Mazda has revealed that they will cease manufacturing the CX-8 by late December 2023. The mid-size three-row SUV, which is currently sold in Japan, China, Oceania, and Southeast Asia, is set to be succeeded by the entirely new, electrified Mazda CX-80, set to launch in the coming year.

Sales and orders for the soon-to-be-phased-out Mazda CX-8 will go on throughout 2024 until all remaining inventory is depleted.

Originally launched in 2017, the Mazda CX-8 was essentially an extended version of the CX-5, featuring a three-row seating arrangement. It was built on the same platform as the more compact CX-5 and the larger CX-9. The vehicle came in various configurations depending on the region, including options for 6 or 7 seats, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, as well as petrol and diesel engines.

The CX-8 did not offer any electrified variants, a feature that is set to change with its replacement, the Mazda CX-80. Specifically, Mazda has stated that the CX-80 will come with a plug-in hybrid powertrain utilizing a four-cylinder petrol engine. Additionally, there will be 48-volt mild-hybrid versions featuring straight-six Skyactiv-X (petrol) and Skyactiv-D (diesel) engines.

The Mazda CX-80 was announced nearly two years prior as a part of Mazda's expanding SUV range, built on their new "Large Architecture." To summarize, the CX-60 and CX-80 are targeted for markets like Europe and Japan, while the CX-70 and CX-90 are tailored to meet the demands of North American consumers.

Source: Mazda Japan