Should I buy an LDV D90 or a Mazda CX-8?
Mazda needs no introduction, but Chinese brand LDV might... So let's take a look at how LDV's D90 7-seat SUV stacks up against a family favourite.
Families after high-riding transport for seven face a choice between a conventional SUV that favours on-road characteristics such as the Mazda CX-8, or the diesel-powered alternatives like the LDV D90 which aims to deliver off-road capability along with family friendliness.
Generally speaking, Australians look for as large an SUV as they can afford to serve as everyday transport, but there are some smaller offerings that have more manageable footprints for increasingly crowded city streets.
The Mazda CX-8 and LDV D90 are varied in their approach to what seven-seat transport can be, but are matched closely on price. So which option is betted suited to a $50,000 price point?
We've deliberately chosen two vehicles with funamental differences. The LDV sits on a more offroad appropriate ladder chassis and is driven by a diesel engine whereas the Mazda has a lighter monocoque chassis typical of passenger cars and is driven by a petrol engine.
If you'd prefer a petrol-powered D90 then LDV is happy to oblige. And if you want your CX-8 with a diesel engine, then Mazda offers that too. But as we said, for this comparison, we've embraced the differences so we can highlight the strengths and weaknesses of all possible permutations.
How much does the LDV D90 cost in Australia?
Since arriving here in 2013, China’s LDV brand has been building its reputation in Australia with sharply priced utes and vans. It is now making a more concerted effort in the booming SUV category with the option of a diesel engine to its large seven-seat wagon, the D90.
The LDV D90 went on sale in Australia in November 2017 as a petrol-only proposition, powered by a perky turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder (165kW/350Nm) matched to a six-speed auto and rear-drive or all-wheel drive. However for this twin test we’ve got the twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine which produces a healthy 160kW and 480Nm.
The LDV D90 currently starts from $37,990 drive-away for the petrol rear-drive, $41,990 drive-away for the better equipped Executive petrol rear-drive, and $45,990 drive-away for the Executive petrol four-wheel drive.
What we have here is the sole diesel offering, the LDV D90 Executive diesel four-wheel drive from $50,990 drive-away. Cheaper versions may follow, but for now LDV Australia believes this is the sweet spot in the diesel seven-seat SUV market.
The $50,990 drive-away price puts the LDV D90 Executive diesel in close company with mainstream rivals, rather than undercutting them dramatically as the company has done with utes and vans.
How much does the Mazda CX-8 cost in Australia?
The 2022 Mazda CX-8 Sport is the brand's cheapest seven-seat SUV.
Given the wider range is complex, it's worth understanding its place in the range. A petrol, front-wheel-drive version (like we’ve got on test) costs $40,190 before on-roads, or about $45,000 drive-away.
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This specification gets a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine which runs its 140kW/252Nm outputs through a six-speed transmission to the front wheels
For $2000 more, you can have the better equipped 2022 Mazda CX-8 Touring, or for $2400 more, the same 2022 Mazda CX-8 Sport, just with a diesel engine and all-wheel drive.
And you guessed it, the 'Touring' model also comes in all-wheel drive. A top-of-the-line 2022 Mazda CX-8 Asaki diesel tops out over $70,000 drive-away, for your interest.
How the CX-8 model sits in the wider Mazda range is also worth a mention. The Mazda CX-8 is far longer than the five-seat Mazda CX-5, similar in length, yet far narrower, than the seven-seat Mazda CX-9. Consider it a semi-skim seven-seater, or 'CX-9 lite' perhaps.
To be specific, the Mazda CX-8 is some 17cm shorter and about 12cm thinner than the larger CX-9. Despite that lowly entry price of $44,756 drive-away, it's certainly not the cheapest seven-seat SUV out there.
Key details | 2020 LDV D90 Diesel Executive AWD | 2021 Mazda CX-8 Sport |
Price (MSRP) | $50,990 driveaway | $39,990 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Silver | |
Options | None | None |
Price as tested | $50,990 driveaway | $39,990 plus on-road costs |
Drive-away price | $50,990 (national) | $44,528 (Melbourne) |
How much space does the LDV D90 have inside?
