Want to make this year's bargain on a BMW X5? Then buy a Mazda CX-80. We're talking full-on SUV experience with loads of space, driving pleasure and a feel behind the wheel that makes you wonder why you even looked at the Germans in the first place. All-wheel drive, a powerful straight-six diesel and an interior that oozes premium - what more could you ask for?

Mazda has always been a bit of an outsider in the car world. Not as loud as the Germans, not as futuristic as the Koreans, but a manufacturer that dares to build cars for people who love to drive. The CX-80 is no exception. This is a car that not only transports you from one place to another in a reliable way, it seduces you on the road. The steering feel is razor sharp, the chassis balance impressive and the throttle response - my God, this is pure driving pleasure packed into a seven-seat family SUV.

If your friends got into this car blindfolded, they'd instantly buy that it was a BMW X5 they were sitting in. Luxurious leather, fine wood panelling and an infotainment solution operated by a knob on the centre console - just like in Munich. Then you press the start button and let the 3.3-litre straight-six sing its rich diesel song. It's the kind of growling sound that makes engine lovers smile at every increase in speed. 

However, we miss a real rocking comfort mode. The CX-80 isn't uncomfortable, but it has a certain basic sporty character that never quite allows the suspension to be as compliant as some prefer in a large SUV. The Americans would probably shake their heads, but at the same time, this is a car for those of us who like to drive actively.

A big plus is the physical off button for the speed warning system. All new cars have to have this annoying feature, and it's usually hidden behind menus and button mazes. Mazda, on the other hand, lets you easily switch off the misery at the touch of a button. Such a detail may seem insignificant, but believe me - in today's car world, it's a dealbreaker for many. If it warned you when you were speeding, that would be one thing, but we have yet to drive a single car model where the system works properly and it's more annoying than it is safe. 

And then we come to the price tag. The Mazda CX-80 is 200,000 kronor cheaper than a BMW X5. Let that sink in for a moment. Two hundred thousand kronor. And then the Mazda is already seven-seater in the standard version, while BMW charges over SEK 20,000 extra for the two small seats at the back. When you choose the CX-80, you not only get a car that matches the X5 in driving pleasure and premium feel, you also get it at a price tag that feels almost provocatively sensible.

The Mazda CX-80 is this year's underdog. It's the car for those who refuse to go with the flow, for those who want performance and luxury but refuse to pay over the odds just because a German badge is on the bonnet. Mazda has built a family SUV that gives you a driving experience worthy of the best, but at a price that leaves room for much more fun than car instalments.

Mazda CX-80

Price: SEK 548 300

Engine: 3.2 L rak 6, diesel mild hybrid. 

Power: 254hp, 550 Nm. 

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive.  

Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 8.4 seconds.

Top speed: Over 219 km/h.

Weight: 2 131 kg.

Dimensions (length/width/height): 4 995 x 1 890 x 1 714 mm.