2008 Mazda CX-9 Review

PROS
Ample passenger and cargo space, Athletic ride for an SUV, Smooth and powerful engine

CONS
Firm ride may turn off some, Limited interior storage cubbies, Mediocre interior finish

Mazda claims that each of its vehicles embody "emotion of motion" and possess an exhilarating, connected-to-the-road feeling. The Japanese automaker sums this sensation up with the phrase Zoom-Zoom.

With just two seats, a convertible top, rear-wheel drive, and low-slung body it's not hard to see how a Mazda MX-5 might embody Zoom-Zoom. However, melding Zoom-Zoom with a seven-passenger SUV is tall order. After all, sport-utility vehicles, by their very nature, aren't intended to be fun to drive, or emotional. They are designed to schlep the kids, haul the furniture, tow the boat, or navigate the trail. Still, Mazda claims that its new CX-9 meets all of those needs and still possess enough Zoom-Zoom DNA to proudly wear the Mazda badge.

Loosely based on the five-passenger Mazda CX-7, CX-9 was introduced in 2007 and is a seven-passenger, four-door wagon that comes with front- or all-wheel drive. Mazda calls it a crossover SUV, meaning it blends the driving characteristics of a car with the shape and versatility of a SUV. Competitors include the Ford Taurus X, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, Saturn Outlook, and Toyota Highlander.

CX-9 has front bucket seats, a split-folding three-passenger second-row bench seat, and a two-passenger split-folding third-row seat. The second row seats recline and slide for and aft, increasing either legroom or cargo area. Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring models are available, all with front- or all-wheel drive. New for 2008 is a 3.7-liter V6 engine that makes 273 horsepower. It replaces a 263-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 in all models. The new V6 mates to a six-speed automatic transmission that sports a shift lever with a separate gate for manual operation.

Standard safety features include antilock brakes, stability and traction control, tire-pressure monitor, and front-, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. The curtain airbags protect all three seating rows and feature a rollover sensor. A rear-view camera and blind-spot warning system are optional.

Sport models come standard with tri-zone climate control, tilt-telescope steering wheel with radio and cruise controls, power driver seat, mirrors, locks, and windows, keyless entry, theft-deterrent system, rear-privacy glass, and 18-inch wheels. Touring adds to Sport leather upholstery, heated front seats and outside mirrors, Bluetooth cell-phone link, and power passenger seat. Grand Touring adds to Touring, memory system, keyless starting, rain-sensing wipers, auto HID headlights, fog lights, and 20-inch wheels.

Key optional features include sunroof, navigation system, towing package, and satellite radio. The front-drive Sport has a base price of $29,400. The front-drive Touring lists for $31,615, and the front-drive Grand Touring is $33,355. CX-9 is built in Japan and has a destination charge of $595.

Get up and Go
Mazda doesn't quote a 0-60 mph time for the '08 CX-9, but it is easily less than nine seconds. The new 3.7-liter V6 provides ample power in all situations and is especially impressive in highway-passing situations. It is smooth and refined and willing rev to redline when called upon.

The six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly in light and moderate acceleration and downshifts quickly in passing situations. Manual operation of the transmission with the sport shifter is somewhat vague as the transmission seems to pause a second or two before responding to driver commands.

Even though traction control is standard, front-drive models suffer from some wheel spin when accelerating quickly from a stop. It's not so much a problem on dry pavement, but is annoying in the rain and troublesome in the snow. All-wheel drive models don't have this problem.

Like most of its competitors, CX-9's all-wheel-drive system does not have a low range and is not intended for severe off-road use. Towing capacity is listed at 3500 pounds when equipped with the optional towing package.

The front-drive CX-9 is EPA rated at 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Those numbers are comparable to other seven-passenger crossover SUVs. In routine city driving expect to average about 17 mpg. If your commute includes a large amount of highway driving, you might be able to reach 20 mpg. Mazda says that the V6 will run fine on regular-grade gasoline.

On the Road
Mazda tried to create a crossover SUV with a sporty flair. In doing so, it gave CX-9 a firm suspension and low-profile tires. Compared to its competition the Mazda rides with more road feel and impact harshness. That doesn't mean that CX-9 has a hard ride, but passengers will feel bumps more, especially on Grand Touring models with 20-inch wheels.

The trade-off to the firm ride is an athletic feeling behind the wheel. From the responsive steering, to the powerful brakes, to grippy tires, CX-9 is more nimble than its crossover competition. Body lean is nicely kept in check and the turning radius is impressively tight.

CX-9 is not without its faults, though. The steering has a vague on-center feeling, which makes for tiresome highway driving. Also, there's more road noise than you might expect, especially on rough concrete pavement.

Behind the Wheel
CX-9 features tall front windows and a sloping dashboard that create a airy sense of openness and good forward visibility. Materials are sturdy and nicely textured, but there's nary a padded surface outside of the armrests. While not exactly a fault, most competitors feature padded dashboards and door surrounds.

Large and legible gauges are nicely illuminated at night with blue and red lighting. In models without the optional navigation system, audio and climate controls are simple and clearly market. Navigation-equipped models have a confusing assortment of driver-distracting buttons, knobs, and touch-screen prompts. In addition, the voice-recognition system isn't as easy to operate as most.

Front seats are firm, but comfortable. Head and leg room are good, but taller drivers will want to avoid the optional sunroof, which robs a few inches of headroom. Forward visibility is good, but narrow rear glass and thick roof pillars make the blind-spot detection system and rear-view camera a must for safety-conscious shoppers.

Second-row seats have true adult-size head and leg room. Sitting three adults abreast isn't recommended, but not out of the question on short trips. The seats slide fore and aft about six inches, which creates welcome legroom for third-row passengers.

The third-row seats aren't the penalty box you might expect. Average-size adults will find decent head room and good leg room--if the second-row seats aren't positioned all the way back. Getting into the third-row seats isn't difficult as the second-row seats tip-and-slide at the pull of a single lever.

CX-9 offers room for two rows of grocery bags behind an in-use third-row seat. Those seats fold flat in one motion to greatly increase cargo room. Second-row seats also fold, though the cargo floor is slightly uneven, to create a generous cargo hold. A shallow compartment is hidden beneath the cargo floor. Interior storage is complemented by map pockets in all four doors. However, the glove box and center console are much smaller than expected.

Bottom Line
No matter how much Mazda commercials shout Zoom-Zoom, CX-9 isn't a sports sedan. It is one of the sportiest crossover SUVs on the market and an excellent blend of room and utility. Other virtues include a smooth and powerful engine and ample passenger and cargo room. The firm ride may turn off some, but it will also attract buyers looking for an SUV that doesn't drive like a truck.

The CX-9 is also quite affordable, especially when compared to like-sized competitors. Even fully-quipped the Grand Touring model sports a sticker price that's less than $40,000. Given this vehicle's unique character, that's bound to make it a bargain for many crossover shoppers.