Verdict
Only RM1,440 separates these CKD seven-seat SUVs, but the Tiggo 9’s RM439 annual road tax is RM391 lower than the CX-8’s. Chery also brings 251 hp, 390 Nm and all-wheel drive against Mazda’s 192 hp, 258 Nm and front-wheel drive, plus a far more useful 448-litre boot. The CX-8 counters with a 0.4 L/100 km rated economy advantage, a 130 mm longer wheelbase and a 72-litre tank. For a Malaysian family needing safety kit, cargo capacity and overtaking muscle, the Tiggo 9 is the stronger buy.
Pick the Chery Tiggo 9 if you want 251 hp, 390 Nm, all-wheel drive, 10 airbags and a 448-litre boot for just RM1,440 more.
Pick the Mazda CX-8 if you prioritise its 7.9 L/100 km rated consumption, 72-litre fuel tank and 2,930 mm wheelbase at the lower purchase price.
Key differences
- Price: Chery Tiggo 9 RM166,800; Mazda CX-8 RM165,360.
- Power and torque: Tiggo 9 251 hp and 390 Nm; CX-8 192 hp and 258 Nm.
- Driveline: Tiggo 9 all-wheel drive; CX-8 front-wheel drive.
- Rated economy: Tiggo 9 8.3 L/100 km; CX-8 7.9 L/100 km.
- Boot space: Tiggo 9 448-2,065 litres; CX-8 209 litres.
- Safety: Tiggo 9 has 10 airbags and autonomous braking; CX-8 has six airbags and no autonomous braking.
Tiggo 9
- 251 hp and 390 Nm from the 2.0-litre turbo engine
- All-wheel drive, 10 airbags and autonomous braking
- 448-litre boot and 7-year/150,000 km warranty
- 8.3 L/100 km rated economy versus the CX-8’s 7.9 L/100 km
- 65-litre fuel tank versus the CX-8’s 72 litres
- 1,887 kg kerb weight versus the CX-8’s 1,781 kg
CX-8
- 7.9 L/100 km rated economy and a 72-litre fuel tank
- 2,930 mm wheelbase, 130 mm longer than the Tiggo 9’s
- RM165,360 price is RM1,440 lower
- 192 hp and 258 Nm trail the Tiggo 9’s 251 hp and 390 Nm
- Front-wheel drive versus the Tiggo 9’s all-wheel drive
- 209-litre boot is 239 litres smaller than the Tiggo 9’s
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM166,800 | RM165,360✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439✓ | RM830 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,488 cc |
| Horsepower | 251 hp at 4,000 rpm✓ | 192 hp at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 390 Nm at 1,750 rpm✓ | 258 Nm at 4,000 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 89 mm × 100 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 13 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed DCT | SkyActiv-Drive 6-speed Automatic with Manual Shift Mode |
| Gears | 7 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mazda |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | 8.3 L/100 km | 7.9 L/100 km✓ |
| Top Speed | 210 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,810 mm | 4,900 mm |
| Width | 1,925 mm | 1,840 mm |
| Height | 1,741 mm | 1,730 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,800 mm | 2,930 mm |
| Weight | 1,887 kg | 1,781 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 65 litres | 72 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 448-2065 litres✓ | 209 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/50R20 | 225/55R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/50R20 | 225/55R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Full Size | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Toyo Proxes R46 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 19" Silver V-spoke Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 19" Silver V-spoke Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | G-Vectoring Control Plus |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Rear Side, Front Center Airbag, Driver's Knee Airbag, Curtain Airbags) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electronic for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer middle row passenger seats, third row seats | Available on 2 Outer 2nd Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Automatic LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | — |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats, Driver Side Memory with Heating, Ventilation & Massaging | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Lumbar Adjustment and Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row | 60:40 Split-folding, Sliding and Reclining 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents with Heating & Ventilation | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Second Row | 1 Front, 1 Boot, 2 Front USB, 2 2nd Row USB, 2 3rd Row USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade, Manual Rear Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 15.6" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 14-speaker Sony Sound System | Mazda Connect Infotainment System with 8" Touchscreen, Commander Control Knob, Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 6 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation, with Proximity Sensor Auto Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Remote Control Activation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Digital/Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 7 years✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 10-year or one million km warranty for the engine | 5-year/100,000 km Free Service |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Tiggo 9 & CX-8 for sale
Tiggo 9 vs CX-8 FAQ
Is the Chery Tiggo 9 or Mazda CX-8 better?
The Tiggo 9 is the better-equipped choice for power, safety systems and luggage room, with 251 hp, 10 airbags and a 448-litre boot. Choose the CX-8 for its lower price, 7.9 L/100 km rated consumption and longer 2,930 mm wheelbase.
What is the price difference?
The Chery Tiggo 9 costs RM166,800 and the Mazda CX-8 costs RM165,360, so the Tiggo 9 is RM1,440 dearer. Its annual road tax is lower, however: RM439 versus RM830.
Which SUV has more advanced driver assistance?
The Tiggo 9 does. It has autonomous braking, collision warning, blind spot monitoring, steering-correction lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera and auto parking. The CX-8 has passive cruise control and a reverse camera, but lacks those listed assistance systems.
