How the Mazda CX-8 Embodies Japanese Hospitality

Omotenashi. It’s known the world over as “Japanese hospitality,” but its literal translation gives a much deeper meaning: “Omote” means public face while “Nashi” means nothing. Combining them means every service is from the bottom of the heart—honest and genuine—the very same ideas that describe the Mazda CX-8.

Starting with a form that is unrestrained, yet elegant, the CX-8 welcomes its occupants with styling that would continue to excite even after many years. Its low and bold front combines elegance, bringing depth and maturity to Mazda’s KODO design.

Inside, it focuses on ease of use as a three-row SUV. It centers on the comfort of each and every passenger. This starts with careful consideration in choosing interior color and material. The black and brown cabin uses soft-touch plastics, genuine wood trim, and Nappa leather seats—things typically absent in SUVs of this price range. Then, the seats can be folded down in a variety of arrangements to accommodate items of different sizes. Consideration was even done to improve quietness. Carrying a conversation is possible between the first and third rows thanks to the reduction in the gap between the roof molding and roof spoiler as well as application of sound absorbing material at the base of the D-pillars. The impressive sound insulation also allows the occupants to revel in the standard 10-speaker Bose sound system.

Representing a new option for people who enjoy outings with family and friends, but don’t want to sacrifice driving performance, the CX-8 comes with the 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine making 190 horsepower and 252 Nm of torque. And with Mazda’s unique G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) technology on board, the CX-8 is a car that drivers and passengers alike will enjoy both around town and on long drives.

Finally, with Mazda’s i-ACTIVSENSE, the CX-8 supports safety and peace of mind—essential ingredients for a truly enjoyable driving experience. The i-ACTIVSENSE helps prevent accidents from happening such as automatically adjusting and maintaining a safe distance from the car in front, or warning the driver of danger of collision when changing lanes or upfront. The i-ACTIVSENSE technology also includes pre-crash safety technology to reduce the risk of an accident. 

Sophisticated design, effortless performance, and comfort for everyone on board—the Mazda CX-8 is truly Japanese hospitality at its finest. It’s a three-row SUV where luxury and technology come together that makes any journey, even being stuck in Manila traffic, a luxurious experience for everyone on board.

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Mazda Philippines Elevates Three-Row SUVs with CX-8. Prices Start at P 2.290M (w/ 15 Photos, Specs)

This model is more than two years in the making. After “slipping out” during the press con at the CX-5’s Malaysian plant assembly roll out in 2017, people thought that the three-row Mazda CX-8 was sure to join the line-up in 2018. Then, nothing. Enter the first nine months of 2019, and still nothing. And then, it just happened. It rolled out of the assembly plant in October and now, here it is. Philippines, this is your 2020 Mazda CX-8 (read our first impressions, here).

Slotting in-between the CX-5 and CX-9 in terms of size, the CX-8 is Mazda’s newest three-row SUV. Unlike its competition, Mazda is offering two distinct seating configurations—a family-oriented 7-seater version or a more luxury-oriented 6-seater one. The former is exclusively available in front-wheel drive, while the latter is exclusively in all-wheel drive trim.

Regardless of seating configuration, the CX-8 is powered by a normally-aspirated 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine mated to a 6-speed automatic. Making 190 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 252 Nm of torque at 4,000, this powertrain separates the CX-8 from its larger CX-9 sibling, while still offering spirited, yet efficient performance that Mazda is known for.

Built on the same platform that underpins the CX-9, the CX-8 is 175 mm shorter, 129 mm narrower, and 17 mm lower than the CX-9. Wheelbase though is the same for both models (2,930 mm). It essentially shares the CX-9’s suspension system but with its own unique tuning. For instance, the rebound spring in the front damper has enhanced the CX-8’s cornering stability.

