Why the updated 2023 Mazda CX-8 might finally beat the CX-9 | Drive.com.au

[@AL98O8kJH]

I'm a Mazda owner and I don't agree that the rotary knob for the info system is a "nightmare" to use. There is a shortcut button for "Navigation" and "Music" which are the two most commonly used functions that we need while driving. Every other function that you need to access should only be used when the car is parked.

[@inodesnet]

As a CX-8 owner, I can say living with the car day to day, the rotary dial is the absolute best interface with the screen. It's annoying at first (particularly in Apple CarPlay which was designed to be used on touchscreens), but there is one major thing the dial has over the touch screen: muscle memory. Muscle memory means that once you have used it a couple of times, you know how many rotations you need to do something and it requires no vision to be diverted from the road. A touchscreen however does require inattentiveness. Both a University of Utah study in 2017 and a recent Swedish study back this up stating that touchscreens are extremely dangerous and a reason Mazda went down the rotary dial in the first place. Furthermore, they ensure it's always same line of sight to prevent diversion down (which is common in other brands).

[@Drivecomau]

Great point, having both touch and dial would be good as well.

[@ShawnLimZX]

That bit about 5 kids and their child seats really made my day 😂

[@boristeplitskiy7632]

I wish wish wish we had the CX-8 in the states. We only its literally the perfect size for me. I have a cx5 for now

[@KnowTheNewOfficial]

Mazda car always the best for quality, durability and reliability and CX-8 really special one. I really love it 😍👌💯

[@dank5432]

That sun blind is very noisy going down and I'm glad you didn't cut that out of the video

[@meljoe]

I think Mazda's start stop system is one of the best in the industry. I drive a CX-8 and the engine is good to go by the time I get my foot from the break to the accelerator - unless I have missed the lights and someone gives me an audio signal 🥴 .. but that's expected.

[@wals6383]

A wonderful and informative review Susannah. I have always been a Mazda 6 fan but you have really made me consider the CX-8 where normally I wouldn't have looked twice at it. Will definitely book a test drive before buying my next car. Thanks!

[@Drivecomau]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevenamor8057]

Nailed it Suzanna.. as always .. easy to listen to with points raised that the buyer is interested in… common sense reporting .. Bravo !!

[@Drivecomau]

Thanks Steven!

[@garyohanian3709]

Nothing wrong with rotary controls for AA. Definitely safer than reaching and trying to press on a screen. CarPlay would be similar. Once you get used to the menus you can easily navigate without even looking at the screen for most functions and without changing your seating position.

[@Drivecomau]

Good point Gary

[@Lumanix1]

I believe in the US variant. You can actually make the screen touch capacitive by selecting the phone in the Mazda menu then Bluetooth, select your device name, then scroll all the way down and select Touch input I believe and then u have a touch screen working only for wired Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Not sure if it's available in Australian modela as of yet. Could you someone give that a try

[@Adam-7_7_7]

Really good review ,top job ! I was looking at them at Mazda just today.

[@Drivecomau]

Thanks Adam!, what did you think of it?

[@marksweet8740]

Fiddly bits that must be fiddeled with should be left until the car is stopped when you are on the move you should do nothing but drive and do all the fiddling before you drive off its much safer.

[@Drivecomau]

In a perfect world yes! Back in the day radios were thought of as too distracting. In their 1934 poll, 56 percent of the Auto Club of New York deemed the car radio a “dangerous distraction.”

[@marksweet8740]

@@Drivecomau Yes a perfect world be great and we all owe it to everyone on the road to try and be the best drivers we can and in ninety years our cars have evolved quit a bit but unfortunately we have not.

[@jerrywong7004]

I have cx 9 for 4 years. Perfect car for me and reasonable third row. Will consider about cx 8 for my next SUV as cx 90 is over budget. Just not sure if third row of cx 8 fit people around 1.8 metres tall?

[@siquanwu3131]

The most confusing part of automobiles categorisation of Australia is the size of Large, when I moved across the pound from Canada, I was so surprised to find out large car or suv in Australia is sometimes smaller than medium size vehicles in North America, CX8 is definitely now a large suv😂

[@Drivecomau]

It gets more confusing the deeper you look trust us hehe

[@exhibitD79]

"love the gloss black plastic".... What?! I thought all car reviewers have agreed this has to go. It's the worst.

