Mazda is celebrating a standout performance at the 2025 Scottish Car of the Year (SCOTY) Awards, where the brand’s newest flagship model, the Mazda CX-80, secured the coveted Best Large Car title. Selected by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW), the win reinforces Mazda’s strong reputation in Scotland, following back-to-back SCOTY victories for the CX-60 in previous years.
Launched earlier in 2025, the CX-80 represents the pinnacle of Mazda’s European line-up. Positioned above the CX-60, it is the most spacious SUV the brand has ever offered in the UK. Its elegant three-row configuration, premium cabin craftsmanship and robust drivetrain choices collectively signal Mazda’s intention to challenge long-established premium competitors across the continent.
A Flagship Built for Luxury, Space and Confidence
Under the bonnet, the Mazda CX-80 shares its powertrains with the award-winning CX-60. Buyers can choose between a refined plug-in hybrid system—pairing a Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 129kW electric motor and 17.8kWh battery—or Mazda’s smooth and efficient in-line six-cylinder 3.3-litre e-Skyactiv D diesel producing 254ps. Both options come exclusively with all-wheel drive, delivering the confident, poised handling that has become a Mazda hallmark.
Inside, the CX-80 elevates the brand’s human-centred design philosophy, offering a choice of three middle-row seating layouts: a standard seven-seat arrangement with a bench, or optional six-seat configurations featuring luxurious captain’s chairs—with either a walk-through space or a fixed centre console. Across all five available trims—Exclusive-Line, Homura, Takumi, Homura Plus and Takumi Plus—the CX-80 blends flexibility with high-end materials and Japanese-inspired design precision.
Dimensionally, the flagship SUV stretches its wheelbase an extra 250mm beyond the CX-60, ensuring ample space for all three rows. It also stands 26mm taller for improved headroom while maintaining the same width, preserving the sleek proportions and familiar frontal design of its sibling.
Celebrated by Critics
ASMW President Ally Ballingall highlighted the CX-80’s well-rounded excellence:
“The Mazda CX-80 claimed the Large Car Award thanks to its exceptional blend of sophistication, space and driving poise. Judges praised its premium cabin, seven-seat flexibility and beautifully judged refinement. Its smooth powertrains and confident handling set it apart from bulkier rivals. Combining elegance with real family practicality, the CX-80 stood out as the class’s most complete package.”
This success adds to Mazda’s growing SCOTY legacy. The CX-60 e-Skyactiv D won Best Large SUV in 2023, while the CX-60 PHEV captured Best Plug-in Hybrid in 2022—underscoring the brand’s consistent delivery of award-winning performance.
A Milestone Moment for Mazda
Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director of Mazda Motors UK, expressed his pride in the achievement:
“The Mazda CX-80 is a car that sits at the very top of our range in the UK. It offers a unique blend of space, practicality, luxury and stand-out design. It combines progressive design anchored in Japanese aesthetics with outstanding on-board accommodation that delivers quality, style, flexibility and superior technology. I’m delighted that the ASMW have honoured it with their Best Large Car title.”
Looking ahead, Thomson shared his optimism for the brand’s expanding line-up:
“I’m also really excited that next year our dealers in Scotland and across the rest of the UK will see the arrival of the all-new Mazda CX-5 and the all-new Mazda6e, so it’s going to be an exciting year of new models for Mazda.”
With its latest accolade, the Mazda CX-80 not only affirms its position as the brand’s most capable and luxurious SUV to date—it also cements Mazda’s upward trajectory in design, engineering and premium appeal across the UK and Europe.
