Should I buy a Mazda CX-8 or Kia Sorento?
2021 Mazda CX-8 GT v Kia Sorento GT-Line comparison review
Our 2021 Drive Car of the Year takes on Mazda's popular CX-8 to see which is the better seven-seat family SUV for Australians under $70,000.
Overview
So you've got a family to move and you don't want a people mover. Spoiler alert: you're not alone. SUV sales are the runaway train of the 21st century, going from grumpy overweight wagons on stilts into the stylish, smooth-driving stars that proliferate our roads today.
When it comes to finding the right seven-seater for you, the choices are extensive. Everyone from Audi to Volvo makes large SUVs that claim to meet the varied demands of the modern-day family.
The Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-8 are two polished performers that deserve to be on every shortlist when it's time to shop. So we decided to put these two together and see which one deserves to sit higher on that list the next time you're looking for your next car.
Introduction
Mazda CX-8
Within Mazda’s rather busy SUV range, there’s a space between the mid-sized CX-5 and large CX-9 for something not too big and not too small. The 2021 Mazda CX-8 aims to be that just-right step in between.
Narrower than the CX-9, but with the same wheelbase and the versatility of three rows of seating, the CX-8 probably isn't anyone’s definition of compact. It does, however, strike a neat balance between size and spaciousness.
The CX-8 also offers the option of a diesel engine, something the petrol-only CX-9 can’t. It could be just the thing for regional owners, or anyone who tends to tow, or simply covers plenty of kilometres each year.
The CX-8 range is hardly small, with six trim levels, and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive, plus petrol and diesel engines. The CX-8 GT trim level shown here is a diesel-only variant, but does let buyers choose if they’d like all-wheel drive or not.
The version we have is AWD-equipped and starts from $63,290 plus on-road costs. Opt for front-wheel drive and you’ll save $4000. Looking at the broader CX-8 range, petrol models start from $39,990, while diesels kick off from $46,990 – all before on-road costs.
That works out to around $69,177 drive-away, which places this particular variant in the crosshairs of competitors like the Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander and Kia Sorento GT-Line if you must have a diesel, but also the Toyota Kluger GXL Hybrid if you’re after something more frugal, or the updated Skoda Kodiaq when it arrives, in 2022.
Kia Sorento
Tested here in the top-specification GT-Line trim, the range-topping Kia Sorento is priced from $67,290 drive-away and features a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine with all-wheel drive.
Our car is finished in Clear White, which is the only no-cost paint selection and one of seven overall choices (Silky Silver, Steel Grey, Mineral Blue, Aurora Black, Gravity Blue and Snow White Pearl round out the palette). Metallic and other premium finishes are a $695 option, and the only decision you need to make when buying your high-spec Sorento.
We’re yet to see a colour option on the GT-Line that doesn’t work, but the car does look particularly premium in black or the lighter Mineral Blue metallic paint.
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Simply put, the GT-Line is loaded with kit and that breadth of features is very much part of its appeal. The other side of the appeal coin, though, is how it looks. The previous three Sorento generations were never ugly, but they were largely conservatively styled. The new one, however, is straight-up handsome.
Bold lines and style flourishes give it real presence on the road, and elements like the twin tail-lamp array make it recognisable at a distance. I will note that this particular feature reminds me of the green ‘Griswald Family Truckster’ station wagon, although that is probably just me!
The GT-Line features 20-inch shadow-chrome alloy wheels (on Continental tyres) and LED lamps front and rear. The front units include a very modern LED running lamp signature, and offer an adaptive high beam for better vision at night, particularly in country areas.
A large glass-panel panoramic sunroof is also standard.
Key details | 2021 Mazda CX-8 GT | 2021 Kia Sorento GT-Line |
Price (MSRP) | $63,290 plus on-road costs | $67,290 drive-away |
Colour of test car | Machine Grey | Clear White (solid) |
Options | Premium paint – $495 | None |
Price as tested | $69,177 drive-away (Melb.) | $67,290 drive-away |
Inside
Mazda CX-8
There’s a somewhat traditional and formal feel to the Mazda’s interior. From a neat but regimented design layout across the dash to the thickly padded and soft-leather seat surfaces.
