Verdict
The Mazda CX-8 costs RM165,360, undercutting the Volkswagen Tayron by RM25,300 while bringing 192 hp, a 2,930 mm wheelbase and a 72-litre tank. It is the more straightforward seven-seat family choice, backed by a five-year/100,000 km warranty with free service. The RM190,660 Tayron counters with a much larger 345-litre boot, 9 airbags and a serious driver-assistance advantage: autonomous braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, steering correction and adaptive cruise control. Its 148 hp 1.5-litre turbo 48V mild-hybrid powertrain also carries only RM120 annual road tax against the CX-8's RM830.
Pick the Mazda CX-8 if you want the lower RM165,360 entry price, 192 hp and a longer 2,930 mm wheelbase with five years of warranty cover.
Pick the Volkswagen Tayron if 345 litres of boot space, nine airbags, autonomous braking and adaptive cruise control justify the RM25,300 extra.
Key differences
- Price: Mazda CX-8 RM165,360; Volkswagen Tayron RM190,660.
- Power and torque: Mazda CX-8 192 hp and 258 Nm; Volkswagen Tayron 148 hp and 250 Nm.
- Wheelbase: Mazda CX-8 2,930 mm; Volkswagen Tayron 2,790 mm.
- Boot space: Mazda CX-8 209 litres; Volkswagen Tayron 345 litres.
- Airbags: Mazda CX-8 6; Volkswagen Tayron 9.
- Warranty: Mazda CX-8 5 years/100,000 km with free service; Volkswagen Tayron 2 years/unlimited mileage.
CX-8
- RM25,300 lower purchase price
- 192 hp 2.5-litre petrol engine
- Long 2,930 mm wheelbase and 72-litre tank
- 209-litre boot is 136 litres smaller
- Six airbags versus nine
- No autonomous braking, collision warning, lane-keeping assist or adaptive cruise control
Tayron
- 345-litre boot space
- Nine airbags plus autonomous braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- 12-way front seats with ventilation and massage
- Costs RM25,300 more
- 148 hp is 44 hp down on the CX-8
- Two-year warranty versus five years/100,000 km
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM165,360✓ | RM190,660 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM830 | RM120✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable intake valve timing with 48-volt MHEV assistance |
| Capacity | 2,488 cc | 1,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 192 hp at 6,000 rpm✓ | 148 hp |
| Torque | 258 Nm at 4,000 rpm✓ | 250 Nm at 1,500 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | 89 mm × 100 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 13 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | SkyActiv-Drive 6-speed Automatic with Manual Shift Mode | 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) |
| Gears | 6 | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 9.6 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 7.9 L/100 km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,900 mm | 4,792 mm |
| Width | 1,840 mm | 1,852 mm |
| Height | 1,730 mm | 1,660 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,930 mm | 2,790 mm |
| Weight | 1,781 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 72 litres | 55 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 209 litres | 345 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/55R19 | 235/55R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/55R19 | 235/55R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Toyo Proxes R46 | Hankook Ventus evoSUV |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-links |
| Front Wheels | 19" Silver V-spoke Alloy | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Silver V-spoke Alloy | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | G-Vectoring Control Plus | Dynamic Chassis Control Pro |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 9 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front & Rear Side Bags, Curtain Airbags & Front Centre Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer 2nd Row Seats | Available on Front Passenger Seat and 2 Outer Middle Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Lumbar Adjustment and Memory Function | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Ventilation and Massaging |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding, Sliding and Reclining 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-folding 3rd Row | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Boot, 2 Front USB, 2 2nd Row USB, 2 3rd Row USB | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Back Row |
| Sun Shade | — | Manual Rear Window Blinds |
| Audio | Mazda Connect Infotainment System with 8" Touchscreen, Commander Control Knob, Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 6 Speakers | 12.9" Discover Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 8-speaker Volkswagen Sound System |
| 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 Walk-away Auto Lock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
| Warranty Notes | 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 CX-8 & Tayron for sale
CX-8 vs Tayron FAQ
Is the Mazda CX-8 or Volkswagen Tayron better?
The Tayron is better equipped for safety and cargo, with nine airbags, autonomous braking and a 345-litre boot. The CX-8 is the better buy for lower upfront cost, 192 hp and its five-year/100,000 km warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Tayron costs RM190,660 and the Mazda CX-8 costs RM165,360, so the Tayron carries a RM25,300 premium.
Which has more useful driver-assistance equipment?
The Volkswagen Tayron does. It has autonomous braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, collision warning, steering correction, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera and auto parking; the CX-8 does not list these systems.
