2023 Mazda CX-8 D35 Touring Active review

The Mazda CX-8 was initially a Japan-only model; a diesel-powered alternative to the petrol Mazda CX-9 sold elsewhere in the world. Not simply content with the CX-9, Australian Mazda representatives introduced the diesel CX-8 family SUV locally in 2018.

Since that time it’s formed part of a two-strong family SUV line-up within Mazda’s showroom.

But it’s the CX-8 that will have the last laugh, as part of Mazda’s enduring local seven-seat SUV offering – the brand will retire the CX-9 nameplate by the end of 2023. Has the Japanese manufacturer made the right choice between its two SUV titans? We jump behind the wheel of a mid-spec, diesel-powered variant to find out.

Mazda prices the CX-8 from $42,060 plus on-road costs for the entry-level versions and this extends up to $71,410 for the range-topping Asaki LE specification – however this is a luxury-spec six-seater.

Most of the specifications within the CX-8 range come in either diesel or petrol powertrains, but the car we’re behind the wheel of is a CX-8 Touring Active – a diesel-only model grade.

The Mazda CX-8 Touring Active costs $56,910 plus ORCs, or roughly $63,000 drive-away where I am in Melbourne. There are relatively few additional options available on Mazda products – they come fairly well equipped as standard.

Bits and pieces worth calling out specifically on the Touring Active specification include the 19-inch machined-face alloy wheels, black mirror caps, cloth and ‘Maztex’ imitation leather in Revera Stone colourway, adaptive LED headlights, heated outboard rear seats, and power adjustment for the front seats.

We’ve established the CX-8 large seven-seat SUV that sits alongside the CX-9 within Mazda’s own range – for now – but there’s a wealth of other family SUV options from other brands too. You can recap what we think of the segment by reading our recent Family SUV Megatest, but top-line rivals to the CX-8 include the Skoda Kodiaq, Toyota Kluger, and Hyundai Santa Fe.

The Mazda CX-8 is one of a diminishing subset of urban-focused SUVs to continue with a diesel powertrain. It’s a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine that sends 140kW/450Nm to all four wheels. It’s serviced by a six-speed automatic transmission.

Cabin presentation in this specific Mazda CX-8 variant is a highlight – especially with respect to the car’s light-coloured upholstery that does a lot to add to the interior ambience. It’s not the newest car within its segment, but there’s all the right screen real estate too.

Most surfaces are covered in soft-touch build materials, including the grippy leather steering wheel, though it is Mazda’s older-style tiller that looks outdated.

The seats up front offer comfy support for both driver and passenger, while there’s power adjustability to get a nice, tall position for seeing over the bonnet (the driver’s seat also has a memory recall function).

There is seat heating, as an added convenience, which is quick to warm up on a winter’s morning, plus an easy-to-operate tri-zone climate-control system found just above the centre console.

Storage-wise, there’s a small, lidded centre console bin between driver and passenger, plus two large cupholders that I tended to stow my phone, wallet and keys inside. A small stowage tray is found in front of the shifter (but no wireless phone charger), while other options include the door pockets, glovebox, and a tiny sunglasses holder in the headlining.

The second row is also covered by outboard seat heating, and other amenities include map pockets, air-con adjustment panel, and a fold-down centre armrest that stocks two cupholders and two USB-A ports.

There’s a comfortable amount of space for your head and legs, though it is a tighter fit between back seat passengers seated beside one another. On the plus side, the backrest can recline, and the base is set upon adjustable rails.

Access through to the third row is by a latch or a one-touch button, though of the two, it’s easier to grab the latch and pull forward. Room in the third row is lacking for adults, especially with regard to head room and knee room.

Even further back is the 775L boot space (with the third-row folded flat) that is accessed through a manual-open boot. At its minimum, with the third row in use, the boot space is 209L.

Under the false boot floor is another stowage space, and below that is a temporary space-saver spare wheel.

Mazda’s latest Mazda Connect infotainment software is used inside the Mazda CX-8 and it’s displayed on a 10.25-inch screen. Layouts and formatting are straightforward enough to follow, though it’s annoyingly not enabled with touch-sensitive capabilities.