While the CX-8 GT isn’t the top-spec model in the range, it’s hardly missing any significant key equipment.
Leather trim is used throughout, front seats feature electric adjustment, and front and outboard second-row seats come with seat heating. Three-zone climate control lets rear passengers set their own level of comfort.
A pair of decently sized cupholders work for cans, bottles and most take-away cups, but the centre console storage itself is a touch compact. And although the CX-8 has a large interior, Mazda hasn’t opted for innovative or hidden storage to take advantage of that size.
No such complaints about the utilisation of space when it comes to seating, however. There’s quite a roomy feel to the CX-8 GT’s interior, and while the moody burgundy and black interior probably doesn’t create a feeling of open space, it still feels roomy inside.
Mazda’s sunroof is only small and situated over the front row, but not extending over the second-row seats. The rear doors feature pull-up window blinds.
Second-row seating is generously proportioned, there’s long leg room, plenty of headroom, and room across the bench for three adults easily. The Mazda also has a huge range of second-row slide adjustment to mix and match space between rows.
Access into the third row is via a one-touch quick-fold switch, and with long rear doors and generously sized apertures, scrambling into the last row is easy – though to fully open the back doors out, you’ll need to leave plenty of room.
Once into the rear, it’s a spacious place to be in terms of width and wiggle room, though the tapered roof encroaches on headroom a little, and the small side glass restricts outward visibility.
Mazda treats row three as more of a just-in-case position. There are no air vents or controls back there, but there are armrests and cupholders.
Behind the electrically operated tailgate there’s 209L of boot space with the third row up. Stow the third row and there’s up to 775L of space, but Mazda doesn’t offer a cargo blind for the CX-8 (or the mounting points for one) to keep valuables from view.
Kia Sorento
As a family-centric SUV wagon, practicality is not just important, it is crucial. To start, the tailgate is powered and offers a hands-free ‘kicker’ function.
The boot with all three rows of seats in place isn’t huge at 187L, but it is still big enough to fit some school or shopping bags if you have seven passengers on board. Note too that the cargo blind can store under the floor when not in use, and there is a full-size alloy spare wheel mounted under the car.
Fold down one or both (50:50 split) of the rearmost row with the convenient pull-straps, and space increases to a more generous 616L. When these seats are folded, you can access a powered-fold function for the middle row, which means you can access all 2011L of cargo space without having to move from the boot.
Access to the third row is easy, with the Sorento employing a one-touch tilt and slide button to make it simple for children to move the seats. Rear space is adequate, especially if you slide the centre bench forward a smidge, and there are cupholders, charge points and storage bins to make things comfortable back there.
While it is probably best left to children, especially on longer trips, it’s worth noting the sloping rear roof line and tailgate of the Sorento mean the rearmost windows are quite small.
From personal experience, the lower natural light levels can make longer trips a little more challenging for some passengers, but there is a control for the air-conditioning fan, as well as air vents, so that those down the back-back can at least manage their own climate environment.
More comfortable for yours truly (I’m 6’3”), the second row has good leg room, and as noted above can slide forward if needed.
Nappa leather trim in all rows, with a neat quilted pattern insert, is standard and the middle row even includes heating on the outboard seats. You can recline the backrests for extra comfort, there are integrated sun blinds in the doors, plus some handy cupholders integrated within the armrests.
Between the front seats is a USB port and 12-volt outlet, the climate-control interface and air vents, plus an extra USB port on the back of the front seats, which is very convenient if you want to mount iPad-style screens for longer trips.
There’s also the ability to control the position of the front passenger seat, which takes on an importance all of its own for new parents who might need to ride along in the rear and can set themselves up more comfortably.
It’s also worth noting that the rear doors are long, and despite it being quite hard to see out of (there’s that handy exit warning system to help, though), it is a very easy car for a mid-40s media professional to get in and out of. Anyone even slightly more flexible or sprightly will find it a breeze!