Standard equipment includes remote central locking with a sensor key (with touch access on both front doors), a powered tailgate, digital speed display, leather-accented seats, a sunroof above the front two seats, air-conditioning outlets to all three rows of seats, and 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Continental road tyres (rather than off-road rubber).
Demonstrating that the LDV D90 diesel is primarily aimed at the bitumen – even though it has sound off-road clearance angles – is the fact that a space-saver spare is mounted under the rear of the car.
The LDV D90 is among the largest in cabin and cargo capacity when compared with its peers. With the second- and third-row seats stowed flat, it has van-like carrying space. We have not listed the exact capacity in litres as we don’t yet have like-for-like figures; however, subjectively at least (and according to our tape measure), the LDV D90 has more cargo space than its rivals, thanks largely to its taller roof and longer overall length.
The third-row seat is roomy enough to accommodate two adults (though it’s still best suited to children), and there is still adequate room for luggage with all three rows in use.
The second row has three ISOFIX child seat anchor points and three top tether points; the third row cannot be used to locate child seats.
How much space does the Mazda CX-8 have inside?
Even as the cheapest model in the range, there’s still a sense of quality found in the cabin’s presentation and materials.
The dashboard is clad in a foam-backed vinyl – complete with intricate stitching detail – and every other surface is either squishy or nice to touch. Other elements like its switchgear present well and feel nice to use in terms of tactility.
It’s a small point, but the extra padding surely adds up to reduce cabin noise and lift the overall perceived quality. What detracts from the smart presentation, however, is being reminded to use the key to open the doors, as its base-model nature means it features keyless start but not keyless entry.
I’d argue the former is more important, as you’re usually scrambling for your keys when you first get to the car, not after you're in it. With that first-world problem digested, you’re greeted by soft and comfortable cloth-trimmed seats. Both front pews lack any form of lumbar adjustment and feature shallow bolsters, but they are still comfortable on longer drives.
Once comfortable, you’ll notice Mazda has not bothered with a digital instrument cluster, rather integrating small black-and-white screens with traditional dials and a head-up display instead. It’ll appeal to the traditionalist; however, some will also loathe that its digital speedometer is only visible on the windscreen and not within the dials.
Thankfully, the projection is visible through polarised sunglasses, meaning its legibility is great in all conditions. In terms of storage, a pair of shallow door bins allow for a wallet, keys and a small bottle, a pair of cupholders in the centre console keep your coffee sturdy, and the centre armrest is big enough for a clutch and your phone. It’s also where you’ll find the sole USB port in the first row.
In the second row, the space is fantastic. Being a seven-seater means the rear seat bench is both reclinable and sliding, thus providing maximum comfort to alert and sleepy guests. With the second row adjusted all the way back, and sitting behind my own driving position (I’m 183cm tall), I was left with stacks of room by all measures.
It also makes the second row great for the installation of child seats. It happily accepted a Britax Graphene convertible seat in both rearward- and forward-facing fashions with ease, and without the need to impede on first-row seating. This type of child support seat is usable from birth to about four years of age.
I also installed a booster seat typical for taller-than-average and older kids, which slotted in without fuss too. I’d wager against you being able to comfortably install three child seats, however. And if that sounds like you, you’re going to need the extra width offered by the Mazda CX-9.
2022 LDV D90 Executive | 2022 Mazda CX-8 Sport | |
Seats | Seven | Seven |
Boot volume | 343L to third row 1350L to second row 2382L to first row | 209L to third row 775L to second row |
Length | 5005mm | 4900mm |
Width | 1932mm | 1840mm |
Height | 1875mm | 1725mm |
Wheelbase | 2950mm | 2930mm |
Does the LDV D90 have Apple CarPlay?
A large 12.0-inch infotainment screen displays Apple CarPlay (though not built-in navigation or digital radio), a rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors in the LDV D90.
The screen is controlled via touch and you’re thankfully provided with physical controls and dials for things like air-conditioning functionality.
