Mazda CX-8

Highly sought-after, the latest offering from the Japanese automaker, Mazda, the new Mazda CX-8, upgraded and launched in Malaysia.

The D-segment (mid-size SUV – three rows: seven-seater, six-seater) runner underpins three engine setups (naturally aspirated petrol, turbocharged petrol, turbocharged diesel).

Locally assembled (CKD – Kedah), available via Bermaz Motor (BAuto) are five variants (2.5 2WD Mid – RM165,360, 2.5 2WD High – RM171,360, 2.5 2WD High Plus – RM186,360, 2.2D 2WD High Plus – RM213,122, 2.5T AWD High Plus – RM221,360).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a manufacturer’s warranty (five years/100,000 km) and a maintenance program (free: five years/100,000 km).

Exterior (single-tone) colours (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: Soul Red Crystal, Machine Grey, Snowflake White Pearl, Platinum Quartz, Deep Crystal Blue, Polymetal Grey, Jet Black). 

Interior (single-tone – dual-tone) colours (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High: Black – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: Black-Deep Red).

The new CX-8 gets a cascading and tiered dashboard (Mazda Jinba-Ittai Design), linked to a high-rising-wide centre console (armrest, wireless charger, vehicle telematics).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, steering wheel, centre console, doors), it sees leather upholstery in one colour scheme (single-tone: Black) with contrast trims (Gloss Black, Aluminium, Wood veneer) and stitching (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High: Beige – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: Deep Red).

Fitted are the driver/central displays (dash embedded: instrument cluster – floating: infotainment), air-conditioning vents (angular) and an ambient lighting system (LED – 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus).

Inclusively, the layout is ergonomic (functional) with accessibilities purposefully arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

Installed 7.0-inch colour TFT LCD fully digital (Multi-Information Display: MID) driver displays (instrument cluster). 

Included is a Windscreen-Head-Up Display (W-HUD – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus).

Features are vehicle telematics, Bluetooth, navigation, voice recognition and customisable interface (drive mode dependent).

Comfortable, the interior (2.5 2WD Mid: 2-3-2 – 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: 2-2-2) sees leather (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High) and Nappa leather (2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus) upholsteries in two colour schemes (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High: Black – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: Deep Red) with contrast stitching (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High: Beige – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: Deep Red).

The first row gets electric-powered (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: driver-passenger-multi-way-adjust, driver-lumbar, driver-memory – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: driver-ventilation-heating) bolstered seats.

The second row gets manual-operated bolstered bench (2.5 2WD Mid: 60:40 split-fold, recline-adjust, third row easy-access switch) and individual (2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: 50:50-fold, multi-way-adjust – 2.5 2WD High: centre walkthrough – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: centre console, ventilation-heating) seats (captain chairs).

The third row gets a manual-operated (recline, 50:50 split-fold, second row easy-access switch) bolstered bench (two-seater).

Included are headrests (adjustable: first, second, third rows), armrests (first row: centre console – second row: centre console, individual inner/outer sides – third row: side panels) and a glass sunroof (fixed front section: 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus).

Available in two seating configurations (mid-size SUV – three rows: seven-seater, six-seater), the cabin offers generous space, providing comfortable seatings with ample interior mobility for the occupants (first row, second row, third row).

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Practical storage spaces. E.g., glove box, centre console spaces (partitioned, caverned, retractable, under-stowage), pockets (seat backs, side doors) and a hidden boot space (under-boot floor).

Mounted is a three-spoke-round steering wheel. Leather (single-tone: Black) with contrast trims (Gloss Black, Aluminium) and stitching (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High: Beige – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: Deep Red).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, voice recognition, vehicle telematics), and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic).

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system (turning radius: 5.8 m).

Provided are six cup holders (two – first, second, third rows) and four bottle holders (one – side doors).

Equipped are six USB ports (two: first, second, third rows), two 12 V sockets (first row, boot) and one wireless charger (first row).

