Verdict
The Mazda CX-8 is the practical choice when seven seats matter: its 2,930 mm wheelbase supports three rows, although the boot is only 209 litres. The Zeekr 7X costs RM17,440 more, but brings a 416 hp, 440 Nm rear motor, 480 km claimed range from its 75 kWh battery and a far larger 539-litre boot. For a Malaysian family carrying six or seven people, take the Mazda; for five occupants wanting EV pace and driver assistance, the Zeekr is the stronger fit.
Pick the Mazda CX-8 if you need seven seats and a 72-litre petrol tank for long family trips.
Pick the Zeekr 7X if five seats are enough and you want 416 hp EV performance, 480 km range and more active safety assistance.
Key differences
- Price: Mazda CX-8 RM165,360; Zeekr 7X RM182,800.
- Seating and boot: Mazda CX-8 7 seats and 209 litres; Zeekr 7X 5 seats and 539 litres.
- Power: Mazda CX-8 192 hp and 258 Nm; Zeekr 7X motor 416 hp and 440 Nm.
- Length and wheelbase: Mazda CX-8 4,900 mm and 2,930 mm; Zeekr 7X 4,787 mm and 2,900 mm.
- Road tax: Mazda CX-8 RM830 per year; Zeekr 7X RM615 per year.
- Warranty mileage: Mazda CX-8 5 years/100,000 km; Zeekr 7X 5 years/150,000 km, plus an 8-year/160,000 km battery warranty.
CX-8
- Seven seats with sliding, reclining second-row seats and a folding third row.
- RM17,440 cheaper to buy.
- 72-litre petrol tank and a space-saver spare tyre.
- 209-litre boot is much smaller than the Zeekr 7X's 539 litres.
- No autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring or lane-keeping assist.
- 192 hp and 258 Nm trail the Zeekr 7X's 416 hp and 440 Nm.
7X
- 416 hp, 440 Nm rear motor and a quoted 0-100 km/h time of six seconds.
- 75 kWh battery, 480 km EV range, 22 kW AC and 450 kW DC charging.
- Autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring, steering-correction lane keeping and a 360-degree camera.
- RM17,440 more expensive than the Mazda CX-8.
- Only five seats versus the Mazda CX-8's seven.
- Tyre repair kit instead of a space-saver spare tyre.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM165,360✓ | RM182,800 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM830 | RM615✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 800V architecture |
| Capacity | 2,488 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 192 hp | — |
| Torque | 258 Nm | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore | 89 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 13 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 416 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 440 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 75 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 480 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 22 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 450 kW |
| V2L | — | 3.3 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | SkyActiv-Drive 6-speed Automatic with Manual Shift Mode | — |
| Gears | 6 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 6 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 7.9 L/100 km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,900 mm | 4,787 mm |
| Width | 1,840 mm | 1,930 mm |
| Height | 1,730 mm | 1,650 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,930 mm | 2,900 mm |
| Weight | 1,781 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 72 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 209 litres | 539 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/55R19 | 255/50R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/55R19 | 255/50R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Toyo Proxes R46 | Continental EcoContact 7 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Silver V-spoke Alloy | 19" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Silver V-spoke Alloy | 19" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | G-Vectoring Control Plus | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver & Front Passenger, Side Airbags, Curtain Airbags and Driver's Knee Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer 2nd Row Seats | Available on Outer Two Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Matrix LED Projectors with LED Projector Lighting Panel |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Lumbar Adjustment and Memory Function | Powered Front Seats with Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding, Sliding and Reclining 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-folding 3rd Row | 60:40 Split-folding with Electric Recline |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Boot, 2 Front USB, 2 2nd Row USB, 2 3rd Row USB | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights, Intelligent Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | Mazda Connect Infotainment System with 8" Touchscreen, Commander Control Knob, Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 6 Speakers | 16" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 21-speaker Zeekr Sound Pro |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Operation (Depress Brake To Start) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Contactless Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree Monitor |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 150,000 km✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/100,000 km Free Service | 8-Year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used CX-8 & 7X for sale
CX-8 vs 7X FAQ
Is the Mazda CX-8 or Zeekr 7X better?
The Zeekr 7X is better for five occupants seeking EV performance, a 539-litre boot and active driver assistance. The Mazda CX-8 is better if you regularly need seven seats, a third row and petrol refuelling.
What is the price difference?
The Zeekr 7X costs RM17,440 more than the Mazda CX-8. That gap brings a 416 hp electric motor, 75 kWh battery, 480 km claimed range and substantially more boot space, but two fewer seats.
Which one is better for carrying luggage?
The Zeekr 7X has the larger quoted boot at 539 litres, against 209 litres for the Mazda CX-8. The Mazda’s advantage is seating capacity: it carries seven people, while the Zeekr carries five.