The large digital speed display and massive 12.0-inch infotainment screen look impressive – other cars have higher resolution but smaller screens. However, the functionality of the infotainment is not as intuitive or as user-friendly as most other cars.
For example, Apple CarPlay works fine when dialling out, but as soon as someone dials in, it blanks the entire screen and you need to reactivate it manually once the call has ended. Our phone had the latest software and we used a genuine cable to connect (these are some of the questions asked by car companies or service departments when connectivity systems don’t work as intended).
Other cars leave Apple CarPlay icons displayed and simply mute the radio until the call is over. The LDV shuts everything down and you need to physically press buttons to get the radio or Apple CarPlay going again. As this article was published, it was unclear whether this was how it was designed to function, or if it was a fault, but we know other media outlets had the same experience when testing another example of the LDV D90 diesel.
Does the Mazda CX-8 have Apple CarPlay?
The Mazda CX-8 Sport is beginning to show its age in the area of infotainment.
The first tell-tale sign is the 8.0-inch infotainment screen. Not only is it two-and-a-bit inches smaller than panels found in cheaper cars from two classes below, but it also shrinks against the context of the large and horizontal dashboard.
Its setting creates the opposite effect of making it look smaller than it is. The MZD Connect software skin used on this particular Mazda is also circa 2017, so if you're upgrading from a previous-generation Mazda, you'll possibly feel short-changed and a little disappointed.
Other than looking and feeling old, it keeps up by featuring both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as digital radio, too, which is a nice get at this price point. The best part of the whole kit is the remote-located rotary dial, however, as once learned it enables swift operation of the vehicle's system without having to lean over and poke about on a screen.
Is the LDV D90 a safe car?
Standard safety includes six airbags (including head-protecting curtain airbags all the way to the third-row seats), autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot warning (though not rear cross-traffic alert), lane-departure warning (though not lane-keeping), speed sign recognition, radar cruise control, and tyre pressure monitors (displayed only in kPa, not PSI more commonly used in Australia).
The LDV D90 comes with a five-star safety rating after being crash-tested locally by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) and measured against the protocols that were current in 2017.
The long list of standard equipment is impressive; however, it’s worth going over some of the features in more detail, and checking some of these for yourself if you take one for a test drive.
The lane-departure warning and speed sign recognition systems are reasonably accurate (which shows LDV has access to the right tech), but the alerts blank out the digital speed display for about five seconds, so you don’t know whether you need to slow down, speed up, or do nothing. Other cars provide these helpful warnings without making the car’s travelling speed disappear. You can turn these warnings off in the LDV D90, but that defeats the purpose of having advanced safety aids.
Is the Mazda CX-8 a safe car?
The 2022 Mazda CX-8 Sport wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating having been tested in 2018.
More important than a dated safety rating, however, is the level of standard-fit active driver-assist systems, even in this entry-level version. You'll find blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warning, automatic high beams, and even a reverse camera with parking sensors.
Plenty of the cheapest versions of many SUVs lack rearward-firing sensors, so consider the safety package great for the money. The next step for the brand is to offer a forward – or even 360-degree view – camera for all of its larger seven-seat SUVs.
At a glance | 2020 LDV D90 Diesel | 2022 Mazda CX-8 Sport |
ANCAP rating & year tested | Five stars (tested 2017) | Five stars (tested 2018) |
Safety report | ANCAP report | ANCAP report |
How much does the LDV D90 cost to run?
Warranty for the LDV D90 is five years or 130,000km, whichever comes first.
LDV also includes 24/7 roadside assistance for the duration of the warranty, which some brands also offer, though most do not. Service intervals are 15,000km/12 months, whichever comes first, which is average for the industry and this type of vehicle.
However, as this article was published, LDV does not offer capped-price servicing, which means each visit for routine maintenance needs to be negotiated.
We inquired about how much insurance will cost for the LDV D90 diesel and received a $1360 quote, based on a comparative quote for a 35 year old male driver, living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
How much does the Mazda CX-8 cost to run?
