Mazda’s updated family SUV has arrived

Our family of testers got comfortable in a GT version.FIRST IMPRESSIONSJules: Well this is a handsome big thing.Iain: Mazda understands classy style. No giant wads of fake chrome, unnecessary LED lights or mad creases on body panels. Jules: I really like it. Big rims, smooth design and a quite aggressive, almost sharklike nose.Iain: Big SUV buyers like truck-like front ends. The CX-9 looks good, but so do its seven-seat rivals. There’s Hyundai’s Santa Fe, Kia’s Sorento, Toyota’s Kluger and Skoda’s Kodiaq.Jules: All priced similarly?Iain: This model is $66,990 plus on-roads. That buys range-topping Santa Fes and Sorentos, the hot RS Kodiaq, or Kluger GXL Hybrid plus change.Jules: That’s a great selection for shoppers at this price. What are the Mazda’s trump cards?Iain: Its looks, strong turbo petrol engine, talented driving dynamics and semi-premium feel inside.Jules: I could make the same case for the others on your list.Iain: Fair point. Cheaper CX-9s are available with decent standard kit. The entry-level Sport AWD is $49,990, while all grades are $4000 less if you pick front-wheel-drive.THE LIVING SPACEJules: Cream leather. Now you’re talking.Iain: It’s called natural stone, and you’ve the choice of it or black. The lighter trim feels more luxe and really brightens the cabin.Jules: It’s a seven-seat family SUV. Kids will be involved. They will make a mess of that leather.Iain: It’s still worth it. At this price some rivals offer a giant panoramic glass roof, but the CX-9’s sunroof is postage stamp-sized and hardly floods the cabin with light.Jules: It’s huge inside, the comfy seats feel high quality and the dashboard is minimalist cool.Iain: The driver interface looks dated next to Mazda’s brand-new funky MX-30 with its screen in the centre console. But our CX-9 GT has a pin-sharp 10.25-inch dash screen for infotainment, colour head-up display and Bose sounds.Jules: But no touchscreen. It runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but it’s frustrating to use through a rotary controller. Good stuff includes wireless phone charging and power heated seats.Iain: It’s well screwed together and materials – some cheap door plastics excluded – feel excellent. But it’s missing things such as a digital driver display, ventilated seats and 360-degree monitor. Similarly priced rivals have these.THE COMMUTEJules: The CX-9 hides its size well and doesn’t feel too cumbersome in town. Iain: Some of these big SUVs wobble around like trucks but Mazda’s found a good blend of comfort and cornering prowess.Jules: Radar cruise control, lane-keep assist and traffic sign recognition make for a stress-free drive. It’s beautifully quiet inside too.Iain: It’s hard to fault. The 2.5-litre engine has ample grunt, and being turbocharged it responds quickly from low revs, which is ideal for finding gaps in traffic.THE SHOPPINGJules: With seven seats up there’s still space for a small grocery shop. Drop the two rear chairs and the boot’s a whopper. This is why mums love a large SUV.Iain: It comes with rear cross-traffic alert – warning and ultimately self-braking if you’re about to reverse into a moving vehicle. It’s a brilliant feature.Jules: As is an automatic tailgate.Iain: Which doesn’t go up high enough. I cracked my head on it twice.SUNDAY RUNJules: I’d be happy taking it anywhere. It’s comfy for long-distance touring, doesn’t wallow on twisty country roads and isn’t so massive a city trip would daunt me. A brilliant all-rounder.Iain: It may be $4000 extra for all-wheel-drive, but it makes basic off-roading safer with its off-road traction assist. Considering it has 220mm ground clearance, which is more than a LandCruiser Prado, unsealed road camping grounds are possible.THE FAMILYJules: Talk about spoiling the kids. Two of the middle row seats are heated, they recline and slide on runners for extra leg room. Iain: It has sunshades and USBs for their devices too. Jules: Kudos to Mazda for the giant rear doors, it really helps access to strap kids in. Iain: An electric button moves a seat forward so you can access the rear two seats. With the middle row slid forwards two adults have decent leg room on wide chairs, although limited headroom makes them better for kids or short grown-ups.Jules: The third row has its own aircon controls and a USB port. Excellent.Iain: The CX-9 crash tested very well. There’s a curtain airbag giving total coverage to third row passengers and active safety is strong. A big tick for family buyers.Jules: But it’s over $70,000 to drive-away. And that turbo petrol engine likes a drink – we averaged 10.2L/100km. That won’t help the family budget. Its rivals have much more efficient diesel engines.THE VERDICTIain: Beautiful style, polished drive, very safe and key equipment is all there. It’s classy rather than flashy inside. One of the best seven-seaters, but the competition is strong and typically cheaper.Jules: I’d be happy to pay Mazda’s premium for the class it brings, although I’d prefer more interior wow factor.

