It’s taken a while for Mazda to cement its rise in the U.S. market to a near-premium brand from a performance-oriented also-
Mazda CX-9.
ran, but nothing exemplifies the company’s success in that endeavor like the CX-9 three-row SUV.
Mazda is said to be planning to introduce a successor called the CX-90 one of these days, but that won’t be before the brand has proven the heights it can achieve with a large SUV through the 2023 CX-9. The CX-9 remains the largest SUV in Mazda’s fleet, above the recently introduced mid-size CX-50.
Having driven the CX-9 for a few weeks over the last several months, I began to look forward with anticipation to the next time I got to test it out. The main reason is that CX-9 provides such smooth maneuverability and overall drivability for a three-row SUV. It continually reminded me of Lexus standards when it came to CX-9’s performance on the road.
The main knock on CX-9 is that its third row of seats has limited room, and cargo space also isn’t as cavernous as in many other three-row SUVs. But CX-9 more than capably fills a very important part of the mid- and large-size utility-vehicle market by offering an extremely fun-to-drive, value-laden, sporty-looking model that’s ideal for young families.
Mazda started and grew up as a brand focusing on driver excitement, and its verve lives on, in a way, in CX-9, whose turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides plenty of oomph that is delivered smoothly. Mazda also has underscored the importance of raising its positioning in the overall market in CX-9, with premium materials inside and a sleek but not gimmicky design on the outside.
CX-9’s base price starts at more than $40,000, but it’s still very reasonable for ay SUV that offers three rows. Even the entry-level Touring model offers lots of desirable features in a family-oriented SUV, including a power-operated rear liftgate, leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and keyless entry wit a pushbutton start. Second-row captain’s chairs — an important feature for many parents who want to be able to easily access kids and their safety seats in the third row — also are standard, though a three-place bench is optional for the second row.
Though Mazda does give up some slight power by using a four-cylinder in CX-9 instead of the six-cylinder powertrains that are common in rivals, one can’t complain about its solid acceleration performance. Meanwhile, CX-9 earns EPA estimates of 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway for front-wheel-drive models, slightly less for all-wheel drive.
And while CX-9’s raw passenger and cargo space of course is limited by its physical dimensions, Mazda has done a good job of providing as much configuration flexibility as possible inside the vehicle envelope with, for instance, quick-folding second and third rows of seats and a resultant flat load floor that makes loading and unloading bulky items pretty convenient.
Plus, CX-9 comes with a 10.3-inch display and Mazda’s easy-to-use infotainment system. Other standard tech features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, bluetooth phone and streaming audio, HD radio and a wireless smartphone-charging pad.
Denial of responsibility! Samachar Central is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Omprakash Tiwary is a business writer who delves into the intricacies of the corporate world. With a focus on finance and economic landscape. He offers readers valuable insights into market trends, entrepreneurship, and economic developments.
