Faced with a need to modernize a platform that dated back almost a decade, but not wanting to mess too much with the formula that had made the original CX-9 SUV a success, Mazda was faced with a unique challenge. The end result is an all-new version of the popular SUV that maintains the practical spirit of its predecessor while fitting in much better with the company's overall design philosophy and the increasingly heightened expectations of sport utility buyers.
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| 2016 Mazda CX-9 |
New Platform Updates Mazda's Oldest SUV
The 2016 Mazda CX-9 achieves that most modern of automotive design accomplishments: losing considerable weight and a touch of size despite offering a dramatically more modern platform. The use of lightweight materials and advanced building techniques have lopped nearly 200 pounds off of front-wheel drive models, while the all-wheel drive edition of the CX-9 can count an additional 100 missing pounds on top of that as compared to the model it replaces.
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| The 2016 Mazda CX-9 achieves that most modern of automotive design accomplishments |
Improvement to CX-9's Proportions
At the same time, Mazda has taken care to perform a nip/tuck on the CX-9 SUV's overall proportions, boosting the wheelbase by 2.2 inches while snipping 2.3 inches from the front of the vehicle and a single inch from the rear. This was accomplished primarily by shortening the vehicle's overhangs, although it's important to note that pushing back the windshield pillars have allowed the Mazda CX-9 to preserve its power-evoking long-nose look. Do the math and you end up with a sport utility vehicle that is 1.2 inches shorter overall than it was the year before plus has sleeker styling than several of its contemporaries (such as the Nissan Pathfinder or the Toyota Highlander).
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| The 2016 Mazda CX-9 Interior |
Interior Refinement Returns CX-9 to the Fullsize Conversation
One of the primary criticisms leveled against the Mazda CX-9 -- at least, when compared against other fullsize SUVs -- was just how far behind the curve its cabin design had fallen. This was mostly a function of age, as the harder plastics and more basic infotainment technologies employed by the CX-9 were well in keeping with a snapshot of the industry in the mid-2000s when it first appeared on the scene.
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| 2016 Mazda CX-9 Interior Dashboard |
Interior Updates
All that has changed with the 2016 Mazda CX-9, which gains a passenger compartment that is every bit the equal (and in some cases, the better), of class leaders from Ford, Toyota, and Honda. In addition to the expected fabric seats and modestly-appointed interiors available with entry-level models, Mazda has finally embarked on a re-think of what the brand traditionally has offered in terms of materials quality, fit, and finish. In addition to the availability of two different Mazda Connect touchscreen infotainment systems, the CX-9 features genuine wood trim, Nappa leather, and elegantly-styled door panels, dashboards, and center consoles as part of Mazda's new design vocabulary.
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| 2016 Mazda CX-9 Display Screen |
Practicality and Comfort - Improved for 2016
The 2016 Mazda CX-9 can accommodate as many as seven passengers across three rows of seating, but in a refreshingly honest appraisal of the SUV's capabilities, its designers acknowledge that the rearmost quarters are best enjoyed by young children. That's not to say that the way-back position in the CX-9 is terra non grata for adults, as that part of the vehicle is now easier to access thanks to a single-pull lever to fold forward the second row, on top of a slide-and-tilt function build into the same.
The front buckets have undergone a scalloping at the back to reduce intrusion on the knees of riders, and the extended wheelbase has contributed to an overall improvement in comfort for those behind the first two positions. It's also worth noting that the Mazda CX-9 is remarkably quiet inside for a non-premium vehicle, the result of a concerted effort to improve sound deadening throughout the SUV.
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| 2016 Mazda CX-9 Badge |
Brand New Turbocharged Engine
Mechanically, the most notable change made to the 2016 Mazda CX-9 is the shift from a naturally-aspirated V6 to a turbocharged 4-cylinder motor. It's a sign of the times when even large SUVs are slicing engine sizes in half and turning to turbos to best balance fuel efficiency and output. The 2.5-liter unit found in the CX-9 is unique for a number of reasons, not the least of which being its relatively high compression ratio and ability to produce maximum torque almost right off of the line. Of the 310 lb-ft of twist offered by the 2.5-liter turbo, all of it is available below 2,000 rpm. Horsepower runs from 227 (87 octane gas) to 250 (91 octane), and Mazda has tuned the engine to maximize passing power while minimizing downshifts from its 6-speed automatic transmission.
