Mazda Slashes CX-60 & CX-80 PHEV Prices — What It Means on a Novated Lease
Mazda has cut CX-60 and CX-80 PHEV prices by up to $8,119. Here's what that means if you're considering one on a novated lease. Plain facts, no fluff.
Mazda has quietly dropped the prices on its CX-60 and CX-80 plug-in hybrid SUVs in Australia — by as much as $8,119 according to EVcentral. That's not a sale or a cashback — it's a permanent reduction in the manufacturer's recommended retail price.
For anyone sitting on the fence about a PHEV through a novated lease, a lower drive-away price has a direct knock-on effect: the amount being financed is smaller, which flows through to your fortnightly lease payment. It's a straightforward mechanical relationship — cheaper car, lower repayments, same tax advantages.
What this means for novated lease customers
PHEVs like the CX-60 and CX-80 sit in an interesting spot right now. They don't qualify for the federal government's FBT exemption — that's reserved for battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids under the luxury car tax threshold that meet specific criteria — so you won't get the zero-FBT treatment you would on a fully electric car. What you do still get is the core novated lease benefit: your repayments come out of your pre-tax salary, reducing your taxable income.
The price cut matters here because FBT on a PHEV is calculated against the vehicle's taxable value. A lower base price means a lower taxable value, which can mean a slightly lower FBT liability — depending on the method your employer uses. This isn't a guarantee of savings; run your own numbers with a licensed broker before committing.
The CX-60 and CX-80 are practical, well-specced family SUVs. If you were already considering one, the revised pricing makes the comparison against a comparable BEV — and the FBT exemption that comes with it — more interesting, not less. Worth doing that side-by-side properly.
Common questions
Do the Mazda CX-60 or CX-80 PHEVs qualify for the FBT exemption?
No. The FBT exemption introduced by the Australian Government applies to battery-electric vehicles and certain plug-in hybrids, but PHEVs ordered on or after 1 April 2025 no longer qualify following the government's phase-out of PHEV eligibility. Always confirm current rules with a licensed adviser, as eligibility criteria can change.
Does a lower purchase price actually reduce my novated lease repayments?
Generally, yes. The financed amount is based on the vehicle's price, so a lower MSRP means less to finance. That flows through to lower pre-tax deductions from your pay — though the exact figure depends on your lease term, residual, and employer arrangement.
Should I choose a PHEV or go fully electric to maximise my novated lease benefit?
If maximising tax savings is the primary goal, a BEV eligible for the FBT exemption is hard to beat right now. But the right vehicle depends on your driving habits, charging access, and budget — a PHEV still offers meaningful salary packaging benefits even without the FBT exemption.
Is now a good time to lock in a Mazda PHEV on a novated lease given the price cut?
The price reduction does make the numbers more attractive than they were last month. That said, 'now is a good time' is something only you can assess once you've seen actual repayment figures based on your salary and tax situation — not something any content page can answer for you.