2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High: Driving Performance – 35/50, effortless and linear
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High - Facts and Figures
Engine
2.2-litre turbodiesel 4-cylinder
Transmission
6-speed automatic transmission
Power
188 PS @ 4,500 rpm
Torque
450 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Weight
1,924 kg
0-100 km/h
9.5 seconds
100-0 km/h
40.3 metres
The 2.2-litre Skyactiv D engine is impressively flexible in its power band by diesel standards. It pulls in a linear fashion all the way to its redline without running out of puff.
We recorded the Mazda CX-8 2.2D High's 0-100 km/h at 9.5 seconds, which is quite respectable for a 1.9 tonne SUV. The reverse took 40.3 metres to complete.
Compared to the Mazda CX-5, the Mazda CX-8 exudes a more matured character. The additional heft and length can be felt as the CX-8 doesn't feel as lightfooted. Steering ratio is slower, meaning it doesn’t turn in as sharply and requires more steering input.
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High - Driving Performances Breakdown
Cabin insulation is exceptional. The front windows are laminated, which significantly reduces exterior noises and wind noise at high speeds. Engine noise is present when accelerating, but quickly fades into the background at a cruise.
Ride quality of the Mazda CX-8 is composed, which is aided by the near-3-metre wheelbase and 1.9-tonne kerb weight. It's a comfortable cruiser at highway speeds but around town, sharp edges could be rounded off better.
The front seats provide just enough side support and the backrest is shaped nicely according to the shape of the human spine. The second-row seats are practically as comfortable as the ones in front, with a decent length seat base to enhance thigh support.
As for the third-row seats, thigh support is unavoidably sacrificed. But as far as third-row seats go, these are one of the most comfortable ones in an SUV.
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High - Ride Comfort Breakdown
Sound Proofing
9 / 10
Suspension
8 / 10
Passenger Comfort
8 / 10
Seat Support
3 / 5
Ergonomics
4 / 5
Engine Refinement
7 / 10
Total points
39 / 50 pts
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High: Quality and Features – 43.5/50, only short of full ADAS
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High - Panel Gaps (mm)
Location
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Difference
Bonnet
3
3.5
0.5
Front Fender
3.5
4
0.5
Front to Rear Door
3.5
3.5
0
Rear Door to quarter panel
3
2.5
0.5
Tailgate
4.5
4.5
0
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High - Paint Thickness (µm)
Location
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Front Bonnet
85
Front Fender
88
91
Front Door
87
83
Rear Door
88
92
Rear Quarter Panel
90
90
Tailgate
91
Roof
74
Average paint thickness: 87 µm ±5
Though paint thickness is on the lower side, the consistency is commendable with a standard deviation of just 5. Panel gap consistency is also above average.
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High - Exterior Material Use
Bonnet
Soundproofing Material
Thick
Struts
Manual
Front Fenders
Soundproofing Material
Yes
Doors
Front Windows
Double Glazed
Rear Windows
Single Glazed
Construction
One Piece
Tailgate/Boot
Opening
Powered
Selection of material and build quality are top notch. All touch points are either covered in supple leather or soft plastics. Seats are upholstered in supple Nappa leather.
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High - Cabin Material Use
Seat
Seat Cover
Leather
Armrest
Armrest Cover
Leather
Dashboard
Upper Section
Soft Plastic
Lower Section
Hard Plastic
Front Doors
Upper Section
Soft Plastic
Middle Section
Leather
Lower Section
Hard Plastic
The 7-inch infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and is easy to use. However, the screen itself is rather small in size and the resolution of the 360-degree camera is poor.
The Mazda CX-8 2.2D High gets basic ADAS, which includes AEB, LDW, LKA, and adaptive headlights. The only feature missing the Adaptive Cruise Control.
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High - Quality & Feature Breakdown
Exterior
Paint Finish
4 / 4
Panel Gaps
3 / 4
Assembly Quality
2 / 2
Interior
Build Quality
4 / 5
Materials Used
5 / 5
Features
Safety
10 / 10
ADAS
3 / 5
Luxury
4 / 5
Convenience
4.5 / 5
Infotainment
4 / 5
Total
43.5 / 50 pts
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High: Space and Practicality – 36/50, relatively spacious 3rd-row seats
Note: 2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D has only 2 seats in the second row
Space in the Mazda CX-8's second row is generous, with 3 tennis ball of kneeroom and slightly less than 2 tennis balls of headroom for a 177 cm tall adult. This is with the second-row seats pushed all the way back.
Space in second row
As for the third-row seats with the front and second-row seats set at 25 cm apart - which is our set distance for “normal legroom” – there’s one tennis ball of kneeroom but headroom is tight. However, this is above average in the 7-seater SUV segment.
Practicality of the Mazda CX-8 is decent, with large door bins that is able to fit 1.5-litre bottle and 10 cupholders in total.
The Mazda CX-8's boot space is rated at 209 litres with the third-row seats up, but can be made larger stowing away the second-row seats to 775 litres.
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High - Interior Space Breakdown
Front Row
6 / 10
Middle/Back Row
7 / 10
Third Row
5 / 5
Boot Space
3 / 5
Practicality
4 / 5
Storage Space
4 / 5
Visibility
4 / 5
Storage Flexibility
3 / 5
Total
36 / 50 pts
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High: Fuel Economy – 10/20, not as efficient as advertised
After a 95.9 km journey broken down into 60% highway and 40% city driving, it required 8.77 litres to be fully refuelled once again. This gives the Mazda CX-8 2.2D High a real-world fuel consumption figure of 9.1-litre/100 km.
Mazda claims a fuel consumption figure of 6.0-litre/100 km and evidently, we did not come close to that figure during our test.
The onboard trip computer displayed an average of 7.7-litre/100 km, which wasn't particularly accurate. And bear in mind that there was only one driver onboard, so expect the fuel consumption to rise with more passengers.
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High - Fuel Consumption Test Breakdown
Fuel Consumption
9 / 15
Eco Mode
0 / 2
Indicator Accuracy
1 / 3
Total points
10 / 20 pts
2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High: Purchase and Cost – 20/30, 5-year peace of mind
The 2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High is priced at RM 206,265 (OTR without insurance and SST). It is slightly more expensive than the range-topping Toyota Fortuner, and just a tad cheaper than the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace R-Line.
Warranty given is 5 years/100,000 km, whichever comes first. Mazda also gives a 5-year/100,000 km free service package that inclusive of parts and labour cost.
The 2019 Mazda CX-8 2.2D High scored high marks in most areas, with exceptional an score in quality and features.
The only aspect in which points were deducted is fuel economy. Whilst the figure wasn't high in relative to other SUVs in its segment, it wasn't as efficient as expected from a diesel engine. Also, the inclusion of adaptive cruise control would have completed the Mazda CX-8.
If you're looking for a 6/7-seater SUV which you'll frequently utilize the third-row seats, the Mazda CX-8 2.2D High would be a great choice.
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