Review: The 2022 Mazda CX-8 2.5 Turbo isn't just a sleeper SUV, it's also a smooth land yacht

Mazda is all about Jinba-Ittai to enthusiasts but their bread and butter these days are SUVs whether those same keyboard warriors like it or not. The Mazda CX-8 was given a powerful 2.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder (230 PS/420 Nm) back in June and though that is a boost to the 3-row SUV’s performance capability, it’s more than that.

Priced from RM 220,000 and locally assembled (CKD) at the Inokom plant in Kulim, the turbocharged CX-8 is the highest petrol-powered variant offered in Malaysia. The turbo mill is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission which sends power to all 4 wheels (all-wheel drive, AWD).

The enthusiast in the family might be smitten with the turbo which not only adds more power than the naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre (192 PS/258 Nm) but it also comes with the updated G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC+) system.

Also read: New 2022 Mazda CX-8 launched in Malaysia; 2.5T AWD variant, RM 212k, GVC Plus

The standard GVC system combines engine torque and steering input which gives passengers that famous sense of Jinba-Ittai. But not everyone wants to feel a sense of exuberance when around corners and hence Mazda has provided a solution in GVC+.

Also read: Mazda's GVC Plus system works so well, you won't realise until it's gone

GVC+ adds braking into the equation which further enhances comfort, especially around the bends. Thus, passengers would feel less nauseating in the car which is beneficial for something as grand as the CX-8.

Being a large, three-row SUV, the CX-8 2.5T is meant to be more experienced as a family car or chauffeured. It’s a win-win for the driver that perhaps would like a bit more performance kicked in for their job and for rear-seat occupants that want something smooth for their journey.

We’ll let Adrian do the rest of the review in the video below where he doesn’t just share his thoughts on one of Mazda’s flagship SUVs but also demonstrate the key qualities of GVC+.