Mazda CX-9 to be replaced by new Mazda CX-80

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 'wide-body' 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.

“There’s a difference between what we need and want. We’ve said in the past we’re looking at it [CX-70], but there’s no decision yet,” said Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak.

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 continue to be Mazda’s most affordable seven-seat SUV and a direct rival for the top-selling Toyota Kluger, 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, according to Doak, “has lots of life left in it yet”.

“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.”

Doak told carsales that the CX-80 was “not really a [direct] replacement for CX-9, frankly; it has more performance, more luxury and more space, so that’s a huge change”.

All new Large Product CXs will likely echo the CX-60 in offering 3.3-litre turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel six-cylinder engines, plus four-cylinder petrol PHEV powertrains to follow, all with AWD as standard.

Asked about offering more affordable rear-drive models, Doak said: “Rear-drive is not impossible, but it’s not the [premium] direction we want to go with.”

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 (which Doak says "will continue for some time").

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.

“That size of vehicle is very important to us. CX-5 will be replaced, but what it will be called is TBC,” said Mazda Australia managing director, Vinesh Bhindi.

“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,” he added.

Bhindi said the company would also consider offering the CX-50 if it became available in right-hand drive.

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