My New Car: I wanted CX-9 but the price toned down my selection choice - My 2020 Mazda CX-8 2.5L Mid Plus

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Basic information about my car

2020 Mazda CX-8 2.5L Mid Plus, Soul Red Crystal, RM185,000 OTR with Insurance.

Reasons why I bought this car

I needed a suitable family carrier for long-distance journeys that has performance and comfort at the same time. Nevertheless, the car must be at least 6 or 7-seater since I have a total of 5 members in a family and a maid. I don't bother about Fuel Consumption much as I am a heavy right-footer and performance is my first criteria as I needed the power to propel a fully loaded family car. As I've owned an MPV before, the body roll is horrendous during sharp cornering and I felt that the 2.0L engine power is not enough for me when the car is fully occupied. I decided to sell off the MPV and change to a more practical family SUV. The current Mazda CX-8 offers all the safety package & performance I needed, and the price is within my budget. The car was bought in early September 2020.

Car Selection Process

• I had a budget of RM200,000.00

• Model(s) that I have considered include: Mazda CX-9 & Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace R-Line

Reasons why I chose this car:

At first, I wanted the Mazda CX-9 because of the 2.5L Skyactiv Turbo engine. Test drove it and instantly fell in love with the torque (420Nm at 2000 RPM). But the car cost a whopping RM320,000 for the AWD model!! Even the latest 2nd hand units also cost an average of RM210,000 – 240,000. So, I had to tone down my selection choice of either Mazda CX-8 or the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace R-Line which is within my budgeted list. The 2.2L Diesel Mazda CX-8 was not on my list because I wasn’t a fan of the Diesel vehicle although the torque it made is 450Nm at 2000 RPM. Furthermore, the minimum required Euro 5 Diesel is hard to find when you travel long distances in rural states/areas. The Tiguan Allspace R-Line offers the performance I wanted but the buying and after-sales service package were not attractive enough to my liking. After all, I have owned three Mazda models before (Mazda 3, Mazda CX-5 and Mazda Biante) and I am assured of the pleasant experience of owning a Mazda brand before (both technical support & after-sales service).

And so here I am with the Mazda CX-8 2.5L Mid Plus variant which is a 6-seater model. Even though the CX-8 does not have a turbocharged engine like the CX-9, the 2.5L NA petrol produces power (258Nm at 4000 RPM) enough for my right foot satisfaction. I chose the Mid Plus variant due to the captain seat layout and with the empty middle row, it makes it easier for the kids to move in and out to the back 3rd-row seats. And yes, my car currently has two child booster seats in the 3rd row and one baby seat in the 2nd row.

The other reason why I bought this car is because of the SST rebate, whereby the Mazda CX-8 is CKD and is applicable for a 100% exemption. A lot of other attractive rebates & packages offered by Bermaz Motors such as Insurance rebates and 6 years warranty & 6 years free maintenance (parts & labour) or 120,000km whichever comes first.

User Experience

• I have already done 3,500 km

Since the purchase, my thoughts about the car are:

While the Mazda CX-8 and CX-9 shared the same chassis and wheelbase, The CX-8 is shorter a bit than the CX-9. The boot space is smaller (209 liters) compared to the CX-9 (230 liters) but it is enough for me to fit one large duffle bag, 2 laptop bags and a diaper bag during a short Balik kampung trip. Hard case luggage bags are not recommended unless you wanna fold down the 3rd-row seats. With the 3rd-row seats folded down, you get a large 742 liters of boot space, which I wouldn’t do because I have 2 child booster seats at the back!!

With the child seats removed, the 3rd-row seats are still comfortable for me to sit on even though my height is 177cm. Do take note that all seats in the car are adjusted to my comfortable driving setup from the front to the last row and I am still able to fit in the 3rd row with ease.

I have no comments on the fuel consumption as I don’t monitor much during my driving. But I do notice that with the 2.5L engine, fuel consumption is a bit higher during city driving compared to long-distance Balik kampung drive. The engine growls when I step on the pedal and power is delivered as per my expectations, so no complaints there. The GVC (G-Vectoring Control) works well as I felt almost no body roll during cornering as compared to an MPV.

The interior build quality is superb, with leatherette and soft-touch leather almost everywhere they’re supposed to be. It is not like the other “common” Japanese brand cars above the RM150,000 category but full of a cheap plastic feel. Apple Car Play and Android Auto are also available as standard for all variants. As for the exterior, the Soul Red Crystal color is the most beautiful Red color I have ever seen on a car and the color really shines out especially in the daylight sun. Not to forget the KODO Soul of Motion design language for the car body which makes it look elegant enough.

As for the safety features, the CX-8 Mid Plus variant is equipped with an i-ActivSense advanced safety system, notably the front Smart City Brake Support, adaptive front lighting system, blind-spot monitoring, and rear-cross traffic alert. Other safety features include ABS with EBD, dynamic stability control, hill launch assist, emergency brake assist, traction control system, six SRS airbags, as well as Isofix child seat anchoring points at the 2nd-row seats. 

It is also worth noting for some people who like to customize their car out there that the Mazda CX-8 shares the same front design as the CX-5 too, so most of the kits and accessories I bought and fitted are cross-compatible.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2.5L NA engine delivers the power I needed when I step on the pedal.

• Sport mode, aggressive throttle response. Who doesn’t love it?

• Fuel consumption is good during long-distance travel.

• For my tall height, I can still sit comfortably in the last 3rd row.

• The GVC system really does its job, not just pure gimmick.

• Premium leatherette interior is almost similar to conti car.

• 6 years warranty + 6 years of free service (parts & labour).

• Has all the latest safety features I needed.

• Good soundproofing compared to previous-gen Mazda models.

Cons

• No use of heated seat feature in Malaysian hot weather.

• The Soul Red Crystal paint is a bit thin, easy to get random stone chips.

• No 3rd-row air-cond vents.

• Fuel consumption is a bit high during city driving, especially in traffic jams.

• Pre-installed Skytint is not that great. Had to add another layer of tint.

• With all the seats up, boot space is a bit limited being at 209 liters

• Exterior gloss piano black door panel is easy to get scratch marks.

• Roof soundproofing could be a bit better. Sounds like empty tin Milo during heavy rain.

Ratings

• Total Score: 5

• Performance: 5

• Quality & Features: 5

• Space: 4

• Ride Comfort: 5

• Fuel Economy: 4

• Price & Cost: 5

Summary

I’m a bit salted that I can’t afford the Mazda CX-9 lol but nevertheless, I have no complaints with the overall Mazda CX-8 performance for a 2.5L NA D-segment SUV. The Soul Red Crystal color is gorgeous, and the body curves make me admire the design every day. Sometimes you just have to make do with what you have and be grateful for the car you bought.

My main gripe with the Car is that I paid an extra RM3,000 for the so-called “Premium Color” but I felt that the paint layer is a bit thin. Within the 1st week after receiving the car, I drove for a few kilometers on highways and there are already several stone chips in the front area. The paint chips however are not that obvious and can be corrected with paint touch-up markers. I don’t bother to do PPF (Paint Protection Film) because I think paying almost RM 5,000 for PPF on the front part of the car is totally ridiculous. The only paint protection I resorted to is the crystal glass coating. Hope that Mazda Malaysia improves the “premium” paint quality for future upcoming models.

Overall, I am satisfied with the Mazda CX-8 as a family carrier and I wish to maintain the car for as long as possible. I personally think this variant of Mazda CX-8 is a value buy being in under the RM200,000 category. When I started to invest in mods for the car, that is the first sign which will convince me to keep it longer for years to come. Cheers!!

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