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| 2016 Mazda CX-9 Brand New Turbocharged Engine |
Fuel Economy Once Again Competitive
The 2016 Mazda CX-9 sees its fuel economy climb to 22 mpg in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway when ordered in front-wheel drive trim (all-wheel drive models deduct a single mile per gallon from each respective measure). Mazda is claiming best-in-class status for the hauler, with the closest similarly-sized SUV, the Honda Pilot, posting 20 mpg city and 27 mpg combined.
Of note is Mazda's confidence that, unlike other turbocharged engines that tend to guzzle at an accelerated rate when called upon to hustle, the 2.5-liter turbo is more likely to match its EPA estimates in real-world driving. A number of features designed into the turbocharger and engine, along with the tuning of the 4-cylinder's power band, aim to prevent over-consumption by avoiding standard practices such as using fuel to cool cylinders and jumping down multiple gear ratios to access high rpm power. My time with the CX-9 was too short to make any comprehensive judgment about Mazda's success with this strategy, but I did see roughly 18 mpg in combined city/highway driving while behind the wheel of the SUV.
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| 2016 Mazda CX-9 Fuel Economy Once Again Competitive |
Fresh Trim Levels Highlight Mazda's New Premium Focus
In addition to being offered in the accessible Sport trim and the well-equipped Touring trim that Mazda expects to be its most popular model, the 2016 CX-9 goes an extra step by pushing into the premium realm in a very credible way. The Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring offers a host of high tech features (8-inch Mazda Connect touchscreen, 12-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, adaptive front lighting) and nice-to-have luxuries (heated seats, 20-inch rims, LED foglights, leather upholstery), but the new Signature model heaps on rosewood trim, Nappa leather, additional LED lighting, and its own special styling touches (all-wheel drive is also standard with Signature models).
Mazda's never been here before -- at least not in North America -- but you wouldn't know it from the inside of the CX-9 Signature. The experience feels a match for pricier models like the Acura MDX or the Lincoln MKX, which is strong praise for the automaker's design team and corporate willingness to take a risk with a vehicle that's positioned as a premium product for the very first time.
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| 2016 Mazda CX-9 New Premium Focus |
Safety Technology Continues to Mature at Mazda
The 2016 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring also happens to offer a comprehensive suite of advanced safety features. Mazda has been trying to find its feet when implementing features such as blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning, and the new CX-9 provides the best execution of driver assist technologies so far. The SUV's adaptive cruise control feature is paired with high- and low-speed automatic braking systems, a lane keeping assistant that's more subtle than what you might experience from other brands, and the previously-mentioned blind spot and lane departure features. Mazda has also installed a true head-up display in the CX-9 that projects onto the windshield, rather than the pop-up design found in other models from the automaker. It's much easier to read, offers a wider viewing angle, and provides a greater amount of vehicle information.
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| 2016 Mazda CX-9 Safety Technology |
Driving Experience is Competent, but not Sporty
The Mazda CX-9 has always enjoyed a reputation as being more engaging to drive than most other large SUVs and crossovers in its class. The 2016 edition of the vehicle is certainly competent in all situations, and doesn't allow its bulk to overly inform its handling. Likewise, I never felt like I needed more power from the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine than it was willing to provide, which illustrates how well Mazda understands its customer and the expectations surrounding the 3-row model. It would be a push to describe the CX-9 as "sporty," however, as the slight delay between steering inputs and the vehicle changing direction didn't offer as much of a connection with the road as the older (hydraulic rack-equipped) edition. That being said, the Mazda CX-9 is a vehicle that rewards smooth driving even on twisty roads that would kerfuffle more staid fare.
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| 2016 Mazda CX-9 Driving Experience is Competent |
The CX-9 is Well-Priced
The 2016 Mazda CX-9 starts at an MSRP of $31,520 (Sport), which is a good place to be for a 3-row fullsize crossover. The real value appears at the top end, however, where the stylish and feature-laden CX-9 Signature retails for just $44,015. To my mind, this is a coup for Mazda's product planners, as they have been able to launch a luxury bomb right into the backyard of brands like Acura, Lincoln, and Lexus without being saddled with the pricing expectations associated with a premium marque. That the CX-9 is exceptionally comfortable and well-appointed for its class is not up for debate. Why you would choose to pay more for less simply to claim a specific badge on the front, however, is very much worthy of discussion the next time you are in the market for a large SUV.
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| The CX-9 is Well-Priced |