Up front, the seats are comfortable and supportive, and electric adjustment with memory is standard in the GT-Line. Vision through to the back of the car is good, even if the third row is deployed with the headrests up.
The dashboard design is slick and modern, and features a staggering number of air vents to ensure both front seat occupants are kept comfortable. This is enhanced further with heated and ventilated seats, and a heated steering wheel; perfect for those chilly Melbourne mornings!
Material use is premium, too, with the use of leatherette and alloy trims blending nicely with gloss-black plastics and textured metal switchgear. Cupholders, storage options and premium trim flourishes round out a very pleasant cabin to spend time in.
2021 Mazda CX-8 GT | 2021 Kia Sorento GT-Line | |
Seats | Seven | Seven |
Boot volume | 209L / 775L | 187L / 616L |
Length | 4900mm | 4810mm |
Width | 1840mm | 1900mm |
Height | 1725mm | 1700mm |
Wheelbase | 2930mm | 2815mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Mazda CX-8
Mazda’s infotainment system displays a 10.25-inch screen in the CX-8 GT, but unlike most segment competitors with touchscreen functionality, the CX-8’s upsized screen uses a console-mounted jog-wheel for inputs. Navigation, AM/FM/DAB+, and wired Apple and Android phone mirroring are all loaded in.
The native system is a monochrome menu layout that’s subtle but fairly easy to follow with the minimised input method.
A 10-speaker Bose audio system drives the beats, and for those tuning out on their own device, there are six USB points, two in each row. Although, in the second row they’re hidden in the armrest along with the seat heating switches, which makes them hard to access with all seats occupied.
A large-format wireless charge pad makes it easy to fit plus-sized phones, although I did find the phone position was a bit twitchy. Push your phone across to the left to make sure it doesn’t miss a charge.
Kia Sorento
In terms of technology here, there are a pair of big LCD displays: 10.25 inches for the infotainment and navigation functions, and a 12.3-inch full-digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver. Seen across the updated Kia range (and very similarly in new-model Hyundais), the refreshed infotainment interface is well-featured and allows you to set up a smaller pane on the right side, swiping up and down to display a secondary layer of content.
It’s handy for running navigation on the main window and media information at the same time, mainly so you can impress pre-teen passengers with your knowledge of Dua Lipa’s latest song title.
It’s a good system to use, and includes traffic conditions and speed zone alerts as part of the navigation function. There’s a DAB+ digial radio tuner, the ability to connect multiple Bluetooth phone simultaneously, and wired support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Further, there are some fun functions like an in-car public-address system that uses the stereo speakers to ‘speak’ to the rearmost passengers. It makes telling little people to ‘keep it down or I’m turning around and no-one gets ice-cream’ less of a strain on your voice.
The dashboard layout is clean and mostly intuitive to use, although the volume knob is all the way to the left of the infotainment screen, which can make it, and the menu buttons above it, tricky to reach while on the move. It is easy for the passenger to access, though, plus there’s a volume control on the steering wheel, so this is something I’m sure you’d get used to over time.
Technology convenience is enhanced with a wireless charge pad for your mobile phone, and three USB ports in the front console.
Safety and Technology
Mazda CX-8
The Mazda CX-8 GT comes standard with a comprehensive list of safety equipment, but as a slightly older vehicle beneath the surface, it lacks some of the most up-to-the-minute features available on rivals.
You get forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking, for instance, but no intersection intervention. Blind-spot monitoring, driver-attention monitoring, lane-keep assist with departure warning, speed sign recognition linked to the speed limiter, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert are included.
Features like a 360-degree camera and high-beam assist are reserved for the more expensive CX-8 Asaki and Asaki LE models.
Six airbags, five top-tether child restraint mounts and two ISOFIX points are also included.
The CX-8 range carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2018. Adult occupant protection received a 96 per cent score, child occupant protection was rated at 87 per cent, vulnerable road user (pedestrians and cyclists) protection was scored at 72 per cent, while safety-assist systems scored 73 per cent.
Kia Sorento
Simple things like front and rear parking sensors join impressive new functions like a blind-spot camera, which projects an image of the Sorento’s left and right blind spot in the instrument cluster when you activate the indicator.
