Just Arrived! The New Mazda CX-8

First seen at the 2020 Singapore Motor Show, Mazda’s second largest offering is now available in Singapore. The CX-8 is more of a lengthened CX-5, rather than their flagship CX-9, which you could easily mistake it for. The CX-8 does share its edgier frontal styling with its CX-5 sibling, meaning that you do get a sportier front-end versus the CX-9. That said, it does have the same wheelbase as the larger Mazda SUV. The CX-8 is offered in 6 and seven-seater configurations, and in two trims. Prices start from $153,888* for the 7-seater Elegance model, while the higher-spec Luxury model will set you back $157,888*, and is offered as both a 6 and seven-seater. The Luxury variant is also equipped with a premium BOSE sound system, and gets additional “drive safer” goodies, like Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). The CX-8 is available in seven colours, which includes two premium hues, Soul Red Crystal Metallic and Machine Grey Metallic.

OneShift Editorial Team

16 Oct 2020

All cars are fitted with Mazda’s cutting-edge i-ACTIVSENSE safety technology. The full suite includes Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH); Lane-Keep Assist System (LAS); Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS); Advanced Smart City Brake Support (Advanced SCBS) with day and night pedestrian detection and Driver Attention Alert (DAA). The Mazda CX-8 is also equipped with a 360° camera and display system with eight parking sensors at the front and rear that detect proximity to obstacles and trigger an alarm when necessary.

All cars in the range are powered by a natural breathing SKYACTIV-G 2.5-litre engine, good for 194ps and 258Nm, while their very own 6-speed automatic transmission drives the front wheels. The CX-8 is also equipped with Mazda’s renown G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus), essentially active yaw control. The system brakes the outer wheels of the car when straightening from a turn, providing the CX-8 with more stability, and passengers, added comfort.

On the inside, the CX-8 boasts Mazda’s superb fit and finish, and it is well equipped too. The Mazda Connect system offers users Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, USB ports are available for all three rows of occupants, and the third row easily accommodates passengers up to a height of 1.7 meters.

Speaking to Mazda’s product specialist, we learnt that there has also been a debate on whether the 6 or seven-seater will be the more popular car. We would like to believe that the 6-seater will be, since you do not need to fold the middle seats to gain access to the third row.

Mazda also has stated that prices are introductory prices, which will be amended after 21 October. Early bird buyers will also be entitled to a free upgrade to five years’ free service and five years’ warranty, and Immediate Registration.