![]() For example, dashboard panel intersections are thoughtfully finished with bevels and tuck-unders. And the modern styling, though perhaps less divisive than the exterior, is nonetheless its philosophical partner. The interior brightwork is real aluminum. This Mazda, like most, exhibits a premium-car level of attention to detail. If you are not convinced by the CX-9’s exterior design, its interior may sway you. BMW did no better downsizing the handsome X5 to become ungainly first-generation X3. Mazda is not alone in stumbling when translating one crossover into another of different proportion. Unfortunately, the bulging aft does not provide the interior volume one might expect nor does its bulbous visual quality match the sharp design of the front. Overall interior volume also falls on the snug side at 150 cubic feet, ten percent below the segment average. Even so, the CX-9 comes in near the bottom of the segment for cargo space, with 14 cubic feet behind the third row and 38 cubic feet with the third row folded flat (segment average behind the third row is 17 cubic feet, 47 cubic feet behind the second row). It looks like the CAD drawing for this otherwise well-conceived design was suctioned out at the rear several inches beyond what the design studio intended. It’s at the rear where the CX-9’s clean, modern styling is let down by somewhat awkward proportions. But there is more to up-sizing a vehicle than adding 10 percent to every dimension. The CX-9 is generally an up-sized interpretation of the CX-5, which for its forward two-thirds is a good thing. Above, the greenhouse slopes gently upward as it sweeps back into a thick D pillar. Moving rearward, the smooth surfaced doors are essentially unbroken by character lines. There is more visual drama ahead of the CX-9’s A pillar than many modern cars can muster in their entirety. Below the prominent leading edge of the hood sits Mazda’s signature trapezoid grille underlined by a 270-degree bezel that elegantly transitions into sleek LED headlights. Its most recognizable styling element is the leading edge of its jutting hood, which cuts a sharp line into the slipstream seeming to defy pedestrian safety regulations. The CX-9 offers a thoroughly contemporary interpretation of the crossover form. So what this Mazda lacks in size and truckiness, it gains in car-like drivability, near-luxury interior refinement, and sharp design. And Mazda is at its core a proud manufacturer of cars. But although consumers may associate crossovers with trucks, unibody crossovers are unequivocally rooted in cars. Sales leaders such as the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, and Chevrolet Traverse are larger, built by automakers whose robust truck-manufacturing backgrounds which comes through in their crossovers. In any case, it’s not size that distinguishes the CX-9. This is the biggest Mazda, but it’s also among the smallest three-row crossovers. The Mazda CX-9 debuted in 2007 and is now three model years into its second generation. But with so many crossovers to choose from, is the CX-9 right for you? ![]() If this sounds like you and your needs include seating for seven, some foul weather driving, limited towing needs, and little to no off-road use, then a three-row crossover may very well be your best bet. They want a vehicle that is easy to drive, pleasant to look at, intuitive to operate, safe, and indexes above expectations on value. ![]() But most consumers in this segment are not concerned with these details. All opinions are my own.Ĭrossovers are defined by their elevated SUV-like ride height, car-based unibody construction, transverse-mounted engines, and front-wheel drive bias. Thank you to for publishing this review on October 6, 2018.
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