2008 Mazda CX-9 Touring
Posted by AutoWeek
As-tested price: $35,065
Drivetrain: 3.7-liter V6; fwd, six-speed automatic
Output: 273 hp @ 6250 rpm, 270 lb-ft @ 4250 rpm
Curb weight: 4312 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 18/18.2 mpg
Options: Moonroof and Bose audio package, including Bose Centerpoint surround sound system, in-dash six-disc CD changer, moonroof with interior sunshade ($1,760); backup camera with auto-dimming mirror display ($665); Sirius satellite radio ($430)
OUR TAKE: If you compare this to its Edge cousin, it certainly one-ups the Ford in the sporty-flavor department. The suspension is tauter for better handling, with an accompanying ride that is a tad rougher. There is also more power in this new-for-’08 3.7-liter V6, with jumps in both horsepower and torque that provide a big improvement over last year’s 3.5-liter, the extra kick helping to move the CX-9’s heft better.
Yet with almost 4300 pounds at the curb, there’s hardly room for much of Mazda’s zoom-zoom claim. For all its sporty intentions, its sharply sloping windshield and radically pinched rear roofline, this seven-seat crossover feels a lot like a front-drive minivan sans sliding doors.
The interior design and layout is generally well done. The interior is comfortable and features higher-quality plastics than you’ll find in an Edge. The Bose radio rocks, and the backup camera image displayed in the rearview mirror is pretty cool. It might be more useful as a ubiquitous dash-screen offering—it’s a little small in the mirror—but the positive is that its location prevents people from relying solely on the screen image. Instead, you have to look at the rearview mirror as you should, plus have the bonus of the camera view.
The CX-9 is a solid piece of automotive practicality. Crossover or minivan, this is one of those vehicles people should just buy for what it is, not what purports to be.
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Print | posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 4:55 PM