It turns out the Mazda CX-8 will be available locally after all.
Mazda Philippines has confirmed that the CX-8, which sits between the CX-5 and CX-9 size-wise, will indeed be making its way to our market. The announcement comes following the vehicle’s official start of availability in Malaysia, and almost two years since arrived on the scene in 2017.
No local prices, specs, or even a launch date have been provided by Mazda Philippines, but we’re excited. A three-row midsize crossover with Mazda fit and finish? Sounds like a worthwhile proposition if you ask us.
In Malaysia, the CX-8 is available with either a 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G or a 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D engine, with both mills coming mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle comes in three different seating configurations, too: three benches with seven seats, a six-seat configuration with a pair of captain’s chairs, and another six-seat setup with two captain’s chairs and a center console in the second row.
It comes with a lot of tech, too. Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control Plus, which improves vehicle stability, comes as standard, and the CX-8’s Mazda Connect infotainment display is now Android Auto- and Apple CarPlay-capable. All units come with six airbags and higher-end CX-8 variants get advanced safety features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Again, Mazda Philippines has yet to provide any details regarding local-spec units. Expect more information to surface once the company inches closer to a launch.
So, does a Mazda with captain’s chairs sound like it’ll appeal to you?
