Mazda CX-8: Suitable For Family Friendly Households And Also Individuals In The Corporate Industry!

DISCLAIMER

All opinions expressed are translated directly from Caricarz’s writer, Suhana Veru’s article.

All of the information stated above is based on Caricarz’s previous research in June to September 2021. Current prices and information may differ.

I was initially a little worried when I was instructed to test drive the Mazda CX-8, known to be one of the sportiest utility vehicles, as I stand at the height of only 1.57 centimetres!

This SUV is said to be most suitable for fathers or for those who are already married.

However, that was not to be an obstacle for me! Despite the feeling of trembling I felt when I was at the Mazda Service Center in Shah Alam, Selangor.

As soon as the Mazda Public Relations Officer brought me to the Mazda CX-8 2.5 G SkyActiv-G 2WD High in Jet Black to take home, I realised that this vehicle was so similar to the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-9.

Before turning on the engine, I had some time to ask a few questions to the officer about this machine!

COPY PASTE MAZDA CX-5, CX-9?

Judging by the front exterior design of the CX-8, it seems similar to the CX-5, while the rear looks like a CX-9.

However, it can be differentiated by the grille. The CX-8 model has a more extended grille that matches the horizontal slat element, just like the CX-9, instead of the mesh on the CX-5.

Following that, its dimensions are quite different from the rest. It stands at 4900mm long, with a width of 1840mm, and a height of 1730mm. Thus, it is 17 cm shorter and 13 cm thinner than the CX-9.

The exterior design of this model features a masculine and luxurious style inspired by sports car elements, especially the 19-inch alloy rims with 255/55R19 tires.

Although it is said to be so similar to other Mazda models, this CX-8 features a horizontal front grille design that is significantly different from the rest.

It comes with LED headlights and daytime running lights, while the rear lights look pretty sporty! However, sometimes it felt as if the headlights seemed to be staring back at you!

If observed more closely, the design of the headlights resembles the reflection of someone who is dissatisfied with you.

Fear not, we are not trying to scare you and this machinery is not haunted either. It is just the opinion of our reviewer!

In short, the Mazda CX-8 brings a design that is quite mesmerizing and elegant in line with the minimalist and simple design language of KODO.

Why do we say it's simple enough?

This is because it is equipped with a dynamic line starting from the front to the rear before ending with a thinner rear light. On top of that, it also includes a dual exhaust system.

Upon stepping into the cabin space of this SUV, I was a little surprised to find it quite spacious and comfortable.

This is usually not the case as Mazda is known for its relatively narrow cabin space. So it’s nice to have a more spacious and comfortable interior space this time.

The 2.5L 2WD High comes as a six-seater (2-3-2) with the second row receiving captain seats, separated by a hand rest console and cup holders, as well as a Nappa leather upholstery.

As I mentioned earlier, this vehicle is more suited for families. Still, now I realise we should not rule out that this machine could also be suitable for corporate use.

I was quite intrigued by the last row of seats and did not miss the opportunity to get comfortable. In addition to that, the rear seats can be folded 50:50 to make way for more space via a control button located in the luggage compartment.

Please be advised that the last row of seats can seem a little cramped, as the space is relatively narrow. 

However, the roof provides adequate headroom for most average height drivers and passengers in the country.

The feel of the seats is wrapped with Nappa leather, which represents a high-quality grade of leather that allows you to feel the softness of its leather material.

Although I was not the only one enjoying the comfortable seats, my six-year-old son also praised the softness of the leather seats.

The driver’s seat can be adjusted 10 ways, which will come in handy with trying to get comfortable when driving long distances.

Despite just being in the car for only half an hour, I was freezing as the front part alone has at least four air conditioners.

This doesn’t include the second and third-row seats as they have their air conditioning vents respectively.

So, there will be no issues or fighting over the air conditioning!

Once seated in the driver's side, I kept glancing at the dashboard, which is wrapped in leather, thus highlighting a space that looks very exclusive and aesthetic.

I still have to admit that the surface of the dashboard and instrument cluster did not reach my expectations as these two sections are so similar to the CX-5!

It seems too modest and straightforward. There are no attractive features in the interior cabin, but yes, it has strengths in terms of width and spaciousness.

The instrument cluster comes with a combination of analogue and digital, but the digital part seems significantly tiny. The 7-inch infotainment system is controlled using the Mazda Connect feature and supported by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functions. On top of that, the vehicle is equipped with six speakers.

Looking at its infotainment system, it may appear to be a little outdated compared to the latest systems found on the Mazda 3 and CX-30.

Moving on, the frame that surrounds the screen on the infotainment system makes the screen look smaller, while its 360-degree camera resolution offers relatively low quality.

Therefore, there is not much I can say about the infotainment system, but there are still many standard equipment types three-zone of equipment types available on the Mazda CX-8.

Among them are the engine start button, electronic parking brake, multifunction steering wheel, power adjustment function for the driver seat and three -zone air conditioning system with rear hopper.

The boot space has around 209 litres, and you can fit at least up to four or five bags when travelling.

Towards the bottom of the boot compartment, there is also a special compartment to store essentials such as laptops or handbags.

This special space allows you to store your valuables without being noticed by outsiders.

There is also a charging port in the boot to plug in your vacuum! 

The Mazda CX-8 also comes with a great set of safety features as Mazda is known for its i-Activsense. 

It also comes with Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assistance System, Brake Assistance, Driver Attention Alert, blind-spot monitoring, smart city brake support, rear cross-traffic alert, and so much more.

Upon getting comfortable in the driver’s seat, I got used to all the control buttons, gas pedals and steering wheel very quickly.

Just so you know, this is the first time in my life I’ve driven a car that is much taller, wider and bigger as compared to the Proton X70.

I was a little awkward with the gas pedal, considering it was a bit further compared to the other pedal.

I started my journey from Mazda headquarters at a relatively moderate speed.

The vehicle is said to be able to produce 192 hp and 258 Nm of torque that is supplied by the 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G engine. It truly is enough to power this nearly 1.8-ton SUV.

Unfortunately, the test drive this time was quite dull as the government had implemented the Movement Control Order. Therefore, we could only conduct the test drive around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

As mentioned, we were not yet allowed to cross states.

But that still didn’t stop me from finding suitable places to test the capability of this vehicle.

Once holding the steering wheel, you can tell that it is a bit heavier than Proton X70 and Lancer vehicles.

In terms of handling, it is pretty comfortable, and when accelerating, it already starts to show a signal on the screen that indicates that the speed is relatively high.

Not only that, but the speed level is indicated on the windshield. Unfortunately, my awkwardness with this larger SUV caused the vehicle to swerve a little into the middle lane.

Thanks to the lane departure warning feature, it seemed to “pull” the vehicle back to my original route.

Even when changing gears or accelerating, the handling of the car was still very steady. 

Those who want to feel the satisfaction of driving can check out the manual transmission option and sport mode to hear more of a roar as if you are in a race car.

However, in Sport mode, the gear response when forcing the gear down from gear 4 to 3 feels a little slow. I think this may have been to protect the gears from "over-rev" while braking.

Despite that, I was quite impressed with the suspension system catered to give you balance between performance and comfort.

From the driver’s point of view, I noticed that the sway was kept to a minimum, but I could feel every pothole or uneven surface of the road as a passenger. 

In short, even though it is an SUV with more seats, Mazda still does not take safety lightly as with i-ActiveSense; it aims to detect potential dangers and reduce the impact of accidents. 

Congratulations Mazda!