Mazda CX-8 SKYACTIV-G Turbo Klang Valley Drive Impression

December 6, 2022

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A wet weekend with the all wheel drive CX-8 SKYACTIV-G Turbo.

The rain has been relentless in Klang Valley for the past month and on this particular weekend and it was probably the best time to have a large four-wheel drive SUV to test drive.

We have already test driven the Mazda CX-8 2.5 Skyactiv-G Petrol and also the CX-8 2.2L Diesel version. Now comes a new engine variant (well not all new as it was first introduced to us in the recently launched CX-5 Turbo) that gives this large SUV the needed ‘grunt’ by some SUV buyers.

A little history lesson first. Mazda in Malaysia launched the CX-8 back in late 2019 as a family SUV above the very popular CX-5 and just below the larger CX-9.

Well, in our books, a family SUV, especially a 3-row family SUV does not need to be very powerful as it is mostly used in city commuting and the average 4 times a year long weekend balik kampong trip or local cuti-cuti Malaysia getaway.

Interestingly, buyers in this segment will initially agree with me, however after visiting a showroom selling a rival product that has a turbocharged 3-row SUV, they will be drawn to the added power, to be used or not is not the question, but on the ‘test drive’ it will put a smile on their face. This is the ‘salespersons’ way of inking the deal.

So, now comes a CX-8 with the same 2.5L SKYACTIV-G engine that was used in the CX-5 Turbo. Now, this 1,781kg SUV appreciates the added power delivery and its drivers will like the 420Nm torque delivery which starts from a low 2,000rpm.

With 6 full sized adults we had little hesitation at traffic lights, climbing steep hills and parking ramps and managed to even take beyond legal limits (just for a couple of minutes) to enjoy its well insulates cabin and firm driving feel.

Standstill to 100km/h acceleration time is like the CX-5 at 7.7 seconds and top speed is reduced from 226km/h in the CX-5 Turbo to 200km/h with this heavier CX-8.

Meanwhile, touch and feel points around the cabin are very good with quality finishing that rival European vehicles. In fact, in some areas, this Mazda feels more premium. Knobs, buttons have a very high quality feel at the tip of your fingers and padded areas around the cabin reflect Mazda’s intention to be a premium car manufacturer.

Below are some important points to take note about this latest CX-8.

This 2.5L turbocharged SKYACTIV-G engine boasts one of the highest compression ratios of any four-cylinder turbocharged engine, at 10.5:1, achieved through a series of innovative SKYACTIV technologies.

Drive dynamics is improved with G-Vectoring Plus (GVC Plus), an evolution in SKYACTIV-VEHICLE DYNAMICS that enhances vehicle stability through using the brakes to add direct yaw moment control for a more assured ride.

Also there is improved performance of front and rear dampers and stabilizers, directed at enhancing ease of control during low g-force maneuvers and stability during high g-force maneuvers.

New across the range is the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard with this Mazda CX-8. By adding Apple® CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ as standard equipment, it allows the driver or passenger to connect their mobile device to the MZD Connect infotainment system.

The safety arsenal is the equal of, or better than, most luxury premium brands. Features include lane departure warning with steering assistance, radar cruise control, auto high-beam dipping, driver attention alert and rear cross traffic alert with braking.

All that is left is for you to take a test drive and decide if this new family SUV offers the value you have been looking for.