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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Review Notes About 2012 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: My first impression driving the 2012 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring is that you are getting a lot of sport/ute here for $40,000.
This has the look and feel of a vehicle that, from other manufacturers, costs a bit more money. The cabin is roomy and the seats are comfortable and supportive. The interior is well-appointed, although I'm still not a big fan of the touch screens for the navigation/entertainment screen. But it is a big screen, easy to read even with my aging eyes.

Under the hood, the V6 feels strong, easily hauling around all 4,500 pounds. The truck handles well, considering the heft and the height. The ride is supple, not truck-like. With the third row of seats in place, there's very little cargo space available, but still enough room for a few bags of groceries.

Like I said, your $40 large is buying a lot of comfort and utility with the CX-9.

SENIOR ROAD TEST EDITOR NATALIE NEFF: I don't know, this SUV was almost completely forgettable to me. In fact, halfway to the office this morning, I assumed I was in our long-term Honda Odyssey because the only sensation of personality I was getting from the vehicle was “big.” (Admittedly, I hadn't had any caffeine yet.) Then I looked down at the dash and thought, “Oh yeah, I'm in the Mazda.”

That's also when I noticed how cheap all the materials look. Like our long-term CX-5, the plastics on the dash, doors, etc., are hard and feel of low quality. Perhaps I've simply been in way too many expensive cars of late, but I don't think so; our now departed long-term Jeep Grand Cherokee, for instance, doesn't exude a bit of cheapness, whereas this $41,000 ute might as well be a Honda Civic, at least from the inside.

Otherwise, the rest of the CX-9 experience was like I already said, forgettable.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I'll fall somewhere in the middle I guess. Yes, I agree the materials inside could use an upgrade (though I'd argue the CX-5's materials are better than the CX-9's), but the overall package is nice (really comfortable seats) and this is among the least-expensive seven-seaters you can get if that matters to you.

It weighs almost exactly the same as our long-term Honda Odyssey, but the Mazda feels lighter and drives better. It's not as lumbering, not as soft and not as weighty. I like the Mazda better.

No, it's not quite as sharp on the road as some other Mazdas, but would you expect it to be? It's quiet and refined, and the automatic is smooth and the six-cylinder gives off decent power. Drive it back-to-back with, say, a Buick Enclave and you'll find the Buick quieter, but the Mazda better in terms of ride and handling, etc. It's among the best of the seven-seat utes available.

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: : I'll agree with all the comments above, to some extent. The 2012 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring has imminently forgettable styling inside and out—it's as close to a generic three-row crossover as I've ever experienced. Likewise, the interior suffers from Mazda's inability to design a really good-looking cockpit. Functional, yes; but attractive? Not really.

It was on the road that my ennui toward the CX-9 began to soften. Of the many three-row crossovers I've experienced lately—and there have been quite a few—this is one of the best drivers of the bunch. It feels lighter than it is, with plenty of punch from the 3.7-liter V6, and the transmission is beautifully matched with the engine (something Mazda does know how to get right).

I also enjoyed the low-set dash that provided a fantastic look at the road ahead even without having to jack up the driver's seat; I get claustrophobic in some of the current crop of crossovers, but the CX-9 isn't just roomy—it actually feels roomy, too. To that point, the rear seats are adjustable for rake and fore/aft distance; slid fully to the rear, a third-row passenger wouldn't have any legroom but the kids had so much space in the second row they were unable to touch the backs of the front seats. Since this is the way folks usually use a three-row ute (employing the third row only occasionally), the adjustability is a welcome feature.

So why don't we see more Mazda CX-9s on the road? Despite the opinions of my colleagues, it's not a particularly good value: At this price point, one could get a nicely loaded Ford Explorer, a decent Buick Enclave or even begin to look at the new Infiniti JX35.

Along that line, part of the CX-9's problem is the fact that many potential buyers will never know it exists. Folks with $40K to spend simply aren't in the habit of visiting a Mazda dealership, and a dearth of marketing hasn't helped. You're not going to go in shopping for a Mazda CX-5 and then get upsold by $15K into a CX-9.

Still, if you're in the market for a big crossover, keep an eye out for rebates and finance deals on the CX-9. You might just score a great deal on one of the best-kept secrets in the segment.


2012 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring

Base Price: $35,580

As-Tested Price: $40,850

Drivetrain: 3.7-liter V6; AWD, six-speed automatic

Output: 273 hp @ 6,250 rpm, 270 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm

Curb Weight: 4,546 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 18/18.4 mpg

Options: Rear entertainment system, including nine-inch DVD rear entertainment system, 5.1 audio surround sound, Bose audio with Centerpoint, 11 speakers, Sirius satellite radio with four-month subscription, 115-volt outlet ($3,055); navigation with real time traffic ($1,665); power open/close lift gate ($400); rear bumper step plate ($150)


Source:
autoweek.com