CX-80 long-term review: 4000 frustrating miles in Mazda’s 7-seater

At one point, a smiling driver told us we must have been mad, such was the weather. His car can’t have had the benefit of ventilated seats: we quickly stopped being all hot and bothered with the CX-80 blasting freezing air not just into our faces but onto our backs and bums too.

Glorious – as, I imagine, its seat heating would be in winter (yes, I did try to turn both on at once and, no, it doesn’t let you).

There was time left in the day for one more hitch, though. While the boot is largely trimmed in the usual black fabric, the upper sides, upper second-row seatbacks, rear door cards and headlining are all covered in light material – and inevitably we got some dust and dirt on them.

Panicked sponging ensued and all is now back to normal – but, much as I love a bright interior, you would be wise to choose the black option if you’re going to use your SUV for any actual SUV activities.

Update 3

An electric car is now the default for company car drivers, but the next best option in terms of tax liability is a plug-in hybrid – and it’s a major part of the reason for the ongoing PHEV renaissance.

The logic behind the bandings is, of course, rewarding lower CO2 emissions – but unlike with an EV, the carbon footprint of a PHEV is entirely dependent on how you use it. And if you ‘can’t make an EV work for you’, it will be because you regularly do long journeys without time to stop and charge or you can’t access charging at home or at work.