The 2013 Mazda CX-9 received a fresh face, with a new five-point grille anchoring the re-sculpted front end.
By Larry Printz
Some vehicles are glamorous, meant to evoke envy from your friends and neighbours; others live out their lives in quiet competence, delivering exactly what’s expected of them without fanfare, just quiet admiration.
The CX-9 seven-passenger crossover SUV is the latter. People won’t envy you — unless they know just how good the CX-9 is.
For 2013, the CX-9 received a fresh face, with Mazda’s handsome new five-point grille anchoring the re-sculpted front end. Inside, there’s a revised infotainment system.
Originally developed from the same Ford Motor Company platform that underpins the five-passenger Ford Edge, the CX-9 shares more. Both crossovers use the same 3.7-litre double-overhead-cam V-6, which develops 273hp, matched to a six-speed automatic transmission and either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
The CX-9 has enough power to safely navigate pokey parkways and crumbling highways, although fuel economy is disappointing, measuring a mediocre 17 mpg.
In contrast, handling is a pleasant surprise. Ride motions are well controlled, but not overly firm. Cornering behaviour reveals minimal body lean, and the steering returns some feedback, instilling driver confidence. While this vehicle is a bit too large to live up to Mazda’s zoom-zoom image, it is agile enough to be very enjoyable to drive, while delivering a quiet, compliant ride.
How perfect is that? Very.
And, if you have a toy to tow, you might be happy to know that all CX-9 front-wheel-drive models can yank 2,000 pounds of trailer. The Towing Prep Package — optional with front-wheel drive, standard with all-wheel drive — bumps the rating to 3,500 lbs.
Styling aside, the CX-9’s cabin carries over unchanged.
The three ascending trim levels are Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. Even base models come with a generous amount of standard gear, including cloth seats with optional front-seat heaters, tri-zone climate control and Bluetooth connectivity.
Stepping up to the mid-level Touring adds the sort of gear most buyers appreciate, including leather seats, eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar support, auto on/off headlights, blind spot monitoring, rear backup sensors and a rearview camera. The top trim level gilds the lily, but doesn’t seem essential.
A new 5.8-inch information screen is standard on all CX-9s for 2013, while the audio system has added HD Radio and Pandora to its arsenal of entertainment options. It resides in an instrument panel that’s blessedly simple to use.
The CX-9’s cabin space is decent, although it doesn’t seem as generous as its overall size suggests. Front passengers might find the centre console a bit too wide, while the second-row seats are a little low — not unusual for crossovers.
But they do slide forward, adding space in the third row for cargo or people, although the sloping backlight impedes cargo-hauling ability. The CX-9 does offer generous headroom, however.
The CX-9 starts at $29,785 (in the US), with the test vehicle, a fully loaded Grand Touring model with all-wheel drive, coming in just under $40,000.
At that price, you’ll be getting a vehicle that quietly goes about its business without calling undue attention to itself. That may be about to change. Given the CX-9’s agile handling and newfound dose of style, this crossover may finally earn the notoriety it deserves, even if it will never be glamorous. — The Virginian-Pilot/MCT
* Price and technical specifications may vary in locally available models