Unlike the LDV, Mazda provides capped-price servicing for the base-spec Mazda CX-8, which costs $1112 for three years, or $2071 for five years. Mazda expects you to come back to service the CX-8 every 12 months or 10,000km, which is less than the average yearly mileage covered by Australians.
Mazda covers its owners for the same five-year period, though doesn’t stipulate a kilometre limit on its warranty like LDV does.
We inquired about how much insurance will cost for the Mazda CX-8 FWD petrol and received a $1164 quote, based on a comparative quote for a 35 year old male driver, living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
At a glance | 2020 LDV D90 Diesel | 2022 Mazda CX-8 Sport |
Warranty | Five years, 130,000km | Five years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km | 12 months or 10,000km |
Servicing costs | $XXX (3 years) $XXXX (5 years) | $1112 (3 years) $2071 (5 years) |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | X.XL/100km | 8.1L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | X.XL/100km | 8.2L/100km |
Fuel type | Diesel | 91-octane Regular Unleaded |
Fuel tank size | 75L | 72L |
What is the LDV D90 like to drive?
First impressions once getting behind the wheel were reasonably positive, but we began to learn some of the quirks of the LDV D90 diesel during our road test.
The overall presentation, fit, finish and perceived quality inside and out are on par with most modern cars. The extra roominess and excellent visibility thanks to the large side windows are clearly evident when compared to most of its intended rivals.
The comfort over bumps is impressive for this type of vehicle, but LDV has given the D90 a significant head start by equipping it with Continental road tyres rather than off-road rubber.
On a practical note, the headlight coverage (low and high beam) was above average in our opinion, and especially helpful on dark country roads.
The diesel engine sounds relatively refined (for a diesel); however, there is a noticeable delay in power delivery when moving from rest. There is some old-school turbo lag at first, but the eight-speed auto does a pretty good job of disguising the gap in initial power delivery. Once on the move, the engine and transmission make for a good combination and the shifts are smooth and mostly intuitive.
We averaged between 9.0L and 11.0L/100km in a mix of gentle freeway driving and suburban cruising, which is par for the course.
Armed with quality tyres, the steering is accurate for a large four-wheel drive, but the tall body can create a bit of ‘head toss’ in tight turns as the car starts to lean. Patience is a virtue in all of these types of vehicles, and as one of the largest in the class, the LDV D90 is certainly shifting a lot of mass.
The larger footprint makes for relatively stable roadholding, but it also means the LDV D90 has a slightly broader turning circle than its peers, which can make it a bit cumbersome in tight car parks. The LDV D90's turning circle is 12.0m versus 11.6m for a Toyota Prado and Isuzu MU-X, and 11.2m for a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. Even a Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series has a tighter turning circle (11.8m).
Overall, the LDV D90 diesel will likely find appeal among families who want a lot of space and are happy to take a chance on an emerging brand.
What is the Mazda CX-8 like to drive?
Don’t think for a second that it's handicapped as the entry-level model in a range. In fact, you could argue the opposite. It’s comfortable to drive, quiet to behold, and even firm enough to keep its near-on 1800kg weight in check in a rural suburb.
It strikes a good balance, then, meaning it feels safe and confident to use at higher speeds, or even during evasive manoeuvres around town, as I discovered. I had a moment during the loan where wildlife seemingly manifested in front of my eyes, which thankfully didn't end in tears.
The big old Mazda CX-8 flip-flopped left-to-right – at about 75km/h – with relative ease and without being corrupted by its weight and size. I wouldn't describe the event as being handled deftly, but it did surprise in how well the forces of its weight were mitigated under sharp and heavy inputs.
Despite the inherent firmness required to pull off such an act, it still rides well. Part of the act is a small set of 17-inch wheels and balloon-like 65-profile tyres. The smaller rim and thicker tyre combo works its magic to help soften the ride and remove unwanted jittering often caused by larger and heavier wheels. In essence, it coasts over most suburban bitumen without hassle or fuss.
