The first Mazda CX-9 was launched here just before Christmas 2007 and despite its age has been selling pretty well, being a long time favourite on the family SUV market. In recent years, though, buyers have been asking Mazda Australia to update it.
That somewhat overdue new CX-9 is finally here and has the latest technology in infotainment, powertrain and suspension technology and offered in a number of models and drivetrains.
Australia continues to be Mazda’s biggest selling market on a population basis so several important guests, including Mazda CX-9 Program Manager, Masahi Otsuku, flew downunder for the presentation of the CX-9 to the media.
A huge majority of vehicles in the Mazda CX-9 class are bought as people movers, not SUVs so a great deal of emphasis on the new CX-9 has been in improved interior space. It is larger inside and access to the seats has been improved.
Styling is fairly predictable at the front, which comes as no surprise as Mazda’s Kodo shape has been a huge success. At the rear there are hints to the CX-9’s smallest brother, the cute little Mazda MX-5 in the layout of the taillights and the horizontal panel that runs between the lights.
There’s a stylish rear spoiler. But that’s where the fun ends, the rest of the shape is fairly conventional, probably to suit the tastes of buyers in the USA, where about 80 per cent of sales are likely to take place.
The high window line follows the latest trend in many makes of cars at present, so check your smallest children can see out of the windows as part of your personal test drive.
The model range is CX-9 Sport,Touring, GT and Azami. All four models can be bought with two- or four-wheel drive.
The entry level Sport has a fairly basic 7.0-inch infotainment colour touchscreen. The others get an impressive 8.0-inch colour touchscreen. Mazda’s MZD Connect has been designed to minimise driver inattention, though obviously it cannot completely eliminate it. It provides internet connectivity, hands-free phone use, access to your contact list. It can receive text messages and display a list of sender IDs.
Likewise the lower grade model have AM and FM radio, while the GT and Azami gain DAB+. A Bose premium audio was developed by a team from Bose and Mazda specifically to suit the CX-9. It has 12 speakers, including a woofer and a uses a digital amplifier.
The navigation system uses data from an SD card and can display the current location on a map, or display routes to destinations. When a smartphone is connected, the customer can search the internet for guides to popular spots and set their locations as destinations.
In a clever design feature there are USB ports in the rear seat armrest as well as the front console.
Not all features are available in every model of the CX-9, contact your local Mazda dealer for specific details.
Power comes from a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and maxes out at 170 kW if you use standard unleaded, but can increase to 186 kW of you put 98 RON petrol into it. The 186 kW really only comes into play if you work the engine hard so is probably not worth the extra expense for the great majority of drivers. Torque is impressive at 420 Nm and comes in at just 2000 revs.
Also in the people mover direction is the offering of the CX-9 with two-wheel drive (the front wheels) to reduce price and weight, the latter contributing to more performance and reduced emissions. Four-wheel-drive is there for those who may need extra traction on icy roads or who may want to do some light-duty running on unsealed roads. Transmission is by a six-speed automatic.
New Mazda CX-9 has been given a five-star rating by ANCAP.
During our initial test drives out of Melbourne and up into the Bendigo region we found the cabin impressively quiet and liked the fact that the design of the dash, trim and seats leans very much in sedan direction.
Access to the 60/40 middle-row seats is easy and the fact that these seats slide all the way forward means getting in and out of the 50/50 split rearmost seats isn’t too awkward. You can get seven adults in a Mazda CX-9 without them being seriously crammed in, but as is the norm in this class, four grownups and three kids makes a lot more sense.
At only 230 litres the boot is small with all seats in use but coped with a couple of our cabin bags and a camera case without a problem.
Comfort is very good and handling is safe and predictable without being in any way sporty – which is exactly the way it should be in this class.
Fuel consumption is rated at 8.4 litres per hundred kilometres on the two-wheel drives and 8.8 litres with AWD. During our initial testing we were often within these ranges, though we did see low 10s in hard driving. This low consumption is sure to appeal to owners of the superseded CX-9 which is a renowned gas guzzler.
Mazda Australia looks to be on a winner with the all-new CX-9. It has good styling, impressive interior space and provides a smooth, quiet ride that quite a few sedans can’t match.
The complete 2016 Mazda CX-9 range is:
CX-9 6A Sport FWD: $42,490
CX-9 6A Sport AWD: $46,490
CX-9 6A Touring FWD: $48,890
CX-9 6A Touring AWD: $52,890
CX-9 6A GT FWD: $57,390
CX-9 6A GT AWD: $61,390
CX-9 6A Azami FWD: $59,390
CX-9 6A Azami AWD: $63,390
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