Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-80: 7-Seat SUV Battle
$66,930 vs $56,100. Both seat 7 and tow 2,000kg. The price order has flipped, and the Mazda is now the cheaper one.
Data checked: specs 30 Sep 2026, price 8 Sep 2026
Comparison snapshot
Prices, scores and edges below update from our car data.
Lighter on fuel by 2.7 L/100km, 2 more years of warranty
Cheaper by $10,830, 79L more boot
Written 5 April 2026. The snapshot, tables, scores and verdict on this page update from our car data; figures quoted in the text are as at that date.
Price
A $10,830 gap at RRP, and it runs the other way to how this pairing used to read. The Sorento Sport+ HEV at $66,930 comes with AWD, a hybrid powertrain and 7 seats. The CX-80 D50e Pure at $56,100 gets you Mazda's premium interior, a diesel with 550Nm, 200mm ground clearance and, since Mazda's 2026 range repricing, the lower sticker.
At 15,000km/year, the Sorento costs approximately $31/week in fuel ($1,625/year at $1.90/L). The CX-80 diesel costs $29/week ($1,526/year at $1.85/L diesel). That's $99/year difference. Over 5 years, $495 in fuel savings for the CX-80.
5-Year Cost Estimate
| Cost | Sorento HEV | CX-80 Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Driveaway (VIC) | $70,490 (Kia offer) | ~$61,000 (est.) |
| 5yr Fuel | $8,123 | $7,631 |
| 5yr Servicing | $3,200 | $3,800 |
| 5yr Insurance | $8,800 | $10,200 |
| Resale (est. 5yr) | -$33,465 (50%) | -$25,245 (45%) |
| True 5yr Cost | ~$57,150 | ~$57,390 |
Estimates based on CarSorted calculations. Actual costs vary by driving habits, location, and market conditions.
Safety
Both 5-star ANCAP. The CX-80 was tested in 2024 under stricter protocols than the Sorento's 2021 test. Both have AEB, blind spot monitoring, lane keep, and adaptive cruise. The CX-80's newer test date gives it an edge on paper. Compare full safety specs on CarSorted.
Features
The CX-80 justifies some of its premium with Mazda's cabin quality. Soft-touch materials, tight panel gaps, and a design philosophy that targets European luxury brands. The Sorento Sport+ counters with dual 12.3-inch screens, Harman Kardon audio, ventilated seats, and a surround-view monitor. Feature-for-feature, the Sorento matches or beats the CX-80 at this price point.
CarSorted Data Insight
Based on CarSorted's database of Australian vehicles: there are 14 seven-seat SUVs with AWD under $70,000. The Sorento HEV is one of the few that combines a hybrid powertrain with a 7-year warranty. The CX-80 is the only one with a diesel mild-hybrid producing over 500Nm.
Of all 7-seaters in our database, the CX-80 D50e Pure now works out at $8,014 per seat against $9,597 for the Sorento Sport+ HEV AWD.
The Verdict
Buy the Sorento if: the 616L boot, the 195kW hybrid drivetrain and seven years of unlimited-kilometre warranty are worth $10,830 to you. It is still the better-equipped car for the family that fills every seat and the boot behind them.
Buy the CX-80 if: you want a premium driving experience, 550Nm for relaxed towing and Mazda's near-luxury interior, and you would rather keep the $10,830. The shorter five-year warranty is the main thing you are trading away.
Compare both on CarSorted with 470+ specs, or check our 7-seater rankings for more options.
Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices excluding on-road costs. Correct at time of publishing. Verify with your dealer.
Key details
A tick marks the better figure only where both cars have one and the gap is meaningful (3% or more; a whole star or year).
| Detail | Kia Sorento | Mazda CX-80 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $66,930 RRP | From $56,100 RRP |
| Drive-away estimate | Calculating... | Calculating... |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Powertrain | Hybrid, 1.6L 4-cyl | Hybrid, 3.3L 6-cyl turbo |
| Power / torque | 169kW / 350Nm | 209kW / 450Nm |
| Fuel use | 5.7 L/100km | 8.4 L/100km |
| Measured consumption (AAA) | 5.8 L/100kmAAA test: the 2025 Kia Sorento HEV S AWD, same engine, drivetrain and gearbox, a different grade | 8 L/100kmAAA test: this grade, 2025 model year |
| 0-100km/h | 9.1s | 9s |
| Boot | 179L seats up · 1,996L seats folded | 258L seats up · 1,971L seats folded |
| Towing (braked) | 1,650kg | 2,500kg |
| ANCAP | 5 stars (2020) | 5 stars (2024) |
| Warranty | 7yr / unlimited km | 5yr / unlimited km |
Measured rows: Australian Automobile Association Real-World Testing Program (realworld.org.au), the on-road result for the vehicle each test names, beside the maker's figure above rather than in place of it. Test pages: Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-80.