Accessing the boot’s electric-powered (handsfree: remote/key fob, interior button, tailgate button, kick-sensor – height-adjust) tailgate, opens to 209 litres (seats up: third row, second row), 775 litres (seats down: third row – seats up: second row) and 1,727 litres (seats down: third row, second row) of load capacities.

Weighing in at 1,781 kg (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus), 1,858 kg (2.2D 2WD High Plus) and 1,896 kg (2.5T AWD High Plus), the new CX-8 stands at 4,900 mm long, 1,840 mm wide, 1,730 mm tall and with a wheelbase spanning 2,930 mm.

Dynamically solid (Mazda Kodo Design), it parades a seamlessly curvaceous exterior, emphasised by cleanly and roundly cut surfaces.

The long-overhang front-end sees a formed bonnet, muscular quarter panels (flared fenders, vents) and a sculpted bumper (grille: interlocking 3D-textured vertical inserts, wing trim, Mazda emblem – vents: lower-centre).

Accentuations, body clad (Black: bumper, fenders, side sills), body trims (Black: grille inserts, vent, side mirror arms – body-colour: side mirror caps, door handles – Chrome: grille wing, bumper corner strips, lower side doors, window surrounds, B-pillars – Black-Chrome: Mazda emblem) and roof rails (Chrome: 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus).

Solidly sculpted (Mazda Kodo Design), it continues the seamlessly curvaceous profile, emphasised by roundly cut and horizontally symmetrical surfaces.

The short-overhang rear-end sees a straight cut roofline (roof-edge spoiler, shark fin antenna), muscular quarter panels (flared fenders), a bulbously tapered tailgate (centre bar trim, Mazda/CX-8 emblems) and a covered bumper (corner exhausts).

Accentuations, body clad (Black: bumper, fenders, side sills), body trims (Black: bottom roof-edge spoiler, C-pillars – body-colour: upper roof-edge spoiler, antenna, door handles – Chrome: centre bar, lower side doors, exhausts, window surrounds, Mazda/CX-8 emblems) and roof rails (Chrome: 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus).

Sunken, the headlamps are housed roundly sharp and inward-tilted with P-shaped light signature (2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus). Installed are full LED (projector) units.

Features are automatic On/Off/levelling/cornering, Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS – 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), High Beam Control (HBC – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), Daytime Running Lights (DRL – 2.5 2WD Mid: Bulb – 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: LED), welcome/leaving lights and sequential turn signals (LED).

Included is a set of fog lamps (LED).

Seamless, the tail lamps are framed slim, sharp and wrapped-around with P-shaped light signature (2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus). Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome/leaving lights and sequential turn signals (LED). Included are a high-mounted stop light (spoiler integrated) and a set of fog lamps (LED).

Fitted (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus) is a set of 19-inch (multi-spoke – Silver) alloy rims, wrapped in 225/55 R19 (front, rear) Toyo Proxes R46 tyres.

The new CX-8 (2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus) is equipped with Mazda’s ‘i-ACTIVESENSE’ suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS – 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), High Beam Control (HBC – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM – 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA – 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), Driver Attention Alert (DAA – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), Smart City Brake Support with Front (SCBS-F – 2.5 2WD High), Smart City Brake Support with Front-Rear (SCBS-FR – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), Smart Brake Support (SBS – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus) and Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus).

Other systems include (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control System (TCS), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Hill Launch Assist (HLA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Surround View Monitor (2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: 360-degree – 2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High: reverse), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold.

Equipped is the Mazda-Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) program (.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: NORMAL, SPORT, TOWING – 2.5T AWD High Plus: OFF-ROAD).

Installed is an 8.0-inch HD touchscreen central display (infotainment – MZD Connect).

Features are Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), AM/FM radio, USB, Bluetooth, 5G/WiFi/WiFi hotspot, media, live navigation, voice assistant, vehicle telematics and customisable interface (drive mode dependent).