This makes it easy to quickly note if there is another vehicle or cyclist next to the car, out of vision of the car’s wing mirrors. The system is supported by a blind-spot avoidance assist function, which will alert you if you do try to change lanes when something is there too.
As expected on a car at this level, adaptive cruise control with a lane-keeping aid is included, as is autonomous emergency braking, but the system expands vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection with a junction collision avoidance system, which looks to see if vehicles are approaching from the side at an intersection and will apply the brakes if a potential collision is sensed.
There’s a warning system that alerts passengers before they open a door to get out if a car or bicycle is approaching from behind, and a central front airbag that protects the two front-seat occupants from knocking together in the event of an accident.
And while the Sorento received a five-star ANCAP safety rating when tested in August last year, the only thing of note it doesn’t have is full-length curtain airbags that extend to the third row. We’d very much like to see this included on future updates of the car.
And, as a bit of a party trick, you can remotely move the Sorento in and out of a parking space using the keyfob, which is handy if there’s not enough room to open the doors. It’s very cool, and lots of impressive fun, but I’ve not yet come across a scenario where I’ve actually needed to do this.
At a glance | 2021 Mazda CX-8 GT | 2021 Kia Sorento GT-Line |
ANCAP rating & year tested | Five stars (tested 2018) | Five stars (tested 2020) |
Safety report | Link to ANCAP | Link to ANCAP |
Value for Money
Mazda CX-8
Mazda runs a touch short of the industry norm, with service intervals every 12 months or 10,000km, instead of the more commonly seen 15,000km intervals offered by rivals. This means owners that cover big distances annually may have to squeeze in an additional interval.
The first five capped-price visits run to $1293 cumulatively over three years, or up to $2357 over five years. Mazda also offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
In terms of week-to-week costs, fuel consumption is a claimed 6.0L/100km, and during testing on some barely populated roads, in a mix of urban and highway driving, the CX-8 GT returned 6.3L/100km.
Kia Sorento
Real-world economy is about 10 per cent higher than the claim (we saw just under 7L/100km on our test loop), and it is generally a very enjoyable car to spend time in, both around town and on the open road.
The Sorento is supported by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and will cost $1287 over three years and $2393 over five years under Kia’s capped-price service program.
At a glance | 2021 Mazda CX-8 GT | 2021 Kia Sorento GT-Line |
Warranty | Five years / unlimited km | Seven-years / unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months / 10,000km | 12 months / 15,000km |
Servicing costs | $1293 (3yrs) | $2357 (5yrs) | $1287 (3yrs) / $2393 (5yrs) |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 6.0L/100km | 6.1L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 6.3L/100km | 6.9L/100km |
Fuel type | Diesel | Diesel |
Fuel tank size | 64L | 67L |
Driving
Mazda CX-8
While hardly a powerhouse or performance engine, the 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine in the CX-8 feels quite spirited off the line. Whereas some diesels can have a moment of missing urge from standstill, the Mazda is ready to roll.
Its mid-range feels fairly robust, too, so it can smoothly tap into torque rather than changing down gears. That’s handy flexibility to have with the six-speed auto compared to the closer-ratio eight-speed automatics in some rivals.
From its 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel, the Mazda musters 140kW at 4500rpm and 450Nm at 2000rpm, which puts it on par with other diesel engines in the segment.
Where the CX-8 pulls ahead from the rest of the pack is refinement. Mazda has done a solid job of blocking out engine and road noise, which makes the CX-8 an excellent and refined cruiser.
Around town, or even at high RPM, the 2.2-litre engine makes a deeper, less clattery note than might be traditionally associated with diesel engines. At light or part throttle, it’s barely noticeable.
By no means is the Mazda CX-8 pretending to be a hot hatch, but the steering carries a little more weight and tends to feel more instantly connected to the front wheels at speed, but lightens up at walking pace for ease of parking.
The suspension has a similar directness to it. Few will find it uncomfortable, but it is a little more abrupt over some of the smaller lumps and bumps that litter local roads.
