Model Update

It’s a goodie. The new Mazda CX-9 is very well made and is stylish, to boot. It’s not only very luxurious inside with all its bells and whistles, but the room and comfort offered in the Mazda CX-9 cabin is excellent. Cloth or leather seats are exceptionally relaxing, and leg and shoulder room is very good.

Elegant detailing in the Mazda CX-9 interior surround many luxury features. Standard features include: three-zone climate control, Bluetooth (hands-free compatible) communications, a 12 volt power outlet, a centre armrest console, cruise control, cup holders, heating ducts to second and third row passengers, a leather bound steering wheel, cloth or leather upholstery and fully adjustable front seats. Electronically adjusted front seats with a heating function and Satellite Navigation make the trip comfortable and assured.

Completely loaded with kit, the Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring model is one suave machine. Hands free Bluetooth communications, satellite navigation, rear seat DVD entertainment, keyless entry, a remote controlled electric tailgate opener, a ten speaker premium Bose audio system…and the list goes on.

Musical ears will enjoy the Premium Bose 277 Watt audio system. Six to ten speakers are offered. Each new Mazda CX-9 comes with steering wheel mounted audio controls.

Solid handling and huge braking ability really help the large Mazda CX-9 feel very secure. Airbags, ABS, DSC, EBD, EBA, TCS and even a roll over control system give you a clear indication that this is a well endowed model, when it comes to the all important safety criteria.

Australia now has the all new, refreshed version of the Mazda CX -9. This is a vehicle that has a presence and styling on the road that emanates class with its sweeping lines, bold looks and lovely detailing.

Aimed at competing squarely against the Subaru Tribeca, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Honda CRV and Volvo XC90, the Mazda CX-9 houses an all-new 3.7-litre 24 DOHC V6 petrol engine. Now with 204 kW of power available at 6250 rpm and with a lusty 367 Nm of torque at 4250 rpm, the SUV’s ability to cover the miles in serenity and speed is first rate. This should equate to plenty of power for the average Australian family to play with – particularly if you will make use of the crossover technology and head off-road.

The Mazda CX -9 has a charming engine with creamy torque in just about every rev range you care to push the vehicle through. Mazda makes excellent engines that have a high build quality and refinement. Linked for a smooth match, the engine puts its power through a six-speed automatic transmission that offers extremely nice gear changing ability – even when the right foot is pressed hard to the floor.

When you review the interior, you’ll enter inside the Mazda CX9’s solid doors, and what becomes quickly evident to the eye is the classy cabin design. Crafted expertly and with a high quality finish, the cabin is designed by someone who has a really good grasp of what interior design should incorporate. The beautifully detailed cabin is solidly constructed, and the choice of textures and colours are excellent. The leather seating in the CX-9 Luxury and Grand Touring models is wonderfully comfortable and supportive – and the Classic’s cloth seats are a pretty good second-best. Row number two slides nearly five inches forward and reclines, and it is also of a split 60/40 design. A single lever can be pulled for the second row to collapse forward and provide an easy access approach to the third row. As far as third row seating goes in this market niche, the Mazda CX-9 is very near the top in the class – you can actually sit there without wrapping your knees around your ear or wishing you could collapse your ribs and hips to fit next to the person beside you.

Side, front and curtain airbags ensure excellent protection in the event of a collision. Front load-limited pyrotechnic pretensioner seatbelts and a stout body shell keep the Mazda CX-9 occupants very safe, indeed. Every piece of the safety equation has been carefully thought out, and hence Mazda have earned themselves five stars in the US NHTSA crash-test when reviewed by the experts.

If you happen to be the lucky driver, you will enjoy the feel of the meaty steering wheel that gives very responsive feedback at all road going speeds. Over a wide variety of road surfaces, the Mazda CX-9 is supple and quiet, and cornering remains commendably flat when tight bends are executed with haste. The big Mazda CX-9 is surprisingly light on its feet, and the CX-9’s dynamic safety net includes stability control, roll stability control and traction control.

Even the AWD Classic model comes with a full allotment of standard features, including a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode, antilock brakes, tilt-telescoping steering wheel with wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls, and keyless entry. The big-screen reversing camera is a bonus, especially when backing down driveways where the family moggy is snoozing or somebody’s left their bike lying about.

The more equipped models in Australia have leather seating, an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat, powered sunroof and a 10-speaker Bose audio system with an in-dash six-disc CD player. For those of you who like to drive to the snow over icy tracks will appreciate the all-wheel-drive capability of the roomy CX-9.

The Mazda CX-9 is a superb effort from Mazda Australia that will no doubt be a model that will be bought by many Australians. Owners will enjoy the crossover ability and appreciate the way the Mazda CX-9 drives as easily as any modern hatchback.

The current model series includes the:

• CX-9 Classic
• CX-9 Luxury
• CX-9 Grand Touring

We hope you enjoyed this Mazda CX9 Review! For any more information on the Mazda CX-9, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Mazda dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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