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

CY Foong · Dec 23, 2022 01:45 PM

Review: The 2022 Mazda CX-8 2.5 Turbo isn't just a sleeper SUV, it's also a smooth land yacht 01

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.

Review: The 2022 Mazda CX-8 2.5 Turbo isn't just a sleeper SUV, it's also a smooth land yacht 02

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).

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Review: The 2022 Mazda CX-8 2.5 Turbo isn't just a sleeper SUV, it's also a smooth land yacht 01

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

Review: The 2022 Mazda CX-8 2.5 Turbo isn't just a sleeper SUV, it's also a smooth land yacht 02

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

Review: The 2022 Mazda CX-8 2.5 Turbo isn't just a sleeper SUV, it's also a smooth land yacht 03

The best seat in the CX-8 isn't the driver's...

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.

Review: The 2022 Mazda CX-8 2.5 Turbo isn't just a sleeper SUV, it's also a smooth land yacht 04

...we'd think it's actually here

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.

Review: The 2022 Mazda CX-8 2.5 Turbo isn't just a sleeper SUV, it's also a smooth land yacht 05

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+.

CY Foong

Writer

Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.

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