WASHINGTON — Mazda is known for making sporty, fun-to-drive cars and crossovers, and it ranked second behind Lexus in the latest Consumer Reports annual auto-ranking issue. If you’re looking for a mid-size SUV, the CX-9 should be on the list.
The Mazda CX-9 behaves like one of Mazda’s sporty sedans, but the CX-9 has seven seats and is a pretty large SUV — maybe not as big as the GM mid-size crossovers, but not much smaller and more fun to drive.
I drove it back-to-back with my wife’s Chevy, and there really isn’t a contest on which is more fun to drive — Mazda wins easily. And it does a good job of just being a people mover when that’s what you need.
The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD I drove is the top-of-the-line model priced at $39,890 with all the toys, including NAV and power moonroof as part of the $2,400 GT package. The big change for 2015 is a new, handsome paint color — Titanium Flash mica. Also, new are roof rails for larger items for easier stowing on top, cargo nets and a rear bumper guard so you don’t damage the paint when you put things in the power rear lift gate.
The CX-9 pretty much remains the same. The interior is nice — the leather heated seats are comfortable and the second row is good for three adults. You can squeeze an adult or two in the third row thanks to sliding second-row seating, but I wouldn’t want to ride very far if I were all the way in the back.
The dash includes easy-to-see gauges, and the climate control is easy to use with rotary knobs and buttons. The CX-9 starts to show its age when you see the touch screen and smaller screen size for the rearview camera, and the NAV system, which also seemed slow and dated compared to the Mazda 3 I drove last year.
The CX-9 is a driver’s SUV, and that sounds like an oxymoron, but it really is fun to drive, with the peppy V6 good for 273 hp. The six-speed automatic will make quick shifts when needed, and it does a good job with smooth shifts when you’re not in a hurry. The grand touring model has standard 20-inch rims, and some say the 18-inchers ride better. I didn’t notice it, but I prefer sportier handling. I’d recommend testing both to judge for yourself.
The CX-9 also likes long highway rides as well — the seats hold you nicely in place and there isn’t much wind or tire noise. Gas mileage is another area where the CX-9 is lacking compared to some of the competition. I managed 16.9 mpg in mixed driving, a little under the 18 mpg sticker, but this was a very new vehicle with just a few miles on the clock.
The 2015 Mazda CX-9 might not be the newest SUV on the market, but with room for seven and value priced for a midsize SUV, it’s still a solid choice for SUV drivers.
Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
