After being revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show last September, it's been confirmed that the Mazda CX-8 SUV is destined for both New Zealand and Australia.
Sporting revamped versions of the Mazda CX-5's snout and the Mazda CX-9's rear end, the CX-8 is a Kodo-styled five door that snugly fits between the aforementioned pair on the size scale.
It offers seven-seat practicality like the CX-9, but with some of the dimensional and visual heft smoothed out and removed. Propulsion comes via the 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D diesel engine from the CX-5 — a donk that we quite liked when we tested it in mid-2017.
That diesel engine could well be a key factor in Mazda's decision to bring the car here, given that the CX-9 is only available with a 2.5-litre petrol engine. It's rumoured too that Mazda have extracted more power from the diesel unit to deal with the extra weight the CX-8 carries compared to the CX-5.
“More and more, Kiwis are opting for larger SUV’s to suit the demands of their busy lives,” says Mazda New Zealand Managing Director David Hodge.
“The brand new Mazda CX-8 is the perfect fit for those who need the versatility of seven seats and the economy that diesel affords.”
New CX-8s will land in New Zealand in the second half of 2018. Pricing is still to be confirmed, though it's probably safe to theorize that it will fall between the CX-5's $39,995 starting price, and the CX-9's $54,995 starting price.