2017 Mazda CX-9

The Mazda CX-9 SUV is one of the very rare SUVs in its segment that look like it’s moving at a lightning fast pace even when it's just stationary. The midsize crossover market is cut throat and making a car look good is just as important as it is to make it drive well. Mazda has certainly got the said part of the equation bang on target.

The turbo engine is a delight, the chassis is on point, the steering wheel feedback is just right and it is one of the very rare SUVs that even enthusiasts won’t mind driving. The CX-9 empowers you to push to its limit every time you drive it.

With a starting price of $31,520, it is placed in a very competitive segment where a lot of well-established players already exist. But the 2017 Mazda CX-9 appears destined to break the SUV stereotype and sell in great numbers.

The SUV is available in a total of 4 trims namely the Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, and Signature. All the trims feature a turbocharged 4 pot engine paired with a 6-speed auto gearbox. The base Sport trim can be bought for an MSRP of $31,520. A standard set of features include LED headlights and 3 zone climate control amongst other things. Then there is the mid-table touring trim with an MSRP of $35,970.  

Moving further, there are the Grand Touring trims for an MSRP of $40,470 with features like adaptive front lighting system and surround sound system with 12 speakers.

Then, there is the range-topping signature trim with an MSRP of $44,315. Features like leather upholstery, wood accents, and led shifter lighting come as standard.

Trim	Sport	Touring	Grand Touring	signature
MSRP	$31,520	$35,970	$40,470	N/A
MSRP (AWD)	$33,320	$37,770	$42,270	$44,315
Key Features	LED headlights with auto off LED daytime running lights LED taillights Three-zone automatic climate control Power windows with one-touch auto open/close on all windows Steering-wheel-mounted audio, phone and cruise controls Rearview Camera Audio system with 6 speakers Auxiliary audio input jack and 2 USB audio input ports Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming	8-inch full-color touch-screen display Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry System Heated front seats Leather-trimmed seats (1st- and 2nd-row outboard seating positions) Rearview Camera Audio system with 6 speakers Auxiliary audio input jack and 2 USB audio input ports Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming	Adaptive Front-lighting System LED fog lights Bright-finish lower body trim Rain-sensing windshield wipers Aluminum roof rails with Satin Chrome finish Windshield-projected Active Driving Display Bose Centerpoint 2 Surround Sound System with 12 speakers and Audiopilot 2 SiriusXM Satellite Radio8 with a 4-month trial subscription to the Sirius All Access Package Mazda Navigation System	Leather-wrapped steering wheel with unique stitching Genuine Rosewood interior trim LED shifter accent lighting Windshield-projected Active Driving Display Bose Centerpoint 2 Surround Sound System with 12 speakers and Audiopilot 2 SiriusXM Satellite Radio8 with a 4-month trial subscription to the Sirius All Access Package Mazda Navigation System

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The mid-table touring trim seems to be the best value for money. It is not too expensive over the base sport  model but features a premium audio system and keyless entry and drive amongst other feel-good elements that justify its price tag.

Simply put, the Mazda CX-9 is the most fun-to-drive SUV in its class. As with other Mazdas, the CX-9 isn't the segment's most powerful, but its taut handling and turbocharged engine imbue this crossover SUV with athletic flair. -KBB

 Engine and Transmission

The Mazda CX-9 features a 2.4L 4 cylinder turbocharged engine mated to a six-speed auto transmission. The engine produces a healthy 227 hp and 310 lb-ft. of torque. The engine is nice and punchy even at lower rpm and peppy and fun to rev all the way to the redline

The Dodge Durango is the most powerful car in the segment while the CX-9 is the least powerful car in the segment at 227 horses.

Models	Mazda CX-9 sport	Honda Pilot LX	Hyundai Santa Fe Limited	Dodge Durango SXT
MSRP	$31,520	$30,595	$30,800	$29,995
Engine	2.5L I4	3.5-liter V-6 engine	3.3-liter V-6 engine	3.6-liter V-6 engine
Transmission	6-speed automatic	6-Speed Automatic Transmission	6-Speed Automatic Transmission	8- Speed Automatic Transmission
Horsepower	227 hp	280 hp	290 hp	293 hp
Torque	310 lb-ft	262 lb.-ft.	252 lb-ft.	260 lb.-ft.