Kia Sorento
The 2.2-litre turbo diesel offers 148kW at 3800rpm and 440Nm between 17500 and 2750rpm. All four wheels are driven (with a front-bias and variable torque split) through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
It’s no hot-rod powerhouse, but the low-end accessibility of torque gives the Kia some urgency off the line. And with the automatic shifting low in the rev range to support the car’s efficiency claim of 6.1L/100km, regular driving is smooth and responsive enough.
The DCT transmission feels more like a regular automatic than some other twin-clutch units, and shifts quickly and smoothly while on the go.
Push things a bit harder to spin the engine above 3000rpm, and you’ll need to contend with some harsher tones from the diesel, as well as a response curve that flattens somewhat.
Despite the newness of the car and its packaged technology, the engine itself is quite old, but a hybrid is on the cards for late 2021, which will further lift the appeal of the Sorento.
Gear selection using the rotary dial is simple, with the Sorento offering a secondary dial to chose the drive mode or terrain setting, should you venture off the beaten track.
While there is no trick air-suspension system on the Kia, it will adjust traction control and throttle sensitivity to help on ‘non-paved’ surfaces. It’s not a go-anywhere 4x4 by any stretch, but for added control on gravel or perhaps snowy roads, it's an easy to use inclusion.
Ride quality is impressive for a big car on big wheels, and the Sorento is very comfortable and composed over changing urban surfaces. Again, wind it up on a twisting back road and you’ll be reminded this isn’t a performance car, as it can take a moment to settle again after fast left-right moves or high-speed changes in elevation.
Settle back to touring speeds, though, and you and your six companions will enjoy plenty of comforting cruising miles, day after day after day.
Key details | 2021 Mazda CX-8 GT | 2021 Kia Sorento GT-Line |
Engine | 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel | 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel |
Power | 140kW @ 4500rpm | 147kW @ 3800rpm |
Torque | 450Nm @ 2000rpm | 440Nm @ 1750-2750rpm |
Drive type | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
Transmission | Six-speed torque convertor automatic | Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic |
Power to weight ratio | 70.8kW/t* | 77.6kW/t* |
Weight | 1978kg (kerb) | 1908kg (tare) |
Tow rating | 2000kg braked | 2000kg braked |
Turning circle | 11.6m | 11.6m |
*Compiled from manufacturer data |
Conclusion
Right, so now we know everything we need to about these two accomplished seven-seat family wagons. Let’s see which one comes out on top.
Inside, neither car is short on modern comforts, which include full leather interiors, electric adjustment for everything, and multi-zone climate-control systems that promise to keep occupants chilled or cosy, whichever they desire.
The CX-8 is longer overall and has a longer wheelbase that translates into more room inside. That said, the Mazda’s second row is narrower and the third row isn’t as well catered for; there are no air vents or air-conditioning controls like the Sorento.
Both have pull-up blinds and sunroofs, although only the Sorento’s glass roof covers both rows.
The CX-8 offers more luggage space but doesn’t give you a cargo blind. Both cars have electrically operated tailgates.
The CX-8’s infotainment screen is on par with the Sorento, but it must be accessed via a jog wheel, which is far less intuitive than the Sorento’s touchscreen. The Sorento’s instrument cluster features a second 12.3-inch screen that houses the speedo, tacho and many other driving functions, whereas the CX-8 leaves all this to traditional dials.
In terms of safety, both cars are five-star performers, but the newer Sorento has some active safety features the Mazda cannot match, such as junction collision avoidance, 360-degree camera and blind-spot cameras, and door-opening warning. The Sorento also has an airbag between the two front passengers to stop their heads clashing in a crash, but the Mazda doesn’t.
In terms of running costs, there’s not much between the two. Both use roughly the same amount of diesel per 100km, and both cost about the same to service over five years – although the Mazda’s shorter 10,000km service intervals can be an inconvenience.
Ultimately, the Sorento’s longer list of safety tech and in-cabin tech, and those additional comfort features, make it the better choice. The peace of mind of a seven-year warranty is simply icing on the cake.