Wheels Australia — August 2016

50 WheelsMag.com.au

Moving forward

Under the bonnet is

where the CX-9 moves

the game forward most.

The SkyActiv-G 2.5T is

remarkably strong in the

low-to-mid rev range,

even for a turbo.

Technology called

Dynamic Pressure Turbo

reroutes exhaust gases

at low rpm to virtually

eliminate turbo lag and

give smooth, linear

throttle response.

Efficiency is its other

strong suit. The ‘i-Stop’

engine shutoff and

‘i-Eloop’ energy recovery

system were added at

Mazda Australia’s request;

the local arm wanted

its biggest and most

expensive model to have

all available technology.

20-inch alloys, the CX-9 bridges

the gap between the current crop

of humdrum seven-seaters (we’re

looking at you Toyota Kluger and

Holden Captiva) and even more

upmarket offerings such as the

Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7.

Up front, a squinty gaze and

huge chrome grille form the latest

and most striking incarnation of

Mazda’s Kodo design language.

The sheer size of the CX-9’s

dramatic bodywork verges on

imposing, yet it retains handsome

proportions and an athletic form

that when studied closely reveals

a level of subtlety and attention

to fine detail rivalling more

premium brands.

It’s even better inside. The

front half of the cabin is a refined

composition of textural materials

and elegant styling.

Mazda has deliberately created

a feeling of separation from the

two rows behind. Its hushed and

well-equipped interior houses a

full suite of safety technology as

standard (see breakout). Only the

base model misses out on leather

trim and the larger, dashtop-

mounted touchscreen.

Smarter packaging has created

more room inside by pushing each

wheel further toward the corners

of the stretched CX-5 platform.

The wheelbase is 55mm longer

than the old CX-9’s, though the

body is 31mm shorter at 5075mm.

Boot space is a useable 230 litres

with the third-row seats deployed,

rising to 810 litres when they’re

not, and a mighty 1641 litres with

the second and third rows stowed.

Passengers in the nosebleeds

miss out on third-row vents,

but won’t feel short-changed

thanks to great visibility through

generous window apertures,

while head-room and legroom is

accommodating enough to host

adults for short trips.

The CX-9’s ride shows initial

polish. Mazda’s trustworthy

dynamic competency is felt in

its well-controlled tautness,

though the 1.9-tonne wagon can’t

disguise its heft when thumping

over sharper deviations. Braking

lacks bite at the top of the pedal

travel, and asks for more input

than expected even in stop-start

city traffic.

A weighty steering tune

requires a fussy amount of

wheelwork at times, and that

makes the car seem big. U-turns

feel similar to the orbit of a

small moon, requiring some

11.8 metres of road – almost

a full metre more than the

Hyundai Santa Fe. These are the

difficulties faced by cars of this

size, and in its class the CX-9

strikes a favourable balance

between ride and handling.

Mazda has fired a bullet

into the customary blandness

of seven-seater load-luggers

and delivered an SUV that

extends beyond the mundane

task of putting bums on seats.

Hiroshima has cracked the code.

RYAN LEWIS

Toyota Kluger Grande

$49,490

Cuts a roomy and functional figure

in the seven-seater segment,

though no longer made in Japan

and lacks stimulating features. Its

201kW/337Nm 3.5-litre V6 sounds

good and goes well, but used some

13.3L/100km on our last road test.

Kia Sorento Platinum

$55,990

Showcases Korea’s modern-day

engineering nous. Won our five-way

seven-seater comparo last year

thanks to attractive looks, interior

ambiance and equipment level.

Punchy 147kW/441Nm diesel

makes it the choice if oiler is a must.

ORTRY

THESE...

PLUS &

MINUS

Engine note; dull brakes; demanding steering Styling elegance; fuel efficiency; practical packaging

CX-9’s athletic form

reveals a level of subtlety

and attention to detail