This is particularly frustrating when using the wireless Apple CarPlay system (wired Android Auto also available), because you’ll be using a rotary controller to select icons scattered across the screen where a finger-press is the accepted norm. This is less of an issue within Mazda’s own platform, with menus laid out in a linear top-to-bottom array.

Other functions of the software include embedded satellite navigation, AM, FM and digital radio, and Bluetooth phone connectivity. There is no provision for app-based phone connectivity for controlling things like remote climate control, heated seats, etc.

There’s a small display housed within the instrument cluster that shows graphics for car-following, rev-counting, and fuel data. Many competitors will use a fully-digital layout if that’s something you’re looking for in a family SUV, but the Mazda unit presents nicely and contains enough information.

The Mazda CX-8 has a five-star ANCAP safety rating that was awarded in 2018. This will expire at the end of 2024.

Calling out the specifics, the CX-8 earned a 96 per cent score for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 72 per cent score for vulnerable road user protection, and 73 per cent score for safety assistance systems.

The entire Mazda CX-8 range walk receives a suite of active and passive safety systems to earn the above score. Speaking briefly on the former, it gets six airbags including curtain airbags that extend all the way to the third row. 

Active safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assistance, traffic sign recognition, tyre pressure monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

It also gets an adaptive cruise-control system that can slow and stop with the traffic ahead, though it doesn’t include a lane-centring function to steer the car within its own lane. We expect to have the latter for this price point and competitors include it with their own rivals.

Included with all new Mazda models is a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty that is accompanied by a five-year roadside assistance program. This is basically par for the segment – many manufacturers are doing better, but several rivals offer the same coverage.

Services are scheduled to take place every 12 months or 10,000km (whichever occurs first). Cumulatively, the first three visits will cost $1503, while five will run out to $2440.

The Mazda CX-8 costs $1327.32 to insure per year based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

The Mazda CX-8 is claimed to consume 6.0 litres per 100km on a combined fuel consumption cycle. Our car hovered around the 5.0L/100km mark for its week on test, beating the combined consumption claim. It also beat Mazda’s 5.5L/100km claim for highway mileage.

Though the diesel powertrain has lost some of its lustre as brands turn towards electrified powertrains for their SUV offerings, Mazda still places importance in diesel powertrains as evidenced through its new diesel inline-six-cylinder for the newly introduced CX-60 SUV.

But we’re here to talk about one of the brand’s tried and tested power plants – the 2.2-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine that churns out 140kW and 450Nm to an all-wheel-drive system. These outputs feel wholly acceptable for the size and weight of the CX-8, and without feeling sprightly, there’s a surge of torque that ensures the car gets up to a posted speed limit quickly.

The six-speed torque converter automatic transmission has the smarts to shift gears at the right moments and does so smoothly. There’s a manual override if you force the gear selector right or there are paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.

As well, the vibration and noise levels are kept to a minimum, which is particularly impressive for a diesel powertrain. I ran through a regular week’s worth of highway driving, some around-town stints, and ended up surprised at the minimised interior intrusions.

Ride control is similarly well-damped, where only major impacts such as potholes are fed through to the cabin and its occupants. All other road imperfections are dealt without noticeable fuss, and the CX-8’s suspension doesn’t labour over things like speed humps.

Visibility out of the cabin is fine for the most part, though Mazda persists with the unusually magnified driver’s side mirror, which makes it incredibly difficult to judge blind spots and parking lines.

Thankfully, the dimensions are such that it’s simple to slot into a parking space.

The Mazda brand is all about offering choice to the consumer. With that in mind, it’s fair that the CX-8 was deemed the chosen one over the CX-9 – the latter only comes with a petrol engine.

By carrying on with the CX-8 as the entry-level seven-seat option in the Mazda range, there’s a more affordable alternative to the headline-grabbing incoming CX-90.

It’s still spacious throughout (despite a cramped third row for tall passengers), has a comfortable and powerful drive character, and is quite frugal on fuel. It misses out on a few nice-to-haves, such as a touch-enabled screen and digital instrument cluster, but is otherwise nicely equipped for the money.

Go into a Mazda CX-8 Touring Active purchase expecting refinement, a roomy cabin, and a nicely specified list of included features and you’ll come away impressed.