2008 Mazda CX-9 Review
The growing popularity of crossovers has spurred automakers to fill the void of demand, Mazda has been able to take the unbeaten path and develop a vehicle worthy of their marquee while being very capable of satisfying the niche, it's the CX-9. On the 24th of September I was given the honor to attend the 2008 Mazda CX-9 3.7 Liter Engine Media Program hosted by Mazda N.A. at the Tarrytown House in Tarrytown NY. Finding myself in a classic estate setting and given a warm welcome by Mazda reps – the day could have not started off anymore perfect. On display in front of the main building were the 40th anniversary RX-8 and a gorgeously well kept 1967 Mazda Cosmo. It was apparent the Mazda crew came prepared to wow us not only with their new cars but also with the old. The presentation that was given delved into the history of Mazda and how it has evolved as an automaker in the current decade and concluded with a detailed presentation of the 2008 CX-9. According to Mazda the CX-9 lends itself to being a well appointed seven passenger crossover with a “zoom zoom” driving experience offering customers a sporty experience for the right price. Their goal was to develop a vehicle that is hip for the family as well as a car someone could be proud of, unlike a minivan or a massive box inspired Suburban.
So what’s new for 2008? Mazda developed a new radar based blind spot monitoring system which is a first for a non-luxury vehicle and a 3.7 Liter V6 power plant churning out 273hp @ 270 lb/ft torques. The blind spot monitoring system looks pretty useful especially for the size of the vehicle, it also runs unobtrusively – two LED notifications illuminate in the side mirrors (chime free) and alert the driver (w/ chime) when the turn indicator is initiated. Unfortunately, the CX-9’s we drove were not equipped with the system, but on the bright side – the lively 273hp engine definitely left a lasting impression. Other little tidbits of useless knowledge some of you may be interested in – the CX-9 is entirely produced in Japan and it is the largest vehicle in the Mazda fleet. But, enough with formalities, it’s time to get down to what really counts – what is the CX-9 REALLY about.
For those of you unfamiliar with the styling of the CX-9, it’s a decent looking CUV and it’s safe to say it holds a good spot among similar vehicles. Comparing it to the Ford Edge, it is pretty clear some styling cues have been stolen but I don’t see that as a bad thing.
Overall the exterior is pleasing but not memorable, but the interior (more specifically in the Grand Touring trim) is where this Mazda steals the show. In-dash satnav, hands free Bluetooth, Sirius satellite radio, sporty gauges, two-tone leather seats, drop down DVD screen for the back, aluminum/wood trim, sporty shifter featuring tiptronic sport mode; the interior really comes together quite harmoniously. Simple buttons, neatly organized and no unnecessary extras cluttering the dashboard or center console, the satnav (with only a short time to use it) appeared to be pretty accurate and managed to stay on the road. The buttons on the steering wheel control the usual suspects: radio, Bluetooth, cruise control, and the in-dash information center provided the time, temp, ventilation settings, and basic radio station info while the satnav screen could be used to manipulate the Sirius(ly bad) satellite radio.
Some convenience items that are worth commenting on are the keyless entry card (saving you that crucial thirty seconds it takes to insert a key into the ignition) and the radar based blind spot monitoring system. Keyless entry to me seems kind of useless (call me old fashioned) and I have a tendency not to trust them, as I like to sometimes say; make something theft proof, you will always find a wittier thief. As for the blind spot system, it looked to be pretty cool, but as I said before it was unavailable in the CX-9’s we got to test drive, so we were given a demonstration instead which at the time appeared to be promising. On a side note, to all those radar detector owner’s who have been getting false laser alerts from Infiniti’s lane departure system, early reports show the radar system won’t cause any false alert. That’s one less nuisance to worry about.
To round up my feelings about the interior; I would simply describe it as BIG. For the psychographic that Mazda is hunting down – family consisting of 2 kids and a dog (yes, they seriously included the dog) the size is perfect, for me it’s cavernous. Fits everyone easily, keeps the kids entertained with the DVD system, stuff grandma relatively comfortably in the 3rdrow and drive pretty spirited without scaring the life out of everyone. The front seats are hip hugging and comfortable, definitely a worthy road trip car. The center armrest is large as well, reminiscent of a Hummer, taking up the empty space usually found in minivans but giving the driver and his/her copilot enough room to share without getting awkward. But now for the important part, how does this bad boy drive? Answer: good enough for me to land a ticket. That’s right – a nice little violation on the Taconic – I’ll explain shortly.
After you get into the car and finish fiddling with all the buttons and knobs – igniting the engine produces a pleasant (yet faintly heard) hum. Rock the gas pedal a bit and the engine comes to life with a nice growl that gets only slightly louder as the RPM’s climb, interior noise in regards to the engine is kept down to a minimum. I put the shifter into “manual mode” to test out the response and shift times of the automatic (and of course to have a little fun with 273 horses). Pulling onto the highway in 2ndgear the engine begins to talk to you, capable of pulling you into your seat with the acceleration; stomp on the accelerator and the sweet noise of detonating octane and air in the cylinders fills the cabin unobtrusively – lending to its sporty heritage, that which was so highly stressed by Mazda. The tiptronic, steptronic, automatic, automagic or autotragic shifter (whatever term suits your fancy) was what I expected it to be, not very intuitive and at times slow to respond to quick commands.
Sirius Satellite Radio on the well lit display.
The 2007 CX-9 clocked a 0-60 time around 8 seconds and I feel it’s a safe bet that the 10 extra hp in the 08 hasn’t made much of a difference. It handles surprisingly well for its size, on highway curves it feels planted and secure; when driving more “spirited” on twisty side roads, the CX-9 maintained itself exceptionally well with marginal body roll, the bucket style seats kept you firmly planted in your place making the ride relatively better. Highway driving is very comfortable, however, too comfortable for my liking. In fact it’s so comfortable, while aimlessly chatting away with my fellow journalist I failed to notice how fast I was going: 80 in a 55. A state trooper nailed me dead on with his radar around a long bend. With the luck and grace of God shining down on me that very beautiful day, the trooper was generous enough to let me off with a broken speedometer. Thank you VERY VERY much! Moral of the story – don’t speed - Mazda needs to offer a speed monitor, or something similar that warns the driver with a chime that they have passed their designated speed (like in Audi’s and BMW’s). It is extremely hard to tell how fast you are going off the cuff, doing 80 felt more like 50, and 50 felt like I was barely getting anywhere. On the bright side, people who generally don’t feel comfortable driving fast and decide to buy the CX-9 will probably find themselves speeding like the rest of us maniacs on the road. Amen to that.
Me and my ticket standing proudly in front of the CX-9.
Other noteworthy observations – road noise is acceptable, when the engine is not revving passed 3.5k RPM it hums into nothingness, bumps are taken with ease, the brakes bite when they have to, and the tires grip commandingly. For a crossover of this size, weight, and dimension; Mazda achieved exactly what they set out to do. As for myself, I generally don’t enjoy driving anything that can pillage small villages because of its size, but the CX-9 has found a small little place in the back of my heart. It’s a crossover that a single utility freak or family can have fun in, feel proud of, and dare I say it- "be hip?"
Nice... Thanks...