2015 Mazda CX-9

One of the only downsides with the new CX-9 is that it has been around since 2007 and has certainly aged in a few areas. Old age can also be seen in terms of its crash test scores, infotainment features, and so on because most of its competition has taken large strides. For the 2015 model year, the crossover starts at MSRP $31,520 and competes against the Dodge Durango, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Honda Pilot.

The three trims on offer for the Mazda CX-9 are called Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. All of these trims are available in the front-wheel-drive configuration as standard but come with the option of all-wheel-drive. The car is well equipped even in the base trim with 18-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, three-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, height-adjustable driver seat, cloth upholstery, 5.8-inch touchscreen, and more.

We Recommend

Although right from the base trim, the car is quite well loaded, we find that to be competitive in today’s world, the CX-9 has to be equipped with more features than what it offers in the base trim. For this reason, the mid-range Touring model stands out as an excellent value for money package. It gets automatic headlights, a blind-spot monitoring system, rear parking sensors, a rear cross-traffic alert system, leather upholstery, and more that make it safer as well as plusher.

The Mazda CX-9 is powered by a 3.7 L V-6 engine that produces 273 hp and 270 pound-feet of torque. This is quite a capable engine and makes the car feel brisk. This engine is committed to a six-speed automatic transmission that also offers manual shift control. It is also good for towing up to 3,500 pounds, but the highlight is that it offers excellent ride and handling, unlike most cars in its segment.

When it comes to acceleration figures, the CX-9 accelerates from 0 to 60 in just 7.7 seconds and goes bust the quarter-mile in just 15.9 seconds, which is decently quick for its segment. However, a surprising factor was that the all-wheel-drive model was slightly slower in terms of acceleration which makes it more of a performance burden.

One can see with just one glance that the CX-9 is priced very competitively when you compare it with the segment rivals. However, this is no surprise since they are much newer models. In terms of performance, both on paper as well as on the road, it is an eager performer. Rivals like the Dodge Durango and the Hyundai Santa Fe are slightly better performing in terms of acceleration but do not have quite the edge in terms of handling like the CX-9.

Although one cannot expect too much in terms of fuel efficiency when it comes to a large engine like a 3.7 L V6, the fuel economy is definitely on par with what one would expect from the segment. The front-wheel-drive option returns an estimated 17 MPG in the city, 24 MPG on the highway, and 19 MPG combined. All-wheel-drive slightly drops these figures to 16 MPG in the city, 22 MPG on the highway, and 18 MPG combined.

When comparing, the rivals offer better MPG figures than the Mazda. Surprisingly, even the Dodge does so when it is not known to have an exact reputation for that. However, Mazda offers a fairly big fuel tank and is competitive in terms of range. Then again, it is the Dodge that sets the benchmark in this class for both fuel efficiency and fuel tank capacity with its immense range.

Mazda has used what they call a waterfall design that makes the dashboard flow into door panels with a very nice flair. However, due to its age, we find that the material quality is not quite correct. Despite this, however, it has a good overall fit and finish, and one can definitely not complain about this.

Mazda has ensured that ergonomics is generally good throughout and all controls are easily accessible. The car also offers plenty of space inside which makes passengers feel at ease. The sloping roof takes away a bit of third-row headroom, but otherwise, it is quite good. Also, the rear door is quite large which makes an opening in tight spaces a hassle.

The Santa Fe has a seating capacity only for five passengers, while all the other cars in this category offer to seat decent passengers. This results in better cargo capacity for the Hyundai at the back of the second row. When comparing the other three seven-seater rivals, both Mazda and Dodge offer the most cargo space behind the third row at 17.2 cubic feet. One can see that all rivals are equally spacious for passengers inside. Some standout interior features include:

• Audio And Cruise Controls On Steering Wheel
• Front, Rear, And 3rd Row Cup Holders
• Leather Steering Wheel
• Three Zone Climate Control
• Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel
• Interior Air Filtration
• Keyless Ignition
• Electrochromatic Inside Rearview Mirror
• Universal Remote Transmitter (For Garage Door, Security System, Etc.)

How intuitive is the car’s infotainment unit?

The infotainment system is one of the weakest points of the car since it has been around for a long time. It was last updated in 2013, and the 5.8-inch screen does seem a bit outdated in today’s market. It is not very quick to respond, and the graphics also have to be improved a lot. However, one thing Mazda has done quite well is that it offers a decent sound system. Some standout infotainment features include:

• 5.8” Touchscreen
• 6-Speaker Standard Audio System
• USB Connection
• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• Speed-Sensitive Volume Control

The exterior design of the Mazda CX-9 is definitely elegant. It manages to do so even after being in the market for so many years, and that is an incredible feat. However, there are several newer Mazda cars with a more updated design language, and we believe that this will get filtered into the newer CX-9 that is coming soon. Overall, it is definitely attractive and looks good even to this day.

The Mazda CX-9 is one of the heavier cars in the segment, but it is also pretty much the largest. However, it is the Dodge that manages to be the heaviest in the segment with 6,500 pounds curb weight. In terms of ground clearance, the Mazda offers 8 inches which it ties up with Dodge and Honda. Some standout exterior features include:

• Optional 20-inch wheels
• Blacked out exterior trim
• Chrome exterior trim
• Front air dams
• Sloping roofline
• Aerodynamic design

Mazda generally builds cars that have a good reputation for safety in terms of both structure and features. However, the safety equipment being offered in the Mazda CX-9 is definitely subpar when you compare it with most of its competitors. It has scored four out of five stars in the NHTSA crash tests, and the IIHS rates it as ‘Good’ is a reassuring fact. However, most of its category has moved onto five stars overall. Some standout safety features include:

• 4-Wheel ABS
• Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags
• Stability Control
• Emergency Braking Assist
• Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation
• Auto Delay Off Headlamps
• Tire Pressure Monitoring
• Traction Control
• Blind Spot Warning Accident Avoidance System
• Front, Rear, And Third Row Head Airbags

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 is definitely an excellent crossover SUV with a lot of merits. It is definitely the most fun to drive along with being the most engaging SUV for the enthusiast who plans to carry a family around. However, we expect a redesigned CX-9 from the brand soon, and hence we feel that it is not exactly a wise decision to buy one now. If we have to pick one of the other three rivals, Hyundai Santa Fe comes out to be a decent pick.