The CX-9 is the type of crossover best-suited for someone who wants a more engaging driving experience and interested in having some fun when taking the kids to school. The ride quality is smooth as it absorbs road imperfections and road noise is minimal. It's an agile crossover that is well-grounded to the pavement providing the driver a sense of confidence. Steering is nicely weighted and precise as the CX-9 takes corners with minimal body lean in quick maneuvers. Shifting through gears is smooth and quick allowing it to get going easily. There's no noticeable turbo lag as it scoots around town with ease and agility. Acceleration is impressive with an estimated 0-60 time of 7.3 seconds. Once again Mazda offers a vehicle that is fun-to-drive and the turbo four performs well. It's paired with a six-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. It's an area I think Mazda could improve by offering more compelling designs like those seen on brands like Volkswagen, Kia, and Hyundai.Īll trims get the same turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder that delivers up to 250 horsepower and 320 lb.ft. The wheel designs however, are middle of the road and don't wow nor distract from the rest of the CX-9's exterior. The wheels are sturdy, and the finishes have a premium quality to them. Touring models are fitted with 18" gray metallic aluminum wheels. Badging on the back of the vehicle will denote which trim level the vehicle is.Īll except for the Touring models come with 20" aluminum alloy wheels in a variety of finishes such as black metallic, silver metallic or brilliant silver. Dual exhausts peak out under the rear bumper. Around back it maintains a clean look with slim taillights that are connected via a chrome strip above the Mazda emblem. Countering the cladding is a chrome accent piece that outlines the windows. The lower portion of this crossover is adorned in body cladding that also outlines the wheel arches. The side profile is very front forward with a more rounded roofline. Available small LED fog lights are tucked into the lower corners of the front fascia adding to visibility at night. The finish on the grill will vary based on the trim level. Mazda's signature shield grill dominates the front end with slim headlights and available round LED lighting. From this perspective, and with more than a little imagination, the driving position feels more WRC than SUV.Styling (+)While its styling hasn't been altered significantly in the past six years, the CX-9 still looks current and very sophisticated on the roads. Despite not adjusting for reach, the steering wheel is set far enough back for most and the gear lever is positioned appealingly close at hand. The cabin’s biggest success is the positioning of the major controls. This is hard to read and the screen graphics are crudely drawn. The only downside is that Mazda has squeezed a tiny 4in colour sat-nav screen into the dash-top display. There’s also an impressive list of safety equipment. Leather, electric seats, climate control and a superb nine-speaker Bose stereo are all standard. The quality of the materials, though, don’t always match that of Audi, Land Rover or Infiniti, but the finish is generally good. As with other Mazda models, there’s a crispness to the dash layout, with tidy circular vents and heater controls. The cabin’s design is refreshingly clean and equipment specification is excellent. However, Mazda’s ‘Karakuri’ 60/40 split rear seats are exceptionally neat: they can be folded flat by pulling a handle in the side of the loadbay. Surprisingly, boot space is less impressive at 455 litres with the rear seats up, the CX-7 carries less than a Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V or Land Rover Freelander.
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