New Mazda CX-8 prices revealed

Mazda adds diesel power to local seven-seat SUV armoury. 

The Japanese marque's new CX-8, which will sit between the five-seat CX-5 and the full-time seven-seat CX-9, will be priced from $42,490 before on-road costs when it goes on sale in July, 2018. 

Mazda will offer its part-time seven-seater in three model grades: the entry-level front-wheel drive Sport ($42,490), all-wheel drive Sport ($46,490) and the all-wheel drive Asaki ($61,490). The large price jump between the AWD Sport and Asaki gives Mazda the room to expand the range in the future. 

All models are powered by the same 2.2-litre twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine that produces 140kW and 450Nm – which is the same engine found in the slightly smaller CX-5. 

The new 5+2 SUV will fill a whole in Mazda's local lineup left by a petrol-only CX-9 range by offering a fuel-efficient, diesel-powered seven-seater. The Mazda CX-8 is set to compete in a growing segment of part-time seven-seat SUVs that include models like the Skoda Kodiaq, Honda CR-V and Peugeot 5008 and will soon be joined by the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. 

Full details of the Mazda CX-8 will be revealed at the end of June, along with driving impressions. 

2018 Mazda CX-8 prices* 

Sport FWD - $42,490 

Sport AWD - $46,490 

Asaki AWD - $61,490 

*All prices exclude on-road costs