100 |AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDEM
azda’s CX-9 range
starts at $45,920 for
the 170kW 2.5-litre four-
cylinder turbopetrol/six-speed
automatic/front-wheel-drive
Sport. CX9 Touring, with the
same drivetrain, is $52,460, GT
is $60,620 and Azami is $62,260.
All-wheel-drive adds $4000 to
each, except top spec Azami LE,
at $68,232, where it’s standard.
We’re testing the base-model
CX-9 Sport, and it’s obvious that
Mazda has thought about what
parents really want.
Safety is the obvious priority
and here the Mazda excels, with a
head-up display, adaptive cruise,
lane keep assist, a camera, low-
speed (below 30km/h) obstacle
detection/automatic emergency
braking that also works in
reverse (at driveway speeds of
2–8km/h), pedestrian detection,
rear cross traffi c alert, blind spot
monitoring, full-length curtain
airbags and seat belt indicators
for all positions.
The spacious, comfortable
60/40-split middle seat slideson either side to adjust legroom
or let kids into the back. It’s
elevated and with low window
sills kids can watch the world
pass by and be happy.
Mazda improved rear seat
access in mid 2017, making
the second row easier to slide
forward and creating a bigger
opening for kids to climb in.
A total of seven child restraint
anchors is fi tted: fi ve Australian
Standard tether strap points
and two Isofi x mounting points
on the middle row.
The base CX-9 also has
practical, smart stuff that
makes life easy and comfortable
for everybody, such as tri-zone
air with independent controls
for the second row, back seats
that fold into the fl oor and
require no effort to raise or
lower, and a useful-sized boot
even with all seats in use.
Particularly impressive is the
quality of materials, fi t and fi nish inthe CX-9’s cabin, which is superb
for a base model.Mazda’s 2.5-litre
four-cylinder turbopetrol/six-
speed auto drivetrain is tuned to
suit its load-lugging purpose, with
strong performance off the line,
easy pulling power at low revs and
turbodiesel-like torque, so there’s
never any need for you to thrash it.
In fact, it’s a bit too easy to
break traction at the front of the
CX-9 if you’re a bit vigorous on
the accelerator.
Traction control needs to
kick in earlier and operate with
greater fi nesse, especially in wet
or slippery conditions.
The CX-9 also suffers excessive
torque steer; where the wheel tugs
in your hands under acceleration,
the car won’t hold a straight line
and control is compromised. This
isn’t fun in wet conditions.
Mazda claims the CX-9 is the
most fuel-effi cient seven-seater
petrol SUV in its class. I averaged
12–13L/100km in town, unladen— frugal for a wagon of this size,
weight and power. It also runs on
regular unleaded, an unexpected
bonus in a turbopetrol, most
of which require premium. It’s
quick, too, clocking 7.4 seconds
for the 0–100km/h sprint.
The CX-9 handles securely
and predictably on country roads
as long as you appreciate its
limitations and don’t take the
“Sport” spin literally. It’s a capable
tourer with a compliant, if not
quite supple ride on tall tyres and
18-inch alloys. Excessive tyre
noise, a problem on some other
Mazdas, isn’t an issue here.
Mazda’s 2.5-litre turbopetrol
delivers that elusive combination
of performance and economy in
a big SUV. CX-9 Sport also offers
blue-chip quality and big-dollar
safety features you won’t fi nd in
most rivals at the price, and all in a
spacious and practical package.THINGS WE LIKE
Refi ned, torquey, frugal engine
Premium safety in base model
Outstanding quality
Easy-to-use infotainment
Spacious, versatile, comfortable
cabin
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
Could be a handful in the wet
Traction control needs work
Excessive torque steer
Back-seat access requires effort
Expensive servicing
SPEX (base Sport)
Made in Japan
2.5-litre four-cylinder
turbopetrol/six-speed automatic/
front-wheel drive
170kW of power at 5000rpm/420Nm
of torque at 2000rpm
0–100km/h in 7.4 seconds
6.9L/100km highway;
11.0L/100km city; regular
unleaded; CO 2 emissions are
197g/km; fuel tank is 72 litres
Max towing capacity 2000kg
Warranty: Five years/unlimited
kilometres
Standard: Six airbags, stability
control, 18-inch alloy wheels, tri-
zone air, Smart City Brake Support,
blind spot monitoring, rear cross
traffi c alert, rear camera and
parking sensors, head up display
cloth upholstery, seven-inch
touchscreen, Bluetooth, internet
radio, navigation, voice control,
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
Redbook future values: 3yr: 52%;
5yr: 37%MAZDA CX-9 FROM $45,920
SafetyPerformanceHandlingQuality, reliabilityComfort and refi nementValue for moneyOverallSTARS
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compare with ...
Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento,
Nissan Pathfi nder, Skoda Kodiaq,
Toyota Kluger, VW Tiguan Allspace