2023 Mazda CX-8 review: GT SP diesel | Updated 7-seat family SUV rises to Kia Sorento challenge

The 2023 Mazda CX-8 has been updated and is now ready to renew its push in the highly competitive mainstream Large SUV segment, which continues to be dominated by the likes of the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Kluger, among other seven-seaters.
So, what's new? Well, don't expect wholesales changes, as the refreshed CX-8 builds upon a solid base with some design changes inside and out, as well as an array of technology improvements on the multimedia front.
So, in this expert review, CarsGuide Contributing Journalist Emily Agar and her family of three spend a week with the new CX-8's diesel GT SP variant to see if it's deserving of more sales recognition.
#Mazda #CX8 #Review
--
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:27 Pricing and features
01:05 Practicality
04:25 Under the bonnet
04:53 Driving
05:53 Efficiency
06:34 Safety
07:07 Ownership
07:30 Verdict
--
Read Emily’s full review: bit.ly/43NMCmI
Check out our CX-8 hub: bit.ly/3Y8hYD7
Find more SUVs: bit.ly/3mXXb6P
Visit our Family Guide: bit.ly/44Al31b
--
CarsGuide - Go beyond the test drive
Visit our website for News, Reviews, Advice and more: www.carsguide.com.au
Subscribe to our KZbin channel: / carsguide
Like our Facebook page: / carsguide.australia
Follow our Instagram profile: / carsguideaus
Follow our TikTok profile: / carsguide.com.au
Follow our Twitter profile: / carsguide
Follow our LinkedIn page: / carsguide-com-au

[@Nesh_KE]

Greetings from Kenya! Awesome stuff. You guys are yet to do a video on the Ram Limited Sport. Looking forward!

[@buster_1972]

I like that the screen isn't a touch screen. We have a CX-5 and no dramas with the dial. Safer for everyone.

[@frasermole4442]

Pretty sure the touchscreen can be enabled in the settings if you read the terms and accept the risk. I'm not a fan of touchscreens in cars either.

[@frasermole4442]

based on this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h36omXR7n7WerMUsi=o8Y71LpDHV4Fseab but it's for a CX-60 so I could be wrong....

[@usernamechecksout]

I have a CX-5 and it has a touchscreen. Default setting turns if off when you drive but when stationary you can use it. As the other guys said, you can enable it whilst driving too. I did and it's great, saves me a lot of trouble with Apple Carplay.

[@KnowTheNewOfficial]

Mazda CX-8 AWD 2.2L SKYACTIV D. ASAKI LE Top Varient Is The Best 👉💯. Looks Amazing 😍👌, Great Classic Feelings 😍😍😍

[@DHHU-zi1ln]

I realised that I just bought the car that used to drive in the video, same rego, CEM582, Ringwood Mazda told me that it was driven by Mazda Oz executives, lol.

[@WildDanHibiki]

These mazda diesel engines are notorious for engine problems

[@anthonywarry339]

I’m not sure the updated ones are having the same issues the first of them did. There doesn’t seem to be many complaints online. How are they being driven and maintained? I’ve got 30,000km on my diesel CX5. I’m doing mostly open road driving. Time will tell I guess.

[@TundeEszlari]

Fantastic content.

[@usernamechecksout]

Man, I wish Mazda would've sold this in Europe as well. We only get the smaller CX-5. And now the CX-60 but the styling of the CX-8 is much better imho.

[@user-gc8uz5pd9z]

Dude, you have a cx-90

[@d.j.z.j]

Will this be discontinued once cx 60 and cx90 come in

[@yourmom9014]

probably not they aren't in the same catagory

[@girijashankar4057]

Does the airbag cover for all 3 row ?

[@carsguide]

There are only six airbags which is low for a family SUV but that does include curtain airbags covering all three rows.

[@anthonywarry339]

If you don’t need a 7 seater. The CX60 is a no brainer. Newer everything.

[@trentmorris2502]

It’s nice but nothing amazing. For 65k I expect more. No air vents in 3rd row means they really can’t be used by kids who get car sick. The dial and no touch screen is frustrating and lack of digital dash is disappointing. This against a Sorrento sport plus is no competition

[@anthonywarry339]

Why do you need a digital dash? Also touch screens are so overrated in my opinion. The dial control is so simple. Mazda do it well. I’m not a fan of the Korean build quality and interior materials. They always age much faster than Japanese…

[@d.j.z.j]

Seems standard in 2023 and nothing new or expected given price and features

[@anthonywarry339]

If you buy a CX8 do not get the 2.5 petrol. It’s a slug.

[@Barra.The.World.]

Dunno what the Japanese are doing! Really badly slipping behind when Japanese cars been around longer.. Renew the Toyota 2000GT with modern amendments to interior and exterior and technology, if Toyota were going to do that I'd really hope that would use some valuable time and genuine perfection this car with what its name is known for in the Japanese car history, Id be absolutely amazing if they did this and used be technology.