During a press conference after the roll-out ceremony for the new Mazda CX-5, it was revealed that the CX-8 will be sold in markets outside Japan as well. This is according to Hiroshi Inoue, managing executive officer in charge of ASEAN business and president of Mazda Southeast Asia.
Sales of the CX-8 will start in Japan on December 14 this year, with dealerships already beginning order taking. The model is positioned as the flagship SUV over there, above the CX-5 that is a two-row SUV, as the CX-9 is not available there.
For the Japanese market, the CX-8 will only be available with a 2.2 litre SkyActiv-D engine (188 hp and 450 Nm) mated to a six-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission. Buyers will get to choose between front-wheel drive and Mazda’s i-Activ AWD all-wheel drive system.
It is likely the turbodiesel unit will be replaced with the brand’s other powerplants for markets outside Japan, namely the SkyActiv-G petrol units, although Inoue did not reveal any specifics.
Additionally, he didn’t state what markets will get the CX-8, although he casually mentioned Datuk Seri Ben Yeoh, CEO of Bermaz, has expressed interest in the vehicle. However, as the CX-9 is already on sale here, would a second (and possibly cheaper) Mazda three-row SUV be required?
Both the CX-9 and CX-8 share the same wheelbase (2,930 mm), although the latter is shorter by 175 mm and narrower by 129 mm. The CX-9 sold here is powered 2.5 litre turbocharged SkyActiv-G engine.
GALLERY: Mazda CX-8
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Toyota Mazda super laku everywhere. Most valuable brand!
Mazda ≠ Toyota
although in MY, both brands trying to fleece customers
Actually Mazda sales should pair to Honda.
Mazda bad sales only bcoz pricing to luxury segment causing non affordable to public; while those affordable $$$ rich will choose 3-Star/BMW/Audi/Volvo instead. So Mazda Marketing pls tell what consumer you target for …?
(Like) Mazda CX-8.
(Dislike) Lexus NX
I think the 3rd row will be cramp like xtrail…what’s the point?…I would rather pay a little bit more for full size 7 seaters Fortuner under rm200k
Fortuner is full size SUV? Full size is the Land Cruiser, dude. Even the Prado is still midsize only.
Buy a big brash rail chassis Tuna. Others will like this Mazda for the occasional need to take the extended family to a restaurant or dog in back or just the extra space over the CX5. Plus it will ride like a premium car.
You should look at the dimensions of the CX-8 vs CX-9 – they are very similar. The CX-8 is bigger than CX-5/X-Trail/Tiguan.
I have seem pictures with people sitting in the 3rd row. I looks better than the Honda CR-V or the Nissan X-Trail. The CX-8 has a much larger wheelbase than this models, which helps a lot. But the CX-8 is not a minivan and so the seats are not designed to fit a full adult for longer trips. Mazda claims, that a 1.70 m tall person can fit.
I really hope, that Mazda Thailand will bring the CX-8 to Thailand. The refuse to import the CX-9. My CX-5 getting a little bit too small. The CX-8 would be fine. I would use the 2 additional seats only for short trips.
Best way to check out how roomy the third row is like is by sitting in the actual car itself. I rarely make such a judgement from pictures only and then compare it to something like an x-trail.
Superslim and qecil. Suitable for ladies.
Hyundai is still the best
It only sells in se Asia if it is built in se Asia. So I’m kind of guessing it will be made in Malaysia or Thailand. Id buy it in a heartbeat if it came to Thailand under 1.9M for top diesel spec
Mazda Thailand is considering to import the CX-8 (if there are enough interesting buyers). The price should be around 2.5 million Bath, which is reasonable.
A local built version for (just) under 2 million Baht would be great, indeed. But this will take time…
The result of Mazda’s snail like marketing decisions are that their lovely new models come out and they take too long to reach some SE Asian markets, if at all. I bought an HRV because I got bored waiting months for CX3 launch in thailand. Outside China the beautiful CX4 would have sold in droves. Mazda sales in thailand never have information on launch dates, even at the car shows. Its diabolical. Thai buyers lose interest and buy the other brand. Talk about shooting themselves in the foot/ gifting brand new model sales to Honda, each time they release competing new models.
Australia is considering selling the CX-8 as a diesel alternative to the petrol-only CX-9.