In the SUV market in Malaysia, many buyers compare the Proton X90 and Mazda CX-8 when choosing a car. These two cars are quite close in price and positioning. Today we will make a detailed comparison from multiple aspects to help you save time on research.
Proton X90's OTR price in Malaysia is RM 106,800 - 122,800. There are 4 versions in total, including 2026 1.5T Prime X (RM 122,800), 2026 1.5T Prime (RM 116,800), 2026 1.5T Lite (RM 106,800), etc.
Mazda CX-8's OTR price in Malaysia is RM 165,360 - 201,360. There are 5 versions in total, including 2025 2.5T 4WD High Plus Petrol (RM 201,360), 2025 2.2L 2WD High Plus Diesel (RM 193,123), 2025 2.5L 2WD High Plus Petrol (RM 186,360), etc.
From a price perspective, Proton X90's starting price is indeed RM 58,560 cheaper than Mazda CX-8. If your budget is limited, Proton's entry-level version can already meet daily needs. But also note, the few thousand difference might involve trade-offs in features, specifically depends on your needs.

Proton X90 is equipped with 1.5L Turbo, 140 hp. Official fuel consumption 7.0 L/100km.
Mazda CX-8 is equipped with 2.0L 4-cyl, 170 hp. Official fuel consumption 8.0 L/100km.
In terms of power, Mazda CX-8's 2.0L 4-cyl has 30 more horsepower than Proton X90's 1.5L Turbo. However, for daily city driving, the power of both cars is sufficient, you won't feel like it lacks power.

Proton X90's safety rating is 5★ (ASEAN NCAP), active safety systems include ADAS (ACC, AEB, LKA, LDA, BSM, RCTA).
Mazda CX-8's safety rating is 5★ (ASEAN NCAP), active safety systems include Brand ADAS.
Both cars have the same safety rating, safety features are quite complete in this class. New cars these days are not poor in safety, no need to worry too much about this.

Proton X90 Warranty 5 years/150,000km, maintenance interval every 10,000km or 6 months.
Mazda CX-8 Warranty 5 years/150,000km, maintenance interval every 10,000km or 6 months.
Both cars have the same warranty conditions, no need to fuss about this. Actual maintenance costs depend on the brand's service network and parts prices, suggest asking in car enthusiast groups about real owners' experiences.

Proton X90 and Mazda CX-8 are both mainstream choices in the Malaysia market, suitable for family use and daily commuting. If you value brand reputation and resale value more, prioritize the one with better reputation; if you care more about cost-performance ratio and features, choose the one with richer configuration. Finally, it is suggested to test drive both, experiencing it personally is the most important.

Overall, Proton X90 and Mazda CX-8 are both very good models in the Malaysia market. Which one to choose mainly depends on your personal needs and budget. It is recommended to do your research, compare quotes from multiple car dealerships, and then test drive to make the final decision. Buying a car is a big matter, spending some time on research will never be wrong.