Looking for a good all-round five-door seven-seater SUV that’s got space for all the family plus the dog, and has a competent range of features? Wanting choices that just about make it feel like you can customise your vehicle? Well, practicality and plenty of choice is exactly what you get in the 2023 Mazda CX-8.

There are 15 badges in total for the 2023 CX-8, which seems utterly bewildering at first. However, the first choice is about the engine and the drivetrain.  If your 2023 Mazda CX-8 has the D35 badge, it will have a 2.2-litre diesel engine with full 4×4 capacity (which means that this family car will be able to take said family off to some interesting places for a picnic); however, all the other badges have a 2.5-litre petrol engine with a and front wheel drive the. Both options harness the drivetrain to the engine via a six-speed automatic transmission. Specifically, the 2023 Mazda CX-8 variants include the Sport, G25 Sport, Touring, Touring SP, G25 Touring, D35 Sport, GT, D35 Touring Active, G25 GT SP, Asaki, G25 Asaki, D35 GT SP, D35 Asaki, Asaki LE and D35 Asaki LE – phew! However, one important thing to remember when looking through the list is that the Asaki LE and D35 Asaki LE are six-seater SUVs, unlike the other seven.

Because there’s such a range to choose from, let’s start by looking at the features that all 15 of them have in common.  Active cruise control, a push-start button to get the engine revving, a heads-up information display, an integrated navigation system, rear parking assistance and rear cameras are among these features. You’ll also find laser/LED headlights on the outside of all variants, and easy-clean basic black interior trim on the inside.

Want a sunroof?  You’ll get this on the GT, G25 GT SP, Asaki, G25 Asaki, D35 GT SP, D35 Asaki, Asaki LE and D35 Asaki LE. If you like front parking sensors, you’ll get these on everything except the ones with the Sport badges. Want some extra cameras?  Then you’ll be after the models with the Asaki badge.  Do you prefer larger wheels (19 inches) as opposed to the smaller 17-inch offerings?  Then go for anything except for the D35 Sport, G25 Touring, Touring, G25 Sport and Sport models.  Prefer the look of fog lights in addition to the daytime running lights and the light-sensitive LED headlights?  Then you’ll prefer the GT, Asaki or Asaki LE.  Do you need the rear hatch (boot) to open remotely?  Then you’ll want the GT, G25 Asaki, Asaki LE, D35 Asaki LE, D35 Asaki, D35 GT SP, Asaki or G25 GT SP. The same goes for a bigger sound system with 10-speakers.  What about the seats? If you want heated seats, then you get to choose from the Touring, Touring SP, G25 Touring, GT, D35 Touring, G25 GT SP and D35 GT SP, but if you want the driver’s and front passenger seats heated and ventilated, then one of the Asaki line is what you want. In fact, it could be fun to draw up a flowchart to help you make your selection.  However, the baseline variant is the Sport and the Asaki are the posh ones with all the extras.

Surprisingly, however, given what you’ll find in most modern vehicles, not every variant of the 2023 Mazda CX-8 has full compatibility with Apple and Android’s in-car apps. For some people, this isn’t a deal-breaker (I know it wouldn’t be for me), but if this is important to you, you’ll want to go for the Touring, Touring SP, GT, Asaki or Asaki LE. This is something that may be fixed in the future, as the current chip shortage (at the time of writing in 2023) may well have something to do with it.

However, for a lot of us, the engine is the most important part of a vehicle once you’ve made up your mind about the number of seats you need and the general type, especially given the cost of fuel these days.  So let’s take a look at what you’ll find inside the 2023 Mazda CX-8.  The petrol engine is smaller than you’d expect in this size of car, being only a 2.5-litre engine – guess that shows that it’s not size that counts but what you do with it. This comparatively small engine for an SUV has reasonable performance in terms of the fuel economy, with a combined fuel economy figure of 8.1 L/100 km (insert all the usual disclaimers here about how your mileage might vary). This petrol unit is capable of putting out 140 kW at 6000 rpm in terms of power, and 252 Nm of torque at 4000, which are respectable figures for a family-sized vehicle that can go most place, take everybody and take everything.  However, if you see some serious towing in your future, along with a spot of towing (e.g., if you’re taking the boat out to a nice inland lake or so for a spot of fishing with the kiddos), then the diesel variant will probably be up your street – except that “street” originally meant a paved road and as the diesel variant of the CX8 is hitched up to an on-demand 4×4 drivetrain, perhaps it will be up your gravel road. Anyway, this unit is a touch more frugal with a combined fuel efficiency figure of 6 L/100 km while punching out the same amount of power (140 kW), albeit at lower revs (4000), as is the way of diesel. But the torque of the diesel engine is exactly what you need for serious towing: a very grunty 450 Nm down in the lower range (2000 rpm).   

The styling on all variants is very similar, although some models are 5 mm taller than the others, while others are a smidgeon longer – and if you can spot this difference in the car park or on the road without the help of a tape measure, you’re doing better than I can.  A discreet rear roof spoiler has been fitted to help with handling, and the 2023 Mazda CX-8 has noticeable ground clearance. The bonnet is long, blending in nicely to the nice wide windscreen, but the rear is more truncated, giving this the classic lines of a modern SUV. The styling is tastefully set off by touches of chrome here and there. And just in case all the different variants didn’t offer you enough choices, there is quite a large palette of exterior paint colours.

No matter which of the many variants of the 2023 Mazda CX8 you prefer, you’re sure to find the CX-8 to be a good all-round vehicle that’s practical and comfortable.

The 2023 Mazda CX8 models include the:

• 2023 Mazda CX8 Sport
• 2023 Mazda CX8 G25 Sport
• 2023 Mazda CX8 Touring
• 2023 Mazda CX8 Touring SP
• 2023 Mazda CX8 G25 Touring
• 2023 Mazda CX8 D35 Sport
• 2023 Mazda CX8 GT
• 2023 Mazda CX8 D35 Touring Active
• 2023 Mazda CX8 G25 GT SP
• 2023 Mazda CX8 Asaki
• 2023 Mazda CX8 G25 Asaki
• 2023 Mazda CX8 D35 GT SP
• 2023 Mazda CX8 D35 Asaki
• 2023 Mazda CX8 Asaki LE
• 2023 Mazda CX8 D35 Asaki LE

For any more information on the new 2023 Mazda CX-8 or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Mazda dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!