At a glance
- Seats
- 7
- Boot
- 179L seats up · 1,996L seats folded
- Length x width x height
- 4,815 x 1,900 x 1,700mm
- Wheelbase
- 2,815mm
- Engine
- 1.6L 4-cyl
- Power
- 169kW
- Torque
- 350Nm
- Drive
- AWD
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Power-to-weight
- No data
- Kerb weight
- No data
- Spare wheel
- Full size
- Payload
- No data
- Towing braked / unbraked
- 1,650kg / 750kg
- Turning circle
- 11.6m
- Seats
- 7
- Boot
- 258L seats up · 1,971L seats folded
- Length x width x height
- 4,990 x 1,890 x 1,710mm
- Wheelbase
- 3,120mm
- Engine
- 3.3L 6-cyl turbo
- Power
- 209kW
- Torque
- 450Nm
- Drive
- AWD
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Power-to-weight
- 100 kW/tonne
- Kerb weight
- 2,084kg
- Spare wheel
- Space saver
- Payload
- 579kg
- Towing braked / unbraked
- 2,500kg / 750kg
- Turning circle
- 11.6m
CarSorted Score breakdown
The CarSorted Score is algorithmic: it is calculated from each car's data, not from a road test. How it works.
Safety
Fuel Economy
Value
Practicality
Technology
Performance
Reliability
The verdict
Kia Sorento comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (70 vs 67)
The deciding gaps
- Fuel Economy:Kia Sorento 85, Mazda CX-80 60, Kia Sorento ahead by 25
- Practicality:Kia Sorento 54, Mazda CX-80 64, Mazda CX-80 ahead by 10
- Performance:Kia Sorento 52, Mazda CX-80 60, Mazda CX-80 ahead by 8
The Kia Sorento wins on the score; the Mazda CX-80 is the cheaper of the two, and price is already part of the Value axis.
Same scorer as the live comparison of these two exact cars.
Our take (written 5 April 2026)
Mazda's 2026 repricing of the large SUV range has turned this comparison around. The CX-80 D50e Pure now lists $10,830 under the Sorento Sport+ HEV AWD, and it brings 550Nm of torque for relaxed towing, a more premium cabin, newer ANCAP testing and marginally better fuel economy. The Sorento answers with a bigger boot (616L vs 550L), a 7-year warranty against five, a quicker 0-100 and lower servicing. Over five years our sums have them almost level, so the purchase price does most of the talking. The CX-80 is now both the premium choice and the cheaper one, which is a hard combination to argue with. Buy the Sorento if the extra two years of warranty and the bigger boot are worth paying up for.
Our written take favoured the Mazda CX-80; on today's figures the score favours the Kia Sorento.
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Questions buyers ask
Is the Sorento or CX-80 better for towing?
Braked towing capacity: the Mazda CX-80 at 2,500kg, against 1,650kg for the Kia Sorento.
Which 7-seater has the best warranty?
The Kia Sorento comes with a 7yr / unlimited km warranty; the Mazda CX-80 with a 5yr / unlimited km warranty.
How much does the Sorento HEV cost to run per year?
On the official combined cycle, the Kia Sorento uses 5.7 L/100km and the Mazda CX-80 uses 8.4 L/100km.
Is the Mazda CX-80 worth the extra money?
The Kia Sorento Sport+ HEV AWD is from $66,930 RRP; the Mazda CX-80 G40e Pure is from $56,100 RRP. That makes the Mazda CX-80 $10,830 cheaper.
What are the ANCAP ratings for the Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-80?
The Kia Sorento holds 5 stars (rated 2020), and the Mazda CX-80 holds 5 stars (rated 2024).
Which has the bigger boot?
Boot space with the seats up: the Mazda CX-80 at 258L, against 179L for the Kia Sorento.
Which comes out ahead overall?
On the CarSorted Score the Kia Sorento comes out ahead (Kia Sorento 70/100, Mazda CX-80 67/100), mainly on fuel economy. The score is algorithmic; the editorial above says who each car suits.
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How to read this page. Prices, specs, ANCAP ratings, warranty, scores and the computed verdict come from our records for the two variants shown, sourced from manufacturer Australian documents, and update when those records change. RRP excludes on-road costs. Drive-away figures are estimates for the state you have selected unless marked as advertised. The editorial text was written on 5 April 2026. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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