Second all-new seven-seat Mazda SUV to arrive Down Under next year
The Mazda CX-9 will be discontinued in Australia by the end of this year, before being effectively replaced by the all-new 2024 Mazda CX-80 next year.
Mazda Australia confirmed the news today, even before the first ever Mazda CX-80’s global reveal in coming months, as well as the CX-9’s imminent local axing after more than 50,000 sales of the current generation over the past seven years.
“While the brand prepares to usher in the First-Ever CX-80 three-row SUV, the hugely successful Mazda CX-9’s time at the top of the current model range will come to an end later this year,” said Mazda in a statement today.
Mazda is yet to reveal the new CX-80, let alone any of its specifications, but confirmation of its Australian release – which carsales expects to take place next year – means the current CX-9 (pictured) will effectively be replaced by two new flagship seven-seat SUVs.
The CX-80 will be Mazda’s third all-new Large Product model, following the five-seat CX-60 mid-size SUV that arrives here in June and the seven-seat CX-90 large SUV, which was revealed in January and will go on sale in August.
The Mazda CX-80 is effectively a stretched seven-seat version of the ‘narrow-body’ CX-60, which is priced from about $60,000, while the CX-90 is basically a longer seven-seat version of the CX-70, which is also yet to be revealed but remains under consideration for Australia as the fourth new Large Product to come from Mazda.
Rather than co-existing with the CX-9 as Mazda previously advised, the new CX-90 will be Mazda’s new flagship SUV and could top $100,000 in plug-in hybrid form when the CX-90 PHEV arrives in 2024.
Likewise, the CX-80 will command a price premium over the $60K-plus CX-60, meaning Mazda will offer two luxurious new SUVs to compete with premium mid-size and large SUVs like the BMW X3 and X5 for the first time.
Following the axing of the CX-9, which is currently priced from $47,600, the CX-8 will become Mazda’s most affordable seven-seat SUV, priced from $42,040 and available in front-drive petrol and all-wheel drive diesel forms.
Launched in Australia in 2018, the CX-8 was recently updated and “has lots of life left in it yet”, says Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak.
“The Mazda CX-9 became an instant hit and, more broadly, helped to lay the foundations for our Mazda Premium approach. It’s left an indelible mark in our line-up and continues to be universally loved for its quality, versatility, timeless design and signature driving dynamics,” he added.
“The First-Ever CX-80 is set to take these reins, along with the CX-60 and CX-90, ensuring that the widely lauded qualities of the CX-9 are further refined and advanced as part of Mazda’s latest cutting-edge model introductions.”
Last year Mazda sold almost 6500 CX-9s and 6000 CX-8s, making them more popular than all but the Toyota Prado and Kluger, and the Isuzu MU-X, Ford Everest, Subaru Outback and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in the mainstream large SUV segment.
Eventually, however, the CX-8 will join the CX-9 in being discontinued in favour of the CX-80 and CX-90 respectively, while the CX-30 will eventually soldier on in the small SUV segment without the aged CX-3.
Apart from Mazda’s three (and potentially four) new Large Product SUVs, the Japanese brand will also replace its popular CX-5 medium SUV, although it may instead be called the CX-50 – a name now applied to a new small SUV sold only in the US.
“The First-Ever Mazda CX-80 will play a key part in growing our premium product portfolio by distilling the exemplary qualities of the CX-60 and CX-90, while offering our customers an even broader choice of options, as we continue to expand, enrich and diversify the Mazda range,” said Mazda Australia managing director, Vinesh Bhindi.
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Keyword: Mazda CX-9 to be replaced by new Mazda CX-80