or signup to continue reading Here we have a large luxury SUV...
but there's something amiss. It has a classy presentation and there's loads of space inside, not to mention the glorious tan upholstery with its leather and alcantara mix. It's smooth on the road and packs a mechanical punch, too.
But where are the Mercedes-Benz badges? If there aren't any of those, surely there's at least a BMW or Audi logo somewhere in here? Well, no. That's because this is a Mazda, but it's not really like any Mazda before it. This is the biggest, most expensive, and most powerful production car the Japanese marque has ever put to market, and for that reason it's got a very difficult job.
Firstly, it's a demonstration of Mazda's ability to produce a premium vehicle at a premium price. The range kicks off at $75,000 before on-road costs and knocks on three-figures before you even think about optional packages. Additionally, it's going up against some stiff competition.
Its price range means it's competing with everything from the and to the and . In other words, it's up against tried-and-tested large SUV heavy-hitters and tasty offerings from dedicated luxury brands – all at once. That doesn't mean it'sout of its depth, though.
The brings with it newly-developed six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with 48V mild-hybrid technology, which Mazda claims are up to 47 per cent more powerful with 31 per cent more torque compared to the discontinued , while also being 40 per cent more fuel efficie.