Mazda CX9 A Classy Crossover

[Spenny]

Mazda designers wanted the interior of their new CX-9 crossover to make a solid impression with consumers -- and they've succeeded.
While this flagship of the Mazda fleet has plenty of other attributes to trumpet, it's the immediate sense of soundness and security that one notices first. A feeling of integrity and luxury washes over you as you settle into the comfortable bucket seats and let the sweeping, nicely appointed dash and centre stack wrap around you.
The controls for the audio system and climate control are large. The door handles aren't wimpy bits of chrome or plastic, they're meaty pieces that feel solid when grasped. Yet there are enough touches of brushed metal, faux wood and piano black trim to ensure a sense of luxury.
When I first climbed into a 2007 CX-9 -- during its media launch in January -- my driving mate and I both sensed the soundness, although we thought our assessment may have been prompted by a product presentation by Mazda reps.
However, when I recently picked up a CX-9 GT tester and headed out to tackle the congested roads of Toronto, I decided to test that theory. My co-pilot's first impression, unprompted, was the same -- she felt safe and secure.
Once settled into the cabin, you'll notice the amenities Mazda has built into this crossover. As the premier model in the lineup, Mazda has set a new level of luxury and comfort for the brand, more like what one might expect in a Lexus RX 350, for example. The materials have a feel of quality and a look of richness; fit and finish is excellent. The heated leather seats, for example, have an attractive contrasting inset that can either be subtle or stunning, depending on the interior colour combinations.
Two trim levels are offered -- the $39,595 GS and the $43,955 GT. The latter can soar beyond $52,000 when it's fully dressed. The tester was fitted with the optional rear entertainment ($2,480) and luxury ($1,495) packages plus a navigation system ($3,235). It includes a rear DVD system with wireless headphones and a superb, uplevel Bose 5.1 surround-sound audio system that pumps the tunes through 11 speakers, including a centre-mounted unit in the headliner. The sound rivals that of a high-end home audio system, maybe better.
One can soak up that ambiance whether up front or seated in the second or third rows. There's plenty of legroom in the mid-section -- the second-row seats slide fore and aft up to 130 millimetres. These seats, split 40/60 also flip forward to provide decent access to the third row. A touch of a lever lets the seat backs flip forward. Then the entire assembly shifts ahead in one motion, so climbing into the back row no longer requires the skills of a contortionist.
Even the back-row seats are reasonably comfortable for a couple of adults, thanks to a higher positioning that eliminates the typical chin-on-the-knees attitude.
One heads-up for back-seat occupants, however -- the CX-9's stylish, sloping roofline does put a crimp in headroom, so taller types should call dibs on the front or second row. Ditto for taller folks loading/unloading the rear cargo area. The liftgate's lovely, rounded shape can deliver a nasty reminder to keep your head down.
The sleek styling, which shares curvaceous front fenders and nose, a steeply raked windshield and the tapered roof with its smaller CX-7 sibling certainly sets the CX-9 apart in a world of mainly boxy crossovers.
Because of the styling similarities, it's easy to think the CX-9 is simply a stretched version of the CX-7.
However, it has been designed from the get-go to be a seven-passenger vehicle and it is actually based on the same new platform as the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKZ crossovers.
This trio shares similar suspension components, too, although Mazda's engineers have managed to tune the CX-9's independent front struts/coil springs (borrowed from the Mazda6 sedan) and multi-link rear system to deliver more spirited performance than its cousins.
It's certainly not comparable with Mazda's sporty MX-5 roadster, but the CX-9 is still surprisingly nimble for a 2,062-kilogram people mover.
Its engine, too, is shared with its Ford cousins, but Mazda has tweaked the 3.5-litre V6 to suit the company's "zoom-zoom" image.
I found its 263 horses had a more spirited gait than the Edge's. Its 249 pound-feet of torque got the CX-9 moving readily from a standstill, enabling it to complete passing and merging manoeuvres without a fuss.
A six-speed automatic, with a manual mode to satisfy those sporty urges, channels power to the tester's optional ($2,000) all-wheel-drive system -- a feature that was truly appreciated during a late-winter snowstorm.
Mazda has developed a tradition of building products that appeal to drivers, folks who enjoy getting behind the wheel rather than simply moving from A to B. There's an element of fun, as well as style, built into every Mazda. The CX-9 shares that heritage.
THE SPECS
Type of vehicle: All-wheel-drive, mid-sized crossover
Engine: 3.5L DOHC V6
Power: 263 hp @ 6,250 rpm; 249 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manumatic
Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires: P245/50R20
Price: base/as tested $43,955/$51,710
Destination charge: $1,390
Fuel economy L/100 km: 14.5 city, 9.7 hwy.
Standard features: Xenon headlights with auto-on feature, fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, AM/FM/CD audio system, three-zone climate control, cruise control, power windows, mirrors and door locks, power sunroof, power heated seats, dynamic stability, traction and rollover stability control systems, dual front air bags, side impact and rollover side curtain air bags.
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