2023 Mazda CX-8 facelift makes its debut in Japan – lightly revised styling and tech; 3 engines; from RM96k

2023 Mazda CX-8 facelift makes its debut in Japan – lightly revised styling and tech; 3 engines; from RM96k

The Mazda CX-8 has been given a facelift in Japan, with the updated three-row SUV set to go on sale in the country at the end of December this year. In addition to some visual tweaks, the CX-8 also gets some handling and technology updates.

Starting with the exterior, the new CX-8 gets a revised grille with a thicker chrome frame and a mesh pattern insert, the latter replacing the pre-facelift model’s horizontal slats. Elsewhere, the front bumper has a simpler design than before, with a reshaped lower intake and faux skid plate.

The headlamps are new too, blending in neatly with the “wings” of the chrome frame and incorporating L-shaped daytime running lights reminiscent of the CX-60. The headlamps can still be ordered with adaptive LED technology, which now features 20 lighting elements instead of 12 to improve visibility at night.

2023 Mazda CX-8 facelift makes its debut in Japan – lightly revised styling and tech; 3 engines; from RM96k

At the rear, the restyled taillights gain a similar lighting signature as the front with L-shaped elements and the chrome strip on the tailgate no longer intrudes into the clusters. Though not immediately obvious, the rear bumper has been slightly widened for a more purposeful stance. Customers in Japan will also have a new colour options – Rhodium White Premium Metallic – to choose from.

Mazda also offers several design packages, including the off-road-inspired Grand Journey that gets silver skid plates and gloss black side mirror caps. It is joined by the Sports Appearance package with black exterior accents as well as a choice of red or black leather upholstery. The top-of-the-line Exclusive Mode now comes with body-coloured wheel arches and lower body cladding.

Inside, the CX-8 remains largely familiar, with minor revisions being new seat cushions and springs to improve upper body stability during cornering. USB-C ports also make their way into the cabin along with support for wireless Apple CarPlay and an Off-road mode that joins Normal and Sport in the Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) system.

2023 Mazda CX-8 facelift makes its debut in Japan – lightly revised styling and tech; 3 engines; from RM96k

Driver assistance also gets a boost with the adoption of Cruising and Traffic Support, which allows the CX-8 to accelerate, brake, and keep itself in lane at low speeds in heavy traffic. Other driving-related changes include revised springs and dampers to improve body control and optimising the accelerator pedal mapping for models with the 2.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine to give a more immediate response.

On that mention, available engine options for the CX-8 in Japan include the aforementioned 2.5 litre turbo unit that makes 230 PS at 4,250 rpm and 420 Nm at 2,000 rpm. Other options in the line-up are a 2.5 litre naturally-aspirated four-pot with 190 PS at 6,000 rpm and 252 Nm at 4,000 rpm as well as a 2.2 litre four-cylinder turbodiesel making 200 PS at 4,000 rpm and 450 Nm at 2,000 rpm.

All engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and every variant can be ordered with all-wheel drive as an alternative to front-wheel drive. Six- and seven-seat options are also offered depending on variant, and prices range from 2,994,200 to 5,058,900 yen (RM95,769 to RM161,808).

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • What a great price, unlike in Bolehland…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • FudgeMeSideways on Nov 03, 2022 at 5:29 pm

    If in Mesia can get RM96k for CX-8, i run naked around KLCC.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 0
    • ROTI CANAI on Nov 04, 2022 at 3:17 pm

      id happily run naked around KLCC for a month

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
      • Protiga on Nov 04, 2022 at 8:25 pm

        Third. Will join also. And I would like to go extra mile by drawing elephat head (like in Crayon Shin Chan NTV7)…

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Profiteering? on Nov 03, 2022 at 10:49 pm

    Meanwhile in Malaysia, get rebadge car that F cheaper in mainland, but super duper expansive in Bolehland. Then they said here small market and bla3 = P1 logic.

    P2 logic ;
    Toyota Veloz (Global) more 20k than Alza (Local). So buy P2 seems to be more value for money than P1.

    See?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 4
    • Not sure what are you pointing at but what seem expensive is super value for money when comparing with overpriced Japanese cars here. At least the X50 & X70 are forcing Japanese brands to offer better specced cars in the higher segments.

      What we lack is more competition in the lower segments due to protected species P2. We could have good compact cars in the Brio, Micra, or Aygo if P2 didnt exist. Unfortunately we had to saddle their overpriced crap. RM60k for a B-Segment hatchback? Hell no!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 4
      • Faham ke idok ni? on Nov 04, 2022 at 8:30 pm

        Mksud dia kenapa P2 blh jual benda rebadge lagi murah, cth mcm ativa dgn veloz. RM20k cheaper right?

        So kalo P1 folo logic mcm P2, sepatutnya kalo X50 lg murah la blh jual berbanding Binyue. Tapi apa yg berlaku sebaliknya kan? Cuba cek Binyue harga brp dan bandingkan dgn Malaysia.

        Begitulah ceritanya.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
        • Oh waiii on Nov 05, 2022 at 8:56 am

          Toyota is forced to upcar their prices for P2 to survive lah bradder!
          In Indon Rocky/Ativa only cost Rm50k but here it cost Rm70k. We are getting cheated by P2 lah!
          Go Indon see what is Veloz pricing it is cheaper than Alza here bradder.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
          • Brader, get you fact right first. Rocky RM50k? Indon price for Rocky from RM61 to RM82k. Don’t TOKOK and spread lies here. You just show to the whole universe on how idiot you are.

            Do you know what the price of Binyue (X50 in China)? 47k to 71k only. Care to elaborate on that?

            Later said here Bolehland bla3, there bla3…

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • Seats on Nov 03, 2022 at 10:52 pm

    When come to Malaysia goes 2x by Berjaya

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
    • lolaf on Nov 04, 2022 at 12:37 pm

      Firstly, its not Berjaya.

      Secondly, its the Govt’s taxation structure imposed on everyone.

      Get educated, bro.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 6
      • Look at their Mazda pricing structure, Bsegment at Csegment price? Csegment at Dsegment price? Who tell them to do that? Government? Then why Vios/City sold at Bsegment price and Civic/Altis at Csegment pricing? Not everything is Government fault la bro

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
        • Noone said Govt fault bro. Pls read before shooting your feelings out there.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4
          • jomheboh on Dec 14, 2022 at 1:40 am

            Bro why not u read the comment first before shooting your feelings out there. Clearly someone mentioned only due to Govt taxation structure.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Why So Serious on Nov 04, 2022 at 9:07 am

    The top spec is nearly double in price to the base spec. What goes into it, gold fittings? Either the top spec is overpriced or the base spec is totally kosong.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • hopefully mazda can give full spec with 7 seats instead of 6

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • LOL. First I thought 96k is typo.. then I pengsan when I know it is not typo.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • Sernea on Nov 08, 2022 at 7:14 am

      It has been this cheap for authentic built for JDM
      Mazda CX-5 starts around RM87k
      Nissan Serena starts around RM99k

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ROTI CANAI on Nov 04, 2022 at 3:18 pm

    japs earn 10x more than us, but cars so much cheaper, oh waiiii

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Penunggu Mazda on Nov 04, 2022 at 7:11 pm

    This renders the recently announced “facelift” model outdated and those who has made bookings has not even gotten their allocation yet. Me included.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Look at the price

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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