale at some point after June.

It stands to be seen as a replacement for the now defunct CX-9, the outgoing CX-8 diesel, which both sat up to seven, and an alternate to the CX-90, also with three rows.

It’s the fourth model underpinned by Mazda's new rear-wheel-drive-biased 'Large' platform and proposes as the make’s roomiest car.

It comes in all-wheel drive only and from an international choice of inline six-cylinder petrol and diesel, or four-cylinder 2.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid power.

Going by information so far shared by Mazda NZ, there’s likelihood just the PHEV is for Kiwis - it’s the only engine type detailed in the Auckland office’s release.

The petrol-electric offers the same system output of 241kW of power and 500Nm of torque as occasions in the three NZ-market CX-60s, the $78,990 Touring, $87,990 Homura and $90,990 Takami.

Were Mazda to take the CX-80 petrol six, it would out put the same 209kW/450Nm as the $81,990 Homura hybrid CX-60 and $92,990 CX-90 Takami hybrid.

The model’s extra space over CX-60 and CX-90 comes from the wheelbase having been extended by 250mm, creating more interior space and enabling easier ingress and egress. It measures just under five metres in length at 4995mm and is 1890mm wide and 1710mm tall.

The roofline has also been extended without sloping to maximise the amount of headroom for those in the rearmost seats. Mazda states that adults measuring up to 1.7 metres can fit comfortably into the third row.

The Auckland-based distributor has yet to outline how far it wants to got with CX-80 in respect to the seating and trim options it offers.

There are three cabin layouts: A six-seat version to allow a walk-through space to the third row; a six-seat version with a centre console; and a seven-seat variant.

The latter is standard on all, while Homura grade is available with the six-seat setup featuring two second-row captain’s chairs. The highest trim - Takami in NZ-market speak - delivers that second row of captain’s chairs with a centre console.

The second-row bench in the seven-seat CX-80 can slide up to 120mm, with a seat recline range from 15 to 33 degrees. One-touch folding rear seats make it easier to get into the third row.

Also across all models are an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat and a six-way adjustable front passenger seat.

Mazda has proposed CX-80 is for those who want the versatility and practicality that a seven-seat SUV can offer and might also be looking at the Toyota Highlander, Skoda Kodiaq and maybe also some more premium European offers.

The CX-80 unsurprisingly has many of the same design details as the CX-60, with the same long bonnet and cab-rearward profile. However, the CX-80’s rear styling is different. It also runs with 20-inch rims.

A new colour called Melting Copper joins the range of nine exterior paint options and the hue seen on the cars here, Artisan Red, becomes the brand’s new signature colour as Mazda shifts away from Soul Red.

While the emphasis is on creating a comfortable third row for passengers, the CX-80 maintains a usable boot volume of 258 litres when all seats are in place. Should that third row not be needed, the seats can fold flat, boosting luggage capacity to 687 litres. With all seats folded, the capacity is 1971 litres.

Up front, there is no change to the look and layout from that of the Mazda CX-60, so expect the same material quality and high standard of construction. Among the materials available inside are real maple wood, Nappa leather and chrome detailing. Of note is the ‘Msusbu’ stitching which takes inspiration from the centuries-old art of Japanese knot tying.

It has the CX-60/CX-90 driver personalisation system, which can calculate the optimum driving position based on your height and eye level, as detected by the driver monitoring camera. It then adjusts the steering wheel, seat, door mirrors and head-up display accordingly. This system can store settings for up to six people.

In front of the driver is a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, and there is a 12.3-inch touchscreen that supplements Mazda’s native infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Other conveniences include a 15-watt wireless charging pad for mobile devices and USB-C ports for every seat to ensure nobody has to go without a way to charge their device.

Mazda has said the PHEV system can be equipped with an optional 1500-watt AC power supply that draws from the lithium-ion battery and can power external appliances. That has yet to become a function for CX-60.

The PHEV is the fastest of the CX-80 models, taking 6.8 seconds to accelerate from 0-100kmh, and the cleanest, with though optimal CO2 emissions of just 36grams per kilometre.

On the electrical side of the powertrain is an official battery driving range of 60 kilometres. The WLTP average consumption is a modest 2.0 litres/100 kilometres.

The usual eight-speed automatic gearbox involves, as does Mazda’s ‘i-Activ’ all-wheel-drive system, with four drive modes, including EV mode for the PHEV.

The double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension setup is as per CX-60. With this setup, Mazda’s Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) system can brake the inside rear wheel in a corner to draw the car downwards, reducing body lean.