The recently unveiled Mazda CX-8 has now been made available for the Australian market, with the company’s local arm this week confirming the seven-seat, diesel-only SUV is in its consideration set for 2018.
Speaking to CarAdvice after this week’s Mazda technology forum in Frankfurt, Mazda Australia marketing boss Alastair Doak confirmed availability of the CX-8 for our market.
“So, it’s now our decision whether to sell it in Australia. We have to work out how to position it within our line-up, among other things.” Doak said.
The Mazda CX-8, which was originally said to be intended specifically for the Japanese market, is a more coupe-like version of the CX-9 SUV, but still offers the availability of seven seats.
Even though the CX-8 and CX-9 (the latter outlined in red above) ride on the same 2930mm wheelbase, the CX-8 measures shorter overall: 4900mm to the CX-9’s 5075mm. It is also markedly narrower (1840mm to 1969mm), and does not sit as tall (1730mm to 1747mm).
The CX-8 will also be set apart by its powertrain, which will be a 2.2-litre turbo diesel setup instead of the 2.5-litre turbo-petrol unit the rest of the world gets with the CX-9.
That powertrain differentiation, Doak says, may be its unique selling point and a reason to bring the model here as the Japanese brand currently doesn’t offer a seven-seater diesel option.
“It would give us a diesel seven-seat option – something that we don’t currently have,” he said.
The 2.2-litre diesel engine fitted to the CX-8 overseas is currently in use in the CX-5, with power outputs of 129kW of power and 420Nm of torque, that compares to the CX-9’s petrol unit delivering 170kW and 420Nm.
Even so, Doak admits that any decision on the CX-8 remains “more than 12 months away”.
Does the Mazda CX-8 make sense for the Australian market? Let us know in the comments below.
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