Feature-wise, almost nothing separates these two variants. Both come with light-sensing adaptive LED headlights, 19-inch wheels wrapped in 225/55R19 Toyo tires, power tailgate, and rain-sensing wipers. Inside, both the FWD and AWD variants offer standard Nappa leather seats in a Deep Red color, power adjustment for the front occupants (10-way with memory for the driver, 6-way for the passenger), tri-zone automatic climate control, windshield-projected heads-up display, power sunroof, and an 8-inch Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 10-speaker Bose sound system.

For safety, both variants come with 6 SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, blind spot monitoring with rear-cross traffic alert, and lane departure warning with lane keep assist.

Frankly, the only differentiation comes in its standard suite of driver assist technology. Only the AWD variant comes with i-Activ Sense which bundles adaptive radar-based cruise control, smart brake support, and driver-attention alert.

The 2020 Mazda CX-8 starts at P 2,290,000 for the 4x2 Signature and tops out at P 2,450,000 for the 4x4 Exclusive.

The 2020 Mazda CX-8 is Meant to be Both a Luxury MPV and a Family-Oriented SUV

With confirmation that the Mazda CX-8 is arriving to the Philippines (check out our first drive here), it becomes an interesting alternative to the usual suspect of mid-sized SUVs. While the local spec and pricing has yet to be announced, it’s understood that Mazda Philippines is toying to bring in just one variant of its three-row crossover.

See, unlike the usual Fortuner, Montero Sport, and what have you, the CX-8 is designed to replace the now defunct Mazda8 MPV. Because it serves the comfort-conscious Japanese market, the CX-8 has one trick up its sleeve: it’s offered with three different seating configurations. Now, because the Philippine team drove just one variant, there was no chance to see what the others looked like, until now.

The first seating configuration, and one that constitutes the base model of the CX-8 is the one equipped with the traditional 2+3+2 arrangement. The bench second row is sliding in a 60/40 split and can be folded down along with the third row to create a voluminous loading bay. It’s finished in stain-resistant fabric making this perfect for families with small kids.

Moving up, there’s the first 2+2+2 configuration. This CX-8 has second-row Captain Seat’s with arm rests, and like in the base 7-seat version, can be slid forward and backward for more room in the third row. Unlike the 7-seat version though, the center aisle allows passengers to pass between the second- and third-row seats easily. Oh, and unlike other vehicles equipped with Captain’s Seats, the second row here can also be folded down creating a load space that joins with the third row.

Finally, there’s the top-trim 6-seater configuration. This High trim version swaps the arm rests with a fixed center console with a butterfly-style lid and two fixed cup holders. Like the center console-less variant, this one also slides forward and back. This is clearly aimed for the executive crowd and with that, it comes with Nappa Leather as standard. There’s a missed opportunity here to add standard ventilated seats, but weirdly enough, seat heaters are present.

On all variants, a tri-zone climate control system is standard. There are visible vents on the first two rows, but those in the third will have to do with underseat-mounted floor vents. Having said that, Mazda engineers say they’ve taken air circulation into account by splitting the air flow into two. This should provide ample cooling, they said, to those in the third row.

As for pricing, Mazda has yet to reveal the CX-8’s pricing even for the Malaysian domestic market where it’s expected to sell first. However, during a panel interview, executives from Bermaz Auto did mention that it’s roughly 10 to 15 percent more expensive than the top-trim CX-5 putting the price around P 2,250,000 to P 2,550,000. Furthermore, they confirmed that neither the CX-5 nor the CX-9 will be discontinued in favor of the CX-8.

First Drive: 2020 Mazda CX-8 2.5 Skyactiv-G AWD

The story of the CX-8 is a rather unremarkable one. Mazda once had an MPV, the Mazda8, which was actually marketed with the tagline, “the idea of a sportscar – inherited by a minivan.” It was, in every sense of the word, a mom mobile that that very tagline was delivered by a middle-aged woman in Japan. But as the company shifted its attention to all things KODO and Skyactiv, they found themselves with an opportunity: should they make something pleasing to soccer moms or should they make a three-row SUV? Focused group studies and likely, simpler engineering costs dictated the latter, and thus, the CX-8 was born.

