Mazda Looks To Add CX-80 To Its North American Lineup
Mazda has spent the last few years filling in the gaps in its SUV lineup, slowly bringing different offerings for anyone who may have a passing interest in the brand. First there was the CX-5 offshoot CX-50, then the CX-70, a two-row variant of the CX-90. The next addition appears to be the CX-80, a vehicle already offered elsewhere in the world.
As a refresher, the CX-90 is a three-row SUV, so Mazda just had to eliminate the third row to make the CX-70. The CX-80, however, is another three-row SUV, but it's sold in Europe and Japan whereas the 70 and 90 make it Stateside. That might change, though, since the 80 might be making its way to North American soon, too.
How do we know this? A recent trademark filing is the culprit, indicating it might be the next Mazda to land on NA shores. Being a hybrid three-row SUV, the main difference is that it's about 5" shorter than the CX-90, and that the 90 is more of an extended CX-60 than a slightly smaller CX-90.
But since the 90 is also a hybrid, this makes it inevitable that some model cannibalization will occur, which makes us wonder if this is more about Mazda protecting its intellectual property than anything else. All we'll say is that it's a good thing that Mazdas are good, and hopefully this doesn't lead to brand fatigue and/or dilution of the company's core values.
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Based in Connecticut, Ross hosts The Hooniverse Podcast. He has been in the off-road world since he was a kid riding in the back of his dad’s YJ Wrangler. He works in marketing by day and in his free time contributes to Hooniverse, AutoGuide, and ATV.com, and in the past has contributed to UTV Driver, ATV Rider, and Everyday Driver. Ross drives a 2018 Lexus GX460 that is an ongoing build project featured on multiple websites and the podcast.
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