2009 Mazda CX-9 Review and Road Test
Posted on September 14, 2009
Filed Under Reviews |
I found this great review in the Vancouver Sun, and thought I’d post it here. If the need to transport more than five people is something that happens on a regular basis, there really is not a lot of choice, especially if one rules out the ubiquitous minivan. The remaining contenders tend to be SUV-based buggies that are less than sporty. The drawback is that their lumbering posture puts a serious crimp in the handling. The Mazda CX-9 not only delivers the needed space for riders and/or cargo, it does so without feeling like a land-locked barge when it’s driven with purpose. Of course, the fact it happens to have more than a little style to its makeup helps enormously — this is the least soccer parent-like multi-seater around. Dynamically, the CX-9 lives up to its bold exterior look. Riding on front struts and multiple rear links, it tracks a true line whenever the road deviates from the straight-ahead. Body roll is moderate in spite of the elevated seating position, understeer is a distant companion and the response to steering input is both fast and accurate. It is a delightful package that’s topped off with a decent electronic stability/traction control system with roll mitigation (it backs out of the gas and applies the appropriate brake to keep the CX-9 shiny side up) and oversized P245/50R20 tires mounted on attractive alloy rims. The latter makes a big difference. The tire’s large footprint provides a ton of lateral grip and shortens the stopping distances because the anti-lock system is less likely to step in. The 40.7-metre stopping distance from 100 kilometres an hour is well below the crossover norm and on par with some far more sporty offerings. The CX-9 is powered by a 3.7-litre V6 that pushes 273 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm. The twin-cam design, which includes variable valve timing, spreads the power over a broad range. This means there’s enough power to put 100 km/h on the clock in a tick over eight seconds and allow the CX-9 to pass a slower vehicle (80-to-120 km/h) in 7.3 seconds. Not bad for a vehicle that tips the scales at a rather portly 2,096 kilograms. It also provides the CX-9 with the mustard to tow a 1,588-kg trailer. Stallions aside, the credit for the CX-9’s enthusiasm goes to the six-speed manumatic transmission. The lower first gear improves initial launch, second through fifth gears keep the engine at a roaring boil whenever the pedal is matted and, once up to speed, sixth gear brings relaxed cruising. One of the advantages of opting for the GT model is that it drives all four wheels, and does so without the usual pain. The fuel consumption penalty is just 0.6 L/100 km in the city and 0.5 L/100 km on the highway when compared with the front-drive GS (AWD is a $2,000 option). Using a variety of sensors, the AWD system automatically sends the torque to the wheels with the best traction. Under normal circumstances, it drives the front wheels. When slippage is detected, the computer- controlled coupling sends up to 50% of the power rearward. It is a balanced system that remains transparent to the driver, even as it is shuttling the power around. The CX-9’s cabin fares just as well, especially in GT guise. Everything from a 10-way heated leather driver’s seat (with power lumbar adjustment) to a power sunroof is in place. Likewise, the large controls fall readily to hand and they all have a uniform, tactile feel. The latter is conspicuously absent in many more expensive rides. If there is a gripe, it is that the up-level 10-speaker Bose audio system is bundled up in the luxury package ($1,895) along with things such as a power tailgate. It should be a stand-alone option. It’s also very rosy in the middle row. There is plenty of head- and legroom (the centre seat slides back and forth to extend the middle rider’s leg space or share it with those behind) and the seat backs recline. The third-row seat is really more about advertising the ability to carry two extra occupants than it is about taking seven along for the drive — all the dimensions are on the tight side and getting back there takes a lithe and limber body. If hauling stuff is the order of the day, the CX-9, again, works. There’s 17.2 cubic feet of space with the third-row seat upright, 48.4 cu. ft. with it flat and, with the middle row folded forward, there’s a reasonably flat floor and 100.7 cu. ft. of space. The ability to fold the middle row flat without removing the headrests is a bonus. The Mazda CX-9 is a crossover —it’s loosely based on the Ford Edge —that has plenty of power, a well-conceived interior and more style than many of its immediate competitors. What separates it from the crowd, however, is the manner in which it drives — it carves a corner such that the driver remains unaware of its size and mass. THE SPECS Type of vehicle: All-wheel-drive mid-sized crossover Engine: 3.7L DOHC V6 Power: 273 hp @ 6,250 rpm; 270 lb-ft of torque @ 4,250 rpm Transmission: Six-speed manumatic Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS Tires: P245/50R20 Price: base/as tested: $37,995/$47,950 Destination charge: $1,535 Transport Canada fuel economy L/100 km: 14 city, 9.6 hwy. Standard features: Tri-zone automatic climate control, power locks, windows, heated mirrors and sunroof, cruise control, AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers, steering wheel-mounted controls and auxiliary input, Bluetooth, power 10-way driver’s seat (including power lumbar adjustment), four-way power passenger’s seat, leather-trimmed upholstery, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, smart key with push-button ignition, anti-theft/engine immobilizer, trip computer, outside temperature readout, rear wiper/washer, high-intensity-discharge headlights, fog lights.2009 Mazda CX-9.
Photograph by: Handout, Mazda, Mazda
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