since 1976
since 1976
By Lee Pang Seng
THE last two years saw an uptick in the number of luxury cars in the Malaysian market, in particular from China. We are referring to the luxury range along the lines of the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire, which literally flooded the market in the form of reconditioned models imported from Japan.
The respective range from China comes with extensive equipment, mostly electronically activated, and upholstery to give the Alphard a good run for the money. And they come with warranties too. Other than the Toyota selection, another Japanese make is taking the fight for market share with its luxury offering as well, and this is Mazda.
Bermaz Motor was ambitious when it brought in the CX-8 in 2019; it was made available in four model variants – three petrol and one diesel - that were locally assembled at the Inokom facility in Kulim. It enjoyed a fair share of the market but taking the fight against reconditioned rivals that were competitively priced was a rather tall order despite its vehicle warranty advantage.
When it came time recently to introduce the latest version in the CX-80, Bermaz took the logical step of introducing it as a CBU (complete build-up) or import model. And with only one model variant. More importantly, to keep the CX-80 competitively priced against such fancied rivals, especially the growing Chinese range, Mazda Japan acceded to Bermaz requests to provide the luxury SUV (sport utility vehicle) at a more comfortable price.
That saw its launch price of RM331,610 being reduced to RM295,000 to give it a stronger appeal. This price reduction strategy was also applied across the range, both CKD (complete knock down) and CBU models. In a market where competitive pricing is king, the support of the carmaker plays a crucial role in achieving the necessary edge.
We have had the experience of enjoying Mazda luxury back in 2019 with the turbodiesel CX-8 flagship that was the only AWD (all-wheel drive) model, the others being two-wheel drive petrol variants with different trim and equipment level. It was a short drive from the Inokom factory to Kulim and back, but it was enough to sample what Mazda luxury motoring was all about.
Today, the CX-80 is only available as a petrol 2.5G PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) AWD. As such, it holds the honour of being the only one in the local Mazda family that boasts of electric mobility for a fair distance of 65 kilometres. This comes from a fully charged 17.8kWh lithium-ion battery.
The engine base appears similar, with updates and improvements no doubt, although a comparison with the engine used in the CX-8 indicates a higher torque output. This is an undersquare engine with an 89mm bore and 100mm stroke for an exact displacement of 2488cc. And being a typical SkyActiv engine, the compression ratio is higher than conventional at 13.0:1.
The maximum power is slightly lower at 139kW/189hp (141kW/192hp for the CX-8) at 6000rpm while torque is higher at 261Nm (258Nm) at 4000rpm. Output for the electric motor is 126kW/172hp at 5500rpm and 270Nm at 400rpm (the ultra-low rev point is typical for electric motors). Mazda says the combined output is 237kW/323hp and 500Nm. Top speed is similar at 195km/h (196km/h). In transmission, the CX-80 goes one better with an eight-speed EAT (electronic automatic transmission) against six-speed for the CX-8.
With electric power assistance, the CX-80 naturally boasts a very low fuel consumption of 1.6 L/100km (62.5km/l). Even when the battery is depleted (as was the case with us on the third day of driving), there is battery regeneration during deceleration and braking that builds up some electric power to be used during urban driving. Like BEVs (battery electric vehicles), the battery in a PHEV needs to be charged too or else it would deteriorate in performance. Depending on the modes in charging, it could be six hours and 20 minutes or two hours and 30 minutes during AC charging from 0 to 100 per cent.
Dimensionally, the CX-80 has ‘grown’ too – from 4908mm in overall length for the CX-8 to 4995mm (just 5mm short of five metres!) and 1840mm to 1890mm in overall width. It is shorter though at 1705mm against 1730mm for the CX-8 in overall height. What adds to the better interior space is the longer wheelbase of 3120mm (2930mm). As a PHEV with a reasonably big battery, it is much heavier at 2342kg (1781kg for the CX-8 2.5G petrol).
However, we didn’t feel the higher vehicle weight while driving the CX-80 over the weekend, probably due to the strong electric output, the high torque in particular. It moved effortlessly from standstill and picked up the speed on the go just as quickly. Even when the battery range was depleted, the combined engine-electric motor output (with battery regeneration) continued to make driving an effortless experience.
Running on electric power was a quiet affair as expected, save for the mild intrusion of road noise generated by the 235/50 R20 Goodyear EfficientGrip tyres. Air turbulence around the body was also low at legal highway speeds to reflect the good aerodynamics. Even when the engine was in operation, it remained a quiet drive as noise insulation was well up to par, especially for a flagship model.
We also enjoyed the ride comfort as our regular testbed comprised the variety of roads we cover daily; bumps, potholes, uneven road surfaces with bad patches here and there, speedbumps and rumble strips. Despite the 20-inch tyres, the double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension soaked up the assortment of road impacts well.
The critical test for ride comfort was best put to the test when we had to send the missus to the clinic, and later to the hospital, as she suffered a sudden bout of vertigo. This is an ailment arising from the inner ear that sends one into a dizzy world as body balance is upset and disproportionate.
With the missus sitting on one of the captain seats in the second row, and driving as smoothly as possible (made easier with electric power), she didn’t throw up on both runs. It clearly displayed the capacity of the CX-80 suspension to absorb road impacts well enough to make ride comfortable and smooth, something that we certainly appreciated.
Further contribution to the comfort of driving and travelling in the CX-80 is its good range of equipment and features. The seats are in tan Nappa leather to reflect its flagship status. Both front seats have 10-way power adjustment and come with heating and ventilation features. The driver enjoys seat memory function as a personalisation choice.
Likewise, the second-row captain seats also come with heating and ventilation as well as power reclining seat rest. A central console is standard while the third row of seats are best for kids on holiday drives while adult accommodation is only feasible for short urban journeys.
The third-row seat rest is split 50:50 to expand luggage space more than twofold with fewer passengers on board. And the power tailgate is the handsfree type with which you ‘kick’ beneath the rear bumper to open it. And of course, a panoramic power sunroof with tilt and sliding glass is standard fare.
Driving the CX-80 is made all the more comfortable with practical items that are convenient to use. The 12.3-inch colour TFT LCD instrument panel is easy to interpret at a glance and our favourite, the head-up display (HUD) comes as part of the active driving display. The 12.3-inch central infotainment system comes with voice control and wireless Apple carplay but wired Android auto.
There are 12 speakers for those who want to enjoy great music on the go, six Type-C USB ports for the six-seater CX-80, a wireless handphone charger and 360-degree view monitor that helps when parking the rather dimensional long SUV. Unlike our relatively compact CX-5, we learnt to respect the cement walls more at our condo and took more care and less speed when going up or down the ramps.
In active and passive features, the CX-80 comes with an extensive range to make driving as safe as possible. Some notable ones are the Kinematic Posture Control, Emergency Stop Signal, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear and Front Cross Traffic Alert, Driver Attention Alert (useful for long distance drives), Smart Brake Support and Mazda Radar Cruise Control.