Acceleration

The Mazda CX-9 takes around 7.5 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill and goes all the way to a quarter of a mile in under 15.7 seconds. The acceleration starts out as instant but the sense of urgency dies down around the redline.

The Honda Pilot is actually the fastest accelerating car in the segment at 6.1 seconds. The 2nd spot is taken up by the Hyundai Santa Fe at 6.7 seconds. The third spot is taken up by the Mazda CX-9 while the Dodge Durango settles for the last spot.

Models	Mazda CX-9 sport	Honda Pilot LX	Hyundai Santa Fe Limited	Dodge Durango SXT
0-60 MPH	7.5 sec	6.1 sec	6.7 sec	7.6 Sec
Quarter mile	15.7 sec	15.1 sec	15.2 sec	15.8 sec
Engine	2.5L	3.5L	3.3L	3.6 L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	N/A	8.0	NA	8.4

Ride and Handling

Thanks to its neatly designed chassis is actually pretty fun to drive for a vehicle its size. The car is zippy enough at low speeds and firm enough on high speeds. The steering is always doing its job by giving positive feedback which allows you to accurately maneuver the car around even at high speeds.

Braking

The SUV features a set of 12.6-inch brake rotors in the rear while the front rotor size is not available at the moment. The SUV can stop from 60mph in under 126 feet which incredible for a 2-ton midsize crossover.

Dodge Durango is the car that takes the least distance to stop at 124 feet while the Honda Pilot takes the most distance to stop at 128 feet.

Model	Mazda CX-9 sport	Honda Pilot LX	Hyundai Santa Fe Limited	Dodge Durango SXT
Brake Front (in.)	N/A	12.6	12.6	13.0
Brake Rear (in.)	12.6	13.0	11.9	13.0
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4144	4054	4026
60-0 MPH (ft.)	126	128	125	124

The Mazda CX-9 is able to return a modest fuel economy of 24 mpg combined. The vehicle is also a great highway cruiser where it is able to return a fuel economy of 28 mpg. It's the most fuel efficient SUV amongst its rivals while all the other rivals fare the same with a fuel economy hovering around 22-21 mpg combined.

Model	Mazda CX-9 sport	Honda Pilot LX	Hyundai Santa Fe Limited	Dodge Durango SXT
MPG (city)	22	19	18	19
MPG (highway)	28	27	25	26
MPG (combined)	24	22	21	21

Pretty much everything about the CX-9's interior feels right and thoughtfully designed. This is a new benchmark for non-luxury SUVs, and other manufacturers should take notes on how Mazda makes the most of available space and how quality components all contribute to a favorable impression. -edmunds

Seating and Comfort

The Mazda CX-9 offers comfortable seating for up to 7 occupants. The front seats are one of the most spacious in the segment and offer optimum levels of thigh support. The 2nd row is comfortable too but it's the 3rd row where the things get a little cramped.

In the segment, the SUV is the most overall spacious car while the 2nd spot is taken up by the Honda Pilot and the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Dodge Durango settle for 3rd and 4th spot respectively.

Model	Mazda CX-9 sport	Honda Pilot LX	Hyundai Santa Fe Limited	Dodge Durango SXT
Passenger capacity	7	8	7	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.3/57.9/41.0	40.1/62.0/40.9	39.9/59.4/41.3	39.9/58.5/40.3
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.5/58.1/39.4	40.2/62.0/38.4	39.4/58.3/40.4	39.8/58.3/38.6

Infotainment System

The infotainment suites on the Mazda is handled by an 8-inch color touchscreen. The screen is ergonomically placed but it does attract a lot of dust and smudges. The MMI is a breeze to use and registers touch inputs and produces feedback in an appropriate manner.

Cargo Capacity

Cargo capacity on the CX-9 is perhaps one of the few let downs on the SUV. The car features a boot of a max 71.2 ft in capacity. However, the loading and unloading angles are well thought out and putting stuff in the boot is not a problem at all.

The Dodge Durango features the largest sized boot amongst the rivals at 84.5 ft. Not too far behind is the Honda Pilot at 83.9 ft. While Santa Fe takes the 3rd spot with 80 ft, the Mazda CX-9 becomes the gatekeeper.

