Review: Mazda’s CX-9 is a signature large crossover
The seats provide a comfortable ride.
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Washing old-style storm windows each fall counts among my least favorite chores of the year.
This year’s window washing, in particular, did a job on my lower back, especially the maneuver that includes hanging out from the third-floor window sills and stretching up to clean the outside of that top sash.
What, you may ask, does this have to do with reviewing an automobile? Fair question. And here’s the answer.
Over the years, many of you—especially those with chronic back pain—have asked for recommendations of cars with comfortable seats. My answer, always, was that all our backs are created—and then get mistreated—differently.
Which brings us to today’s test car, a 2016 Mazda CX-9 Signature. It’s a large, seven-passenger, crossover with three rows of seating.
For starters, the back row is for little kids only and, even then, not on a full-time basis. If you want a true seven-person people carrier, get a minivan. (I can just hear that advice being cast to the wind by SUV/crossover lovers who want and need an SUV (aka, crossover.)
Back to backs. Mine was sore enough that it killed my bowling scores for two weeks, very upsetting to my candlepin league teammates.
Mazda claims its engineers redesigned the seats in the CX-9, configuring them to be thinner with low-rebound but higher-damping urethane. We’re assuming the translation of that is thinner seats with stiffer-but-effective cushioning.
Guess what? It worked.
I enjoyed driving this Mazda for the first five days of our time together.
Day six, Saturday, dawned wet and nasty on the North Shore.
But the weather looked better down in Connecticut, where our grandson was scheduled to play a soccer game in Somers. We could have stayed home and raked leaves or gone to a big, local, cross-country meet or local concert.
Nope. I wanted to see that soccer game.
“You’re crazy,” Mrs. G said when I broached the subject. “You can’t drive down and back in one day the way your back is feeling. Besides, they say the Mass Pike is going to be a mess with the toll booths being closed.”
Normally, that would have ended the conversation.
But I wanted to go. “The cloudy weather is perfect for taking photos,” I said, “and the seats in the Mazda really feel good on my back.”
So we went. The seats did their job. And the Mass Pike traffic wasn’t a problem. The CX-9 earned points for making this possible.
It’s the second generation of this large crossover, which was introduced in 2006. Mazda has kept a flavor of its zoom-zoom DNA in the performance and handling, but the rest of the vehicle is aimed at competing in the crossover segment.
Our test vehicle was the absolute top-of-the-line Signature AWD model. Price is $44,915, including $900 destination. We’re not supposed to mention colors in reviews, but the only option on this vehicle was a spectacular $300 Machine Gray paint, bringing the bottom line to $45,215.
The CX-9 is available in four trim lines, starting at $32,400 for the entry-level Sport and moving up through the volume-selling Touring, to the significantly higher grade Grand Touring and finally to the Signature.
A PLUSH INTERIOR: The mix of auburn-toned leather in the CX-9’s Signature edition blends nicely with the aluminum and rosewood trim.
In truth, the two top trim levels fall into the luxury or near-luxury category. The interior, with aluminum, rosewood, and leather, was tremendous. Those seats were great (and heated), the ride was fine, and the powertrain was smooth. Mazda has seen the future and taken what some might think is a gamble in making this car only available with a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine.
Said power plant puts out 227 horsepower on regular gas and 250 on premium. You won’t notice a difference in running it on regular. Power goes through a 6-speed transmission to the wheels. When needed, the AWD system can send up to 50 percent of the torque to the rear wheels; otherwise, it’s mostly a front-wheel-drive vehicle. Power was more than adequate and quite smooth. Two thumbs up to the engineers who programmed the powertrain software.
We loved the interior, and so did second-row passengers in seats that slide and recline.
From the driver’s seat, I found the head-up display nice and bright and easily adjustable to be just below my horizon line of vision. The infotainment system wasn’t the easiest we’ve encountered but we soon learned to coordinate steering wheel controls and the command control knob on the center console.
If you’re a family of four (or fewer), the CX-9 is a more-than-worthy vehicle. Compare it to the competition and it holds its own against segment rivals such as the Ford Explorer, GMC Arcadia, Honda Pilot, Kia Sorento, and Toyota Highlander.
But do me a favor and remember that minivan alternative for regularly carrying a bigger group.
Meanwhile, we had a great 250-mile round-trip.
THE BASICS
Price, base/as tested (with destination): $44,915/$45,215. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 21 city/27 highway/23 combined. Fuel economy, Globe observed: 25.4. Drivetrain: 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, 6-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive. Body: 7-passenger, large crossover.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 227 (regular gas), 250 (premium). Torque: 301 lb.-ft. Overall length: 199.4 in. Wheelbase: 115.3. in. Height: 69 in. Width: 77.5 in. Curb weight: 4,301 lbs.
THE GOOD
Powertrain, handling, luxury-quality cabin, head-up display.
THE BAD
Infotainment screen sticks out above the dash, third row and cargo space are snug.
THE BOTTOM LINE
There’s a lot to like here if you want a three-row SUV.
ALSO CONSIDER
Acura MDX, Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Explorer, GMC Arcadia, Honda Pilot, Kia Sorento, Toyota Highlander.
Bill Griffith can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MrAutoWriter.
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