2020 Mazda CX-9

Beware of gigantic and brutal third grade crossovers? Mazda has a replacement in the sporty refined CX-9. We explore everything that makes the CX-9 particularly interesting.

The record is the thing

Crossovers have long acknowledged aesthetic deficits in the sedans they haul. Although they may be viewed, rightly or wrongly, as “more powerful” than station wagons and minivans, they have never been accused of being much prettier. As a business, Mazda has always had a trend upstream, from the free use of rotary engines to making sports cars that don’t need a lot of power for fun or, in the case of the Mazda CX-9 2020, produce three-row crossovers that refuse to compromise on appearance. Or deal.

When it comes to looks, the list of Mazda CX-9 competitors is remarkably short. Maybe a Kia Telluride or a Hyundai Palisade? Maybe the new Highlander to your liking? Even this stuff is only good, while the CX-9 flirts a lot. Is it just that long hood, that slanted stripe or a slightly frilled buckle at the mesh mouth? Who knows? But when you combine the Voltron style, you finally have a crossover that looks as good as the sedan you trade in.

And that doesn’t even answer the true story of the CX-9, which is: It’s the most maneuverable third-row crossover you’ll find for under $ 50,000. complete stop. The important things have no problem getting stuck in the corners or feeling very determined. Being able to say a crossover like the CX-9 is really fun to drive is a nice change of gear.

Specifications – Mazda says, take it or leave it.

The specifications of the Mazda CX-9 are rather short, due to the choice of one engine and one transmission. Few options don’t matter, because what Mazda offers you is a well-tuned powertrain that delivers you wherever you need it, then offers more for a good action.

This starts with a turbocharged 2.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine paired with a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic. The output depends on the type of gas you choose to pump, with regular unleaded producing 227hp and 310lb.-ft. of torque and premium unleaded granting slightly higher numbers with 250hp and 320lb.-ft. That torque number that should jump out to you. That’s where the CX-9 gets that added punch that other crossovers lack. It’s also good for a 0-60 run in 7.2 seconds.

The CX-9 doesn’t give away significant efficiency for that extra power either. Instead, it gets close enough to the segment average in 22 cities and 28 highways when outfitted with front-wheel drive, and drops to 20/26 with all-wheel drive. That’s actually the towing the CX-9 ends up dulling at only 3,500 lbs. Maximum, while many similar crossovers can tow up to 5,000 lbs.

Driving – Rasion Of Being

It looks as beautiful as the Mazda CX-9, looks incredibly straightforward, and the reason you buy one is because you can’t afford to buy a large crossover and compromise on a boring trip forever. And while finding a new podcast might be cheaper, it won’t match the fun you’ll get from the CX-9. You really have to look up the food chain from luxury crossovers to have the same dynamics on the road that you’ll find here.

Despite the single-engine option, the 4-turbo does a great job of propelling the CX-9 onto the road, the six-speed automatic transmission is the perfect antidote to your CVTs, and the gear changes are smooth and seamless. Reagents.

Maneuverability and steering are real power. There is no numbness towards the other crossings. Instead, you get a good feel of the road and catch on with the wheels. And compared to any four-wheel-drive crossover, the CX-9’s cornering is excellent; Feel planted, with minimal body roll. The CX-9 engines are much smaller than they are.

Comfort – an emphasis on strong suits

he CX-9, along with the rest of Mazda’s current lineup, offers the best interior design you’ll find in its class. The materials are of high quality no matter where you are looking. Metal, glossy black, soft-touch plastic, leather, and even real wood combine to give the CX-9 interior levels of luxurious luxury.

As we mentioned in the introduction, the CX-9 has a tall hood that we think contributes to its distinctive and elegant beauty, but unfortunately this comes at the expense of the interior space. While the CX-9 has a similar footprint to other third-row crossovers, it is more narrow on the inside than its competitors. The combined legroom is 110.1 inches on par with the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, but behind leaders such as the Kia Telluride and 117.9 inches.

As with most third-row crossovers, the CX-9 rear seats aren’t well-suited to adult passengers. But unlike some competitors, Mazda doesn’t claim you can put three in the back seat, but it is designed for two people. To create seven seats, you will have to forgo the optional second-row seats. But, if six seats are enough, these captain’s chairs have a large center console in between.

Features and technology

Another strong point of the CX-9 is the healthy set of available standard features. Mazda’s i-Activesense safety package includes Adaptive Cruise Control (a feature often reserved for higher-end models), blind spot monitoring, rear-traffic alerts, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning and lane-keeping assistance.

The infotainment system on the CX-9 isn’t the latest version you’ll find on the Mazda3 or the CX-30, but it is still intuitive and responsive. The extra button controls become the only navigation item once you get out of the park, but here too their system is simple and easy to use.

There were a few glaring failures to the CX-9’s front end, namely the lack of a panoramic sunroof (we only get a “standard” small sunroof on the CX-9) and the poor resolution of the rear view camera (which looks like about two generations of current industry standards) ).

The CX-9’s seats, on the contrary, are the highlight. It is available with heating and ventilation in the front and heating in the rear. The driver’s seat features two-way lumbar adjustment, 10-way position adjustment, and two-position memory. Seats are generally comfortable even on long-haul flights, and the last third row (though still not spacious) provides more padding than average.

Trims and prices

Sport – $ 33,890 (fwd) / $ 35,790 (four-wheel drive)
18-inch wheels, keyless entry, heated side mirrors, LED headlights and taillights, power-heated driver’s seat, leather steering wheel, 7-inch infotainment system.

Touring – $ 35,710 / $ 37,610
Power Tailgate, 9 ” Infotainment Screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Compatibility, Power Passenger Seat, Leather Seats.

Grand Touring – $ 41,550 / $ 43,450
Transparent sunroof, 20-inch wheels, 360-degree camera, heated rear seats, Bose stereo system, navigation system, front and rear parking sensors, driver seat with memory and heated steering wheel

Signature – $ 46,215 (4WD only)
LED lighting (grille included!), Nappa leather seats.

Conclusions

Most of the crossovers are not as sturdy as their marketing suggests, and much more is well equipped for trips to the mall and Grandma’s getaways that will account for nearly all of the miles she has driven over her lifetime. Mazda CX-9 2020 does not pretend and requires you to stop pretending too.

Are you okay with sacrificing ride quality to tackle off-road? No you are not, stop laughing at yourself. Are you okay with getting the green light ahead of the Prius? Not categorically! Are lousy interiors full of plastic the price to pay for feeling powerful? Let’s be realistic.

Mazda CX-9 2020 says nothing. He knows what you really need in a third grade crossover. Something that does not sacrifice dealing in the name of utilitarianism. Something that is not only livable but comfortable, we dare ask, stylish. There’s a Kia Telluride / Hyundai Palisade for more sophistication and size, and there’s a Ford Explorer ST for more driving excitement. But the CX-9 clearly deserves to be in a conversation with the best third-row crossovers on the market.