CX-8 range grows for 2022

MAZDA Australia says it has made its 2.5-litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engine available on all front-wheel-drive derivatives of the CX-8 due to strong customer demand. The 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D diesel unit, in turn, is available on selected front-wheel-drive and all all-wheel-drive versions. 

The model expansion comes as part of a minor MY22 update of the CX-8 rang; the seven-seat SUV is available with the choice of front- and all-wheel-drive configurations and (140kW/252Nm) petrol or (140kW/400Nm) twin-turbo-diesel power in as many as 11 different derivatives.

Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi says that with 70 per cent of all CX-8 buyers choosing petrol power, the decision to broaden the CX-8 range was straightforward.

“Mazda CX-8 has become a strong contender in the large-SUV category, with dimensions that offer good manoeuvrability without compromising on space or comfort for all occupants,” he said.

“Customer demand for the model continues to grow; from November 2020 to November 2021 we’ve seen a more than 80 per cent increase in sales, (which) encouraged us to further diversify the range to give customers even more choice.”

Mr Bhindi’s claim reflects an across-the-board decline in the popularity of diesel-powered SUVs nationally. Despite figures that show one-third of all passenger, SUV and light commercial vehicles sold in Australia in 2021 were diesel-powered, the percentage of diesel models sold within the passenger SUV market is at its lowest point in a decade.

Mazda will continue to offer twin-turbocharged diesel CX-8 derivatives for the foreseeable future. All-wheel drive and higher grade CX-8s are powered by the 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D engine.

Pricing for the CX-8 range is unchanged in 2022, now beginning from $39,990 (plus on-road costs) for the entry-grade and petrol-powered Sport. The most expensive petrol-powered derivative in the CX-8 range is the Touring SP, which is priced from $47,790 (plus ORCs).

The diesel range, meanwhile, commences with the Sport AWD from $46,990 (plus ORCs) and tops out with the Asaki LE at $69,290 (plus ORCs).

The Mazda CX-8 has a five-star ANCAP safety rating and includes safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, smart brake support and smart city brake support (front and rear) across the range.

Mazda’s popular CX-8 slots into the Large SUV (over $70k) segment, where it competes with no fewer than 26 rivals. In 2021, the CX-8 finished the sales chart in eighth place with 6119 sales behind the Toyota LandCruiser Prado (21,299), Isuzu UTE MU-X (10,618), Subaru Outback (10,490), Toyota Kluger (9320), Ford Everest (8359), Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (6804) and Mazda CX-9 (6630).

The updated Mazda CX-8 range is available now.

2022 Mazda CX-8 pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.