Powering the Mazda CX-8 Sport is a non-turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 140kW/252Nm. Although it cuts the mustard when you're travelling light on date night with your better half, it can struggle when packed to the rafters with humans, animals and baggage.
The low torque figure isn't helped by how high in the rev range it peaks, meaning you'll be using the top half of the tachometer more than you'd probably like. Although noisy and appearing like you're stressing the motor, it doesn't seem to mind being tasked – but consider that a consolation prize.
It could do with more performance, or perhaps turbocharging alone, as that would shift its powerband more in favour of lugging objects and people without taxing the engine. The six-speed automatic employed is a regular torque converter type, meaning it uses fluid to couple the engine to the transmission, instead of mechanical 'hard' parts found in more contemporary dual-clutch automatics.
Being old-fashioned in this sense isn't bad, however, as it makes for smooth and quiet operation. It's great in both stop-start traffic and on the roll, too, with swift kick-downs trying their best to band-aid any notion of being underpowered.
Key details | 2020 LDV D90 Diesel | 2021 Mazda CX-8 Sport |
Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel | 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol |
Power | 160kW @ 4000rpm | 140kW @ 6000rpm |
Torque | 480Nm | 252Nm |
Drive type | 4-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Eight-speed sports automatic | Six-speed torque convertor automatic |
Power to weight ratio | 67.5kW/t | 78kW/t |
Weight | 2370kg | 1799kg |
Tow rating | 3100kg braked 750kg unbraked | 1800kg braked 750kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 12m | 11.6m |
Should I buy an LDV D90 or a Mazda CX-8?
After testing both these vehicles there are obvious differences in how they operate. To compare them and crown a winner requires taking them first on face value. But before we do, remember that both Mazda and LDV offer petrol and diesel versions of both, so if read our conclusion with that firmly in mind.
We begin with pricing where the Mazda is roughly $1000 cheaper petrol vs petrol. If, however, you prefer diesel, then the LDV wins the purchase price equation because LDV asks only $5000 more for the diesel whereas Mazda asks $7000. Now, while that extra $7000 also brings all-wheel drive for the CX-8, the LDV includes that in both prices.
LDV offers standardised national drive-away pricing for all its retailers, whereas the Mazda’s full price could differ slightly between dealerships.
The LDV's more off-road-geared body could influence your buying decision. However, for us, it’s a minimal gain for a vehicle that will undoubtedly spend much of its time in town.
With such a large body it’s the LDV which caters better to passengers in all three rows, as the Mazda tends to feel more like a 5+2 seating design. Those after ultimate carrying ability will be well-served by the D90, but don’t discount the sizeable second row in the CX-8. In all, the LDV gets the nod in terms of interior space.
Next up we have safety credentials which, by our judgement, favours the Mazda. The LDV misses out on important technology such as rear cross-traffic alert that the Mazda packages standard, while both are fitted with handy tech such as adaptive cruise control. Both earned five stars from ANCAP but the Mazda was tested to more recent – tougher – safety standards.
Some useability quirks exhibited by the LDV also factored into why the LDV didn’t score as highly in the safety stakes.
Mazda again scores points in the ownership costs section, with its unrestricted five-year kilometre warranty which LDV caps to 130,000km. Admittedly, that is comfortably more than the 15,000km a year the Australian Bureau of Statistics claims the average Aussie drives, but it's still a limiting factor.
Mazda is also upfront with its servicing schedule and costs – LDV does not offer transparent capped-price servicing.
On the road both vehicles feel well sorted, and praise must be given to the LDV’s impressive engine outputs. They feel perfectly suited to the large-footprint SUV and refinement from the diesel engine is good.
However, the Mazda is the car that exudes even better refinement overall. It’s smoother to drive, whereas the LDV isn’t quite as progressive or as polished.
The LDV’s huge size also works against it in corners and in manoeuvrability, leaving the Mazda as the more approachable vehicle to drive you and your six passengers.
So, if you want the more polished around-town family hauler, then the Mazda CX-8 is the vehicle for you. But if your family likes to go beyond the bitumen, then the LDV D90 is the better choice.