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November 07, 2021 at 12:30AM
Our family of testers got comfortable in a GT version.FIRST IMPRESSIONSJules: Well this is a handsome big thing.Iain: Mazda understands classy style. No giant wads of fake chrome, unnecessary LED lights or mad creases on body panels. Jules: I really like it. Big rims, smooth design and a quite aggressive, almost sharklike nose.Iain: Big SUV buyers like truck-like front ends. The CX-9 looks good, but so do its seven-seat rivals. There’s Hyundai’s Santa Fe, Kia’s Sorento, Toyota’s Kluger and Skoda’s Kodiaq.Jules: All priced similarly?Iain: This model is $66,990 plus on-roads. That buys range-topping Santa Fes and Sorentos, the hot RS Kodiaq, or Kluger GXL Hybrid plus change.Jules: That’s a great selection for shoppers at this price. What are the Mazda’s trump cards?Iain: Its looks, strong turbo petrol engine, talented driving dynamics and semi-premium feel inside.Jules: I could make the same case for the others on your list.Iain: Fair point. Cheaper CX-9s are available with decent standard kit. The entry-level Sport AWD is $49,990, while all grades are $4000 less if you pick front-wheel-drive.THE LIVING SPACEJules: Cream leather. Now you’re talking.Iain: It’s called natural stone, and you’ve the choice of it or black. The lighter trim feels more luxe and really brightens the cabin.Jules: It’s a seven-seat family SUV. Kids will be involved. They will make a mess of that leather.Iain: It’s still worth it. At this price some rivals offer a giant panoramic glass roof, but the CX-9’s sunroof is postage stamp-sized and hardly floods the cabin with light.Jules: It’s huge inside, the comfy seats feel high quality and the dashboard is minimalist cool.Iain: The driver interface looks dated next to Mazda’s brand-new funky MX-30 with its screen in the centre console. But our CX-9 GT has a pin-sharp 10.25-inch dash screen for infotainment, colour head-up display and Bose sounds.Jules: But no touchscreen. It runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but it’s frustrating to use through a rotary controller. Good stuff includes wireless phone charging and power heated seats.Iain: It’s well screwed together and materials – some cheap door plastics excluded – feel excellent. But it’s missing things such as a digital driver display, ventilated seats and 360-degree monitor. Similarly priced rivals have these.THE COMMUTEJules: The CX-9 hides its size well and doesn’t feel too cumbersome in town. Iain: Some of these big SUVs wobble around like trucks but Mazda’s found a good blend of comfort and cornering prowess.Jules: Radar cruise control, lane-keep assist and traffic sign recognition make for a stress-free drive. It’s beautifully quiet inside too.Iain: It’s hard to fault. The 2.5-litre engine has ample grunt, and being turbocharged it responds quickly from low revs, which is ideal for finding gaps in traffic.THE SHOPPINGJules: With seven seats up there’s still space for a small grocery shop. Drop the two rear chairs and the boot’s a whopper. This is why mums love a large SUV.Iain: It comes with rear cross-traffic alert – warning and ultimately self-braking if you’re about to reverse into a moving vehicle. It’s a brilliant feature.Jules: As is an automatic tailgate.Iain: Which doesn’t go up high enough. I cracked my head on it twice.SUNDAY RUNJules: I’d be happy taking it anywhere. It’s comfy for long-distance touring, doesn’t wallow on twisty country roads and isn’t so massive a city trip would daunt me. A brilliant all-rounder.Iain: It may be $4000 extra for all-wheel-drive, but it makes basic off-roading safer with its off-road traction assist. Considering it has 220mm ground clearance, which is more than a LandCruiser Prado, unsealed road camping grounds are possible.THE FAMILYJules: Talk about spoiling the kids. Two of the middle row seats are heated, they recline and slide on runners for extra leg room. Iain: It has sunshades and USBs for their devices too. Jules: Kudos to Mazda for the giant rear doors, it really helps access to strap kids in. Iain: An electric button moves a seat forward so you can access the rear two seats. With the middle row slid forwards two adults have decent leg room on wide chairs, although limited headroom makes them better for kids or short grown-ups.Jules: The third row has its own aircon controls and a USB port. Excellent.Iain: The CX-9 crash tested very well. There’s a curtain airbag giving total coverage to third row passengers and active safety is strong. A big tick for family buyers.Jules: But it’s over $70,000 to drive-away. And that turbo petrol engine likes a drink – we averaged 10.2L/100km. That won’t help the family budget. Its rivals have much more efficient diesel engines.THE VERDICTIain: Beautiful style, polished drive, very safe and key equipment is all there. It’s classy rather than flashy inside. One of the best seven-seaters, but the competition is strong and typically cheaper.Jules: I’d be happy to pay Mazda’s premium for the class it brings, although I’d prefer more interior wow factor.