[@yblksama]

no air vents in the third row, makes it less attractive as a 7 seater.

[@1969cmp]

If you have five kids it is a consideration. If had five kids I'd get a Carnival or similar.

[@vorsprungdurchtechnik5]

@@1969cmp Whats cheaper to who i'm assuming is an Australia resident? Palisade 2.2 diesel or the carnival?

[@jatt-jatt-jatt3181]

carnival as it is kia and hyundai is naturally more than kia@@vorsprungdurchtechnik5

[@AlanSari2714]

Brilliant review

[@Drivecomau]

Thanks!

[@normmansor1313]

Susannah is lovely as always 😍. And the car too, awesome review

[@mvnorsel6354]

I've trained myself , I only look at the car😅.

[@Rally4Life1982]

I would take a CX-8 over a CX-9. The CX-9's are wider and that is an annoyance in narrow car parks. Length not so much of an issue.

[@andrewmihaleff]

That was exactly why we chose it. Kind of wish we got the Touring SP edition but it wasn't around in 2021. Still, I love it. It's just the base model but it has everything we need, it's the perfect size for our fam and it's pretty economical (disclaimer I'm not a leadfoot, that probably helps)

[@leonardoolaer7777]

Is this mazda cx 8 model. Has a 5 seater.?

[@Drivecomau]

The CX-8 range is only sold in Australia with three-row seating. Seven seats on most models, but the top-spec Asaki LE features second-row captain's chairs for a six-seat configuration.

[@mvnorsel6354]

I wasn't impressed with the 2.5 in the Mazda 6 perhaps it works better in this heavier SUV ?

[@andrewmihaleff]

CX-8 owner here. It's great, but take-off isn't the quickest unless you put the foot down. That aside, it's really good for mine.

[@ShoeyMr]

Outlander is better value

[@hellothere4342]

If you've got 5 spawns to cart around wouldn't you be better off with something like a Kia Carnival?

[@Drivecomau]

Very much so, but we know that's not where buyers hearts lie. And, if you get caught in a pinch it's nice to know that at least you can strap in up to five child seats if you ever need to.

[@hellothere4342]

@Drivecomau I totally get this. We brought the new Sorrento GT because apparently the Carnival isn't "sexy" enough. I wanted it because it has electric sliding doors so it can't ding other cars. We only have one child however and could've been perfectly fine in a Mazda 3.

[@WorksOnMyComputer]

You are better off staying in the car, so there is no risk you will fall pregnant with a sixth, until you've figured out what causes it.

[@user-oc1ew6qm8c]

​@@WorksOnMyComputerWrong, my hubby and I have done it in the car, sorry to burst your hilarious comedy bubble 😘😂

[@TenzWang88]

53k you can get nissan x trail with digital cluster,panaramic roof , lane centering assist, and vison technology. 58k cx8 still havent got panaramic roof, vision technology and lane centring assist is really down side for mazda.

[@lebraa]

Gets beaten badly by outlander too. Plus with this kinda money you could probably afford a top range phev as well. Makes no sense

[@piresfaizal87]

Buy Nissan then.

[@d.j.z.j]

Hmmm

[@ranimbill9331]

Don't need those. Think about it. Nissan in the long run is so bad. Get the cx9, that's nicer

[@fabioarodrigues]

​@Khan try seating on the third row of a 7 seater Outlander, and then do the same in a CX-8. Then let us know if the Outlander still makes more sense as a 7 seater SUV.

[@kelvpoon]

That car play lost me

[@deanmacka4975]

I like it, and I'm a bloke 👍

[@indeepeterhopwood8106]

Thank god they didn’t follow all the sheep and use a CVT.

[@chucknorris8704]

Design looks dated already. Mazda starting to fall behind with the rest of the industry.

[@WorksOnMyComputer]

Yeah I can see why you skipped past the practicality and quality of the car to land on that.

[@chucknorris8704]

@@WorksOnMyComputer If you're one of the car's designers, please disclose that before commenting.

[@ohMY03]

Weak