Initially, the CX-8 feels like a compromise in values, especially when you see it in the flesh. There’s a hint of déjà vu because it clearly mixes styling elements found on both the smaller CX-5 and the larger CX-9. Sure, it’s handsome and elegant, but also largely unoriginal. Nonetheless, put it next to other mid-sized SUVs it’s going up against and it still stands out as the best looking one out there.

The story continues to the cabin. The CX-8 basically follows the CX-5’s, down to the air vents that seemingly jaunt out of the dashboard and even the strong horizontal theme. Yet, it throws in some CX-9 pieces too like the butterfly-opening center console and even the position of the cup holders. It also gets its bigger brother’s black-and-brown motif; only here, the upper dash is pure black, while the lower dash is dark brown.

Cabin quality is typical Mazda with well-damped switchgear and impressively high premium pieces including the use of real wood trim and Nappa leather on the highest-end variant. Atypical of Mazdas though is that the CX-8 is spacious across all three rows. Ensuring this, Mazda opted to go straight for the CX-9’s platform, down to the 2,930 mm wheelbase. The goal here was to fit a person of any size in front while still being able to comfortably fit adults in both the second and third rows. After sampling it, it’s job done for the engineers. But more than just space, the CX-8 refuses to compromise comfort. Remember the ultra-ergonomic design that promotes the spine’s natural S-shape? It’s here—on all three rows.

The features found in the CX-8 closely mirror those found in the more luxurious CX-9: power adjustable front seats, triple-zone climate control with rear vents, standard Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Bose sound system. Unlike the larger Mazda though, this one is offered with two seating configurations: a 7-seater with a traditional second-row bench (2+3+2), and a more luxurious 6-seater version with second-row Captain’s Seats (2+2+2). In both cases, the wide rear doors open 80 degrees resulting in easy entry/exit and installation/removal of child seats. It’s also highly flexible with a second row that slides. It’s understood that the Philippine model will be offered with both seating options.

As you may have guessed by now, dynamically, the CX-8 is a mix between the CX-5 and the CX-9 as well. While the Malaysian-made CX-8 is available in both diesel and gasoline flavors, this drive was spent purely with the gasoline-powered 2.5 Skyactiv-G. Unlike the CX-9, the CX-8 doesn’t have a turbocharger and with that, it makes 192 horsepower and 258 Nm of torque. They’re healthy numbers typically, but it’s something of a worry given this SUV’s a portly 1,781 kilograms. True enough, it doesn’t feel as fast or light as the CX-5, but it nonetheless obliges with every press of the accelerator. Power delivery is smooth and is never lacking, no doubt influenced by the revised final gearing. Staying mostly on the highway, the fuel economy rested at 9.1 km/L, but this figure is surely to be lower in stop-and-go traffic.

Mazda engineers kept on emphasizing comfort and refinement over the usual talk of fun-to-drive and corner carving. True enough, the CX-8 will never be mistaken for a sports car. Yet, it delivers much more than what the average SUV needs to. In most situations, it masks its heft well with minimal body roll.  The steering is closer to the CX-5’s in that there’s a feeling of agility near the center without being darty or nervous. However, its ride is pliant or even more so than the CX-9’s especially over big bumps and potholes. The most impressive aspect though is its extremely hushed cabin. Measures have been made to quell outside noise and as a result, holding a conversation between those in the front and last rows are actually possible.

From a car company that defies convention, the CX-8 may come across initially as something unimaginative. It may seem like a quick cash grab move in the same way Mercedes-Benz and BMW would come up with never ending vehicle derivatives based on the same platform. Yet, the Mazda CX-8 isn’t that. It’s a worthy and a very important addition to the Mazda range. By combining the traits of the CX-5 and the CX-9, the CX-8 ends up as an impeccably presented three-row SUV with solid performance and more than enough room to fill the role of a family hauler.