Entertainment is channelled via a standard sound system (six speakers).

The new CX-8 nestles Mazda’s ‘SkyActiv-G’ (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus) and ‘SkyActiv-D’ (2.2D 2WD High Plus) Internal Combustion Engine (ICE: petrol/diesel) powertrain with variant-specific setups (naturally aspirated, turbocharged).

First setup (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus) is a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve naturally aspirated-direct injection (NA-DI) with VVT DOHC petrol engine (195 PS, 258 Nm).

Second setup (2.2D 2WD High Plus) is a 2.2-litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve turbocharged-common-rail direct injection (T-CRDI) with VVT DOHC diesel engine (191 PS, 450 Nm).

Third setup (2.5T AWD High) is a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve turbocharged-direct injection (T-DI) with VVT DOHC petrol engine (231 PS, 420 Nm).

Mated to the setups is Mazda’s ‘SkyActiv-Drive’ six-speed automatic transmission (manual shift mode).

Power is rooted to the front (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus) and all four (2.5T AWD High Plus) wheels, via a Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) system and Mazda’s i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive (i-ACTIV AWD) system.

Included is Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control Plus Technology and Mazda’s i-Stop Idling Technology.

Fuel tank capacity is at 72 litres (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus) and 74 litres (2.5T AWD High Plus).

The new CX-8 features these conveniences.

E.g., Mazda’s Advanced Entry system (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button, remote engine start: key fob), electric-powered (handsfree: remote/key fob, interior button, tailgate button, kick-sensor – height-adjust) tailgate, dual-zone automatic climate control (rear air vents) system, first row electric-powered (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: driver-passenger-multi-way-adjust, driver-lumbar, driver-memory – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: driver-ventilation-heating) bolstered seats, second row manual-operated bolstered bench (2.5 2WD Mid: 60:40 split-fold, recline-adjust, third row easy-access switch), second row individual (2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: 50:50-fold, multi-way-adjust – 2.5 2WD High: centre walkthrough – 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: centre console, ventilation-heating) seats (captain chairs), third row manual-operated (recline, 50:50 split-fold, second row easy-access switch) bolstered bench (two-seater), headrests (adjustable: first, second, third rows), armrests (first row: centre console – second row: centre console, individual inner/outer sides – third row: side panels), glass sunroof (fixed front section: 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus), centre console spaces (partitioned, caverned, retractable, under-stowage), charging ports (USB, power sockets, wireless charger), steering wheel (multi-function, column adjustments, EPAS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, interior illumination (LED: cabin, ambient, boot), parking sensors (four-front, four-rear), parking cameras (2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus: 360-degree – 2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High: reverse), side mirrors (2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus – BSM), rear-view mirror (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus – interior: automatic-dimming), automatic headlamps (On/Off/levelling/cornering), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-auto-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), door ajar warning and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Installed is a dual-zone automatic climate control (second, third rows: rear air vents – first, second row: dedicated controls) system.

A suitable daily driver, the ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time, providing great power with agile handling.

Propping-up the chassis (2.5 2WD Mid, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High Plus, 2.2D 2WD High Plus, 2.5T AWD High Plus) is a suspension setup of MacPherson struts (front) and multi-link (rear).

Inside and out, performance- and comfort-wise, the ride quality is satisfactory.

Good sound insulation with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. The cabin is well-designed, enhancing the in-car ambience.

Overall, the cabin can suppress unwanted noises well and make them barely noticeable, even when cruising through bumpy asphalts or at high speeds.

The new Mazda CX-8 is built with an elegantly dynamic appeal, offering appearance, space and practicality.

Curvaceous and sharply sculpted, its exterior is well-designed with roundly angular lines donating to a powerful overall character.

Inside and out, the quality of the equipment installed is impressive with clean and minimalistic detailing.

Ultimately, the new CX-8 bargains more than just good looks, as it also offers plenty of other amenities at the price it comes with.