Model	Mazda CX-9 sport	Honda Pilot LX	Hyundai Santa Fe Limited	Dodge Durango SXT
Cargo Volume to seat 1 (ft.3)	71.2	83.9	80.0	84.5
Cargo Volume to seat 2 (ft.3)	21.5	46.8	40.9	47.7
Cargo Volume to seat 3 (ft.3)	14.4	16.5	13.5	NA

Interior Features

Some of the interior features included are -

• 8-inch touchscreen
• Leather Upholstery
• Ventilated seats.
• 3 zone climate control

With last year's revamp, this 2nd-gen Mazda CX-9 received a svelte new suit. Dressed in Mazda's "Soul of Motion" design philosophy, the CX-9's sheet metal emphasizes sweeping forms, organic shapes, and the idea of movement even at rest. We think it's beautiful. –Kelley Blue Book

Dimension and Weight

At 4144 lbs curb weight, the CX-9 is the heaviest car in its segment and also pretty long at 199.4 inches but the elongated back does not look out of place and fits well with the rear fascia of the car. With a ground clearance of 8.8 inches, it's the most distance away from the ground amongst its competitors.

Model	Mazda CX-9 sport	Honda Pilot LX	Hyundai Santa Fe Limited	Dodge Durango SXT
Curb weight (lbs.)	4144	4054	4026
Length(in)	199.4	194.5	193.1	201.2
Width(in)	77.5	78.6	74.2	75.8
Height(in)	69.0	69.8	66.5	70.9
Ground clearance (in)	8.8	NA	7.3	8.1
Wheelbase (in)	115.3	111	110.2	119.8
Track width (in) F/R	65.3/65.2	66.3/66.3	64.1/64.5	63.9/64.1

           

Exterior Features

Some of the exterior features are -

• 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• Door mounted rear view mirrors
• Multi-spoke alloy wheels

Wheels

The SUV features a set of 19 or 18-inch alloy wheels draped in all-terrain tires.

Mazda has loaded the CX-9 with a host of safety features that ensure the safety of the passengers at all times. The car has also been crashing tested by all the major crash-testing agencies where it scored 4 stars or more in almost all the segments.

Safety Features

• 3-point seatbelts at all seating positions
• Advanced dual front air bags1 with driver’s seat-position and passenger-weight sensors
• Front side-impact air bags1 and side-impact air curtains with rollover protection
• Dynamic Stability Control2 and Traction Control System
• Trailer Stability Assist
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

IIHS Rating

Crashworthiness
Small overlap front driver side	Good
Small overlap front passenger side	Good
Moderate overlap front	Good
Side	Good
Roof strength	Good
Head restraints & seats	Good
Front crash prevention	Superior
Headlights	Acceptable
Child seat anchors (LATCH)	Acceptable

NHTSA Safety ratings not available.

Mazda CX-9 vs Dodge Durango

The Dodge Durango has a ferocious look synonymous with Dodge vehicles and It looks better than the Mazda CX-9. The interiors are well appointed but the interior space is on the lower side.

There is also seating for only 5 compared to the Mazda CX-9’s 7. Not only does the Mazda drive well, it also has a better interior and seating for more.

Mazda CX-9 vs Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is an SUV that is very similarly priced with an almost identical fuel economy as well. Thankfully, the similarities end right here. The styling on the Honda is very minivan-ish, sans the sliding doors of course. The Mazda CX-9, on the other hand, looks superior from every possible angle with its classy looks.

The Mazda CX-9 also triumphs on both on and off road riding capabilities. However, the Honda does offer to seat for 8 against that of 5 on the Jeep.

Mazda CX-9 vs Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe is another soft-roader in the segment. The car features a beautiful futuristic design that makes it look more like a spaceship. Inside, the interior is nicely placed and make use of a lot of soft-touch materials.

However, the Santa Fe loses out to the Mazda CX-9 in terms of interior space and overall ride and handling.

The 2017 Mazda CX-9 is beast of an SUV to drive and even to look at. The car features an upmarket cabin that has the ability to put even more premium cars to shame. It drives so well that it can surprise even the most critical enthusiast. All in all, if you want a peppy, swift and comfortable 7 seater, the CX-9 SUV is something worth considering.