Quibbles are few, but they do include a weirdly oily and clammy dash-top finish, and an oversized centre console lid that fouls a wheel-twirling driver’s left elbow during fast cornering – something the CX-9’s deliciously limbre dynamics encourage.ĭumping the old Ford-sourced V6 for a 70kg-lighter, seemingly less powerful 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo might sound like a recipe for high-strung lag, but the 420Nm torque peak arrives at a lowly 2000rpm. Beyond that, cargo capacity is ahead of this pack, but at 230 litres with all seats in use, the new CX-9 is 37 litres shy of its longer, heavier, and thirstier predecessor. While seats six and seven lack air vents, reading lights, and reclinable backrests, both offer adult-friendly accommodation (Mazda says it was designed to fit a pair of 170cm ‘Junior High’ kids). The second row is also generously packaged, bringing with it firm theatre-style cushions with slide adjustment, reclinable backrests, and passenger-configurable climate control. Supportive seats, a stylish dash, lovely steering wheel, classy instruments, tactile switchgear, abundant storage, and slim pillars for decent all-round vision all come through loud and clear. Consider, for example, a large and wide cabin offering a welcoming and quality environment. Yet this SUV makes the right noises in other areas. It’s almost like driving with earmuffs on.
But this second-generation Mazda CX-9 is a massive leap forward, finally breaking the noise, vibration, and harshness hex that has plagued Mazda for decades. To Hiroshima’s credit, minor sound-suppression measures have been implemented with each respective facelift.
Since Mazda’s CX-5 kicked off the newly independent Japanese brand’s ‘SkyActiv’ model renaissance back in 2011, each proceeding model has earned widespread respect, if not universal acclaim, tempered mostly by persistent road-noise intrusion.
It's time to embrace the best post-Ford Mazda that isn’t an MX-5 - the Mazda CX-9.Ĭan’t wait to see the final score? Jump to the verdict now. First published in the October 2016 issue of Wheels magazine, Australia's best car mag since 1953.
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