Mazda now has a seven-seat diesel SUV
There’s a new member of the Mazda SUV family in New Zealand: the CX-8.
As the name suggests, it fits in between the CX-5 and CX-9. It’s essentially a Japanese domestic market version of the latter, with a narrower body but the same sevenseat layout.
The other key difference between the current CX-9 and new CX8 is that while the former is petrol only, the latter is available solely with Mazda’s new 140kW/450Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel (also offered in the upgraded CX-5 and Mazda6).
Compared with the previous incarnation of the engine, the new version has a technology called Rapid Multi-Stage Combustion that has helped push power and torque up by 11kW/30Nm while also reducing fuel consumption.
The Combined figure for all CX-8 models is 6.0 litres per 100km. Tow rating is 2000kg.
The CX-8 is also the first Mazda to have Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), which is linked to the radar cruise control, navigation and Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) systems; it provides additional speed warnings based on real-time information.
The CX-8 is available in GSX and Limited specifications. The entry model also brings the choice of 2WD or AWD, while the top Limited is AWD only. Prices range from $53,495 to $62,495.