Mazda CX-8 now equipped with latest Infotainment system

Mazda has confirmed that the updated CX-8 is ready to be on sale in its home market Japan starting this December. With the latest infotainment system and technology, the stylish SUV will also arrive in Australia somewhere in March next year.

Under the hood, the model consists of a 2.5-liter turbo engine that produces 227 hp at 4,250 rpm and 420 Nm at 2,000 rpm.

Also, there’s also a 2.2 litre four-cylinder turbodiesel that produces 197 hp at 4,000 rpm and 450 Nm at 2,000 rpm, and a 2.5 litre naturally aspirated four-pot that produces 187 hp at 6,000 rpm and 252 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

Each engine's variant can be ordered with all-wheel drive instead of front-wheel drive, and all engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The CX-8 now has Cruising and Traffic Support, which allows it to accelerate, brake, and stay in the same lane at low speeds in heavy traffic. On top of that, the Mi-Drive selector now has three driving modes, up from two, with an Off-Road mode joining Normal and Sport which will be standard on AWD versions of the CX-8.

Finally, for models equipped with the 2.5-liter turbo, Mazda has changed the accelerator pedal mapping and transmission shift timing for a punchier feel.

In terms of styling, there are two new design schemes available in Japan. Firstly, the Grand Journey which has silver bash plates and black mirror shells to hint at the car's off-road capability. More than that, it includes a sports package which has red or black leather seats that blacks out the grille, body cladding, mirrors, and wheels.

Aside from that, Mazda CX-8 sports top-shelf body-coloured wheel arches and lower body cladding. Apparently, the features are now available on Exclusive Mode variants. The suspension setup, however, has been tweaked for the Japanese market to improve body control on bumpy and undulating roads.

Moving inside, the SUV hasn't changed significantly, but the front seats have new cushions and springs to improve stability and body holding during cornering. Other features include 7.0-inch digital instrument display across the range, USB-C ports for first-row occupants, and a remote window control system activated via the key fob.

Lastly, depending on the variant, six- and seven-seat options are also available, with prices ranging from roughly around RM 96K to RM 162K (2,994,200 to 5,058,900 yen).