Review: Style matches driving enjoyment in Mazda CX-9
Mazda has a reputation for building stylish vehicles that are fun to drive. They’re the kind of cars people buy not simply because they need a way to get from point A to point B. Designing a three-row SUV that lives up to that reputation is no small task, but that was Mazda’s goal with the all-new 2016 CX-9.
It starts with styling that stays as far away from being a box on wheels as possible. The hood is long and the grille is bold with a huge Mazda logo placed front and center. The new high-end Signature trim brightens up that grille with LED accent lighting, making it even more prominent.
Big 18-inch wheels sit beneath tapered fenders, further denying the boxy three-row status quo. The CX-9 has sleek curves and a sense of style that give it a premium look. It’s an SUV you can feel good about driving, whether your destination is the carpool line at school or a night at the theater.
Inside you’ll find a luxurious interior with high-quality trims and a beautiful, flowing design. There are leather accents with aluminum and Japanese rosewood that edge the CX-9 toward luxury car territory. Seating is supremely comfortable with highly adjustable front seats that are supportive without being stiff even after hours of driving.
UPSCALE: Nappa leather with wood and aluminum trims creates a sumptuous interior.
The cockpit-like design wraps around the driver and creates a comfortable space that feels more like the interior of a sedan than an SUV. Controls are within easy reach and the Mazda Connect infotainment touch screen is placed high on the dashboard so it’s easy to see without pulling your eyes too far from the road. It is also intuitive to use and the available Bose sound system, which was designed specifically for this vehicle, provides rich sound that fills the whole cabin.
The CX-9 has a head-up display that is uniquely placed with the information appearing farther away from the driver to put it more within the line of sight. It’s also adjustable so no matter how you position your seat you can adjust the display to match.
There’s room for seven passengers, so that means two more rows of seats to consider. Second row seating is comfortable, and the needs of a family with lots of devices to charge haven’t been forgotten. There are two USB ports in the center armrest, which is much easier than having to plug-in to the back of the center console.
The third row is, as expected, a bit of a tight fit. It’s hard to avoid, but the CX-9 provides easier access to that row than most with second row seats that slide far forward. Seating position is very low in the back, but there is good headroom for taller occupants and ample room for your knees without having them pressed against the back of the second row.
Sometimes you are carrying cargo rather than people and there’s plenty of room in the CX-9. The load floor is high, which can make loading heavy cargo more challenging, but both the second and third row fold flat so objects can easily slide all the way forward without having to be lifted over an uneven floor.
There is a total of 71.2 cubic feet of space behind the first row, 38.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 14.4 cubic feet behind the third row. Even fully loaded with passengers, there’s still room for cargo. The third row split-folds 50/50 while the second row split-folds 60/40 to give flexibility for cargo and passengers.
Power for the CX-9 comes from a new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged Skyactiv-G engine with 227 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. With its focus on delivering an enjoyable driving experience, Mazda designed this engine to deliver the torque you need when you need it. Press the gas pedal and the CX-9 does not hesitate to respond.
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This responsive engine is matched by agile handling. The CX-9 is not a small, sporty, sedan, but it tries to make you forget that it’s an SUV. Steering is tight and responsive with good road feedback so the driver always feels connected and in control.
The CX-9 is truly fun to drive. Whether you’re taking it through twisting country roads on the way to a weekend adventure or managing high-speed highway traffic, the CX-9 is up to the challenge. There is very little body roll, even with quick lane changes on the highway, and hard braking brings the car to a quick stop with minimal nosedive. All-wheel-drive is available for handling nasty New England winters.
Safety is at the top of your list when you’re buying a family vehicle so the CX-9 offers safety features, including lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and rear backup sensors. There is also lane keep assist, which steers you back into your lane should you start to drift.
Lane keep assist is a great feature, but it can be jarring in some vehicles. What should be a gentle nudge to the steering can feel too aggressive and be almost startling to the driver. The lane keep assist in the CX-9 manages to make corrections smoothly without scaring you in the process.
There are four different trim levels starting with the base Sport at $31,520 and moving all the way up to the luxurious Signature at $44,015. You’ll enjoy the same exceptional driving dynamics no matter the trim you choose. It’s all a matter of how much luxury you want without ever sacrificing the drive experience.
The all-new 2016 Mazda CX-9 stays true to Mazda’s heritage. It is an SUV for people who enjoy driving and pushes the brand closer to the realm of luxury. Pricing, however, stays affordable making the CX-9 an attractive choice for those in need of seven-passenger seating who are unwilling to sacrifice driving enjoyment.
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