Why Mazda CX-9 ticks all the boxes of a perfect SUV

The second-generation 2017 Mazda CX-9 takes on new skin on the outside, new furniture on the inside. and drives with a new purpose-built powertrain

In my recent probe of the three-row SUV segment, I found that choices are surprisingly many. In fact, there are some 40 such 7/8-seater vehicles available in the market today - ranging from compact crossovers to full-size behemoth SUVs with large variations in price points. Here, we are reviewing one such vehicle, which has been built by Mazda, the brand that follows the "zoom-zoom" philosophy. It is also known for bringing style to the bland commuter class of cars and innovative technologies like the Wankel rotary engine to the mainstream car market. Ladies and gentleman, this is the all-new 2017 Mazda CX-9!
DESIGN & AESTHETICS
We are familiar with the first generation CX-9, Mazda's first-ever three-row crossover. It's been around since 2006, and has been popularised by its distinct looks, functionality and the Mazda essential - drive feel!
The new iteration of this crossover is a much more suave and sophisticated vehicle. It is 5,075mm long, 1,969mm wide and stands 1,716mm tall. That makes it some 30mm shorter in length than its predecessor, but at 2,930mm, its wheelbase has been stretched 55mm for better interior space. It is also slightly longer than the massive-looking Ford Explorer, yet Mazda has successfully masked its mass thanks to sedan-like styling inspired by their 'KODO - Soul of Motion', a design language intended to give cars life and energy. The nose is bolder, thanks to a 5-slat chrome grille and a sinister-looking squint of the headlights. From the sides, the bulges around the wheel arches have been replaced by organic-looking surfaces over the wheels, while maintaining the bulge.
Like its predecessor, it sits less like a chunky SUV and a more elevated MPV - but one that can go places. At the rear, the rectangular lights are now more artistically sculpted, which ups the sporty quotient. Thanks to its expressive design, the new CX-9 is something you wouldn't mind parking in your garage.
The new cabin ensemble appears as if it comes straight off the drawing boards and into a production model. The clean lines and symmetrical balance of the two-tone cockpit and the careful placement of the satin trims speak of visual quality, while the fit and finish of the panels speak of actual quality. I would consider this more a Lexus-rival, than Toyota's! A lot has to do with how clutter-free it is. The driver gets to grip a fuss-free three-spoke steering wheel with a nice centre-piece; and behind it is an elegantly executed set of analogue gauges with chrome bezels. Upfront, there is a lot of space. but relative to the total size, there is a tad more to be desired for knee room. All variants come with black trims on the centre console, which works, but I would have loved it if they made available the lovely rosewood finish manufactured by the guitar manufacturer Fujigen, seen in other markets.
Then, there is the tablet-like infotainment screen with its iDrive-inspired jog wheel at the bottom: easy to read and use. There is no panoramic sunroof, but there are large windows for the rear occupants to enjoy the vistas, in the comfort of their nicely designed bench that can seat three abreast. You can slide and recline them.
POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
During my orientation with the CX-9, I got into the near two-ton crossover and drove a few miles. Expectedly, it propelled forward with the enthusiasm of the last generation's 3.7-litre V6. Except, there is no V6. This year, Mazda has brought their high-performance SKYACTIV-G technology to their largest vehicle. And for the first time, it gets a turbocharger too. Shove the go pedal and it will thrust forward like a machine on a mission easily eclipsing the 100 km/h mark under 9 seconds. By the numbers, it is tad less powerful and slower than the free-revving V6 of old, but on the road, you wouldn't notice it.
But what about turbo lag - that steals a powerful car of drivability? To counter that, Mazda has used a unique Dynamic Pressure Turbo technology - the world's first - which gives the turbocharger the ability to vary exhaust pulsation depending on engine speed. In their words, it works like placing a thumb on a garden hose, creating instant boost-up at low revs, and through this, they have greatly eliminated turbo lag. So you have good amounts of propulsion similar and minimised turbo lag. And thanks to 4-3-1 exhaust, optimised for turbocharger efficiency, and a diet that reduced the overall weight by some 100 kilos, fuel economy is up almost 20 per cent. We averaged a commendable 13-14 L/100km - a notch above the rivals.
With independent suspension all around, the wheels stick to the ground evenly even as you traverse irregular tarmac surfaces, allowing those wide 255-section tyres to maintain traction. Forget the fact that you can seat another six behind you, this thing handles a drive with the verve of a sedan. It's a car that will help keep your punctuality on the straights and drives with obedience around curves. No surprise here: Mazda has always been the working man's BMW.
Mazda has equipped the CX-9 with a 6-speed automatic. It is better than those new-fangled but confused 8- and 9-speed transmissions and avoids the annoying engine drone associated with CVTs. There aren't any paddles behind the wheels though; you can shift manually by rocking the shift lever back and forth. It also lacks low-range gearing and we don't mind that given that this has been designed for the city slicker with duties limited to mall and school. Nothing more than the driving on the beaten path should be encouraged, especially not desert driving.
FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
The base GS models gets an useful 7-inch screen with a standard rear camera and a 6-speaker audio, which is accompanied by aux- input, USB ports and bluetooth connectivity. The cabin is kept comfortable with a dual-zone air conditioner and the seats are upholstered in fabric, but you do get a leather-wrapped steering with cruise control buttons to help save your from foot fatigue.
Step up to the sporty-sounding GT trim, and you get a larger 8-inch screen, leather seats, a power lift gate and LED headlamps. The 20-inch wheels are reserved for the top spec LTD model, which also gets navigation and a specially-tuned 12-speaker Bose audio. You get adaptive cruise control and a roster of modern and safety tech, like Blind Spot Monitoring System, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, adaptive beams that show concern for on-coming traffic, Lane Keep Assist and Smart Brake Support. In terms of object-hauling, the CX-9 is a delivery guy's dream. You start with a decent size boot behind the third row and with a removable floor where you can hide things from prying eyes. As you'd expect in any modern 7-seater, you can drop the 50:50 split third row, and then the 60:40 split second row for more space. This vehicle eats almost anything that a family throws at it!
VERDICT
The 2017 Mazda CX-9 is a vehicle that can be many things to many people. It's a spiffy, large, family-friendly crossover, that can haul up to seven people. It's the caravan that can carry a ton load of stuff. It's the SUV that drives with the verve of a sedan and it's the luxury vehicle with great fit and finish, without the luxury price tag. A tad more knee room upfront would have been appreciated and I do miss the smoothness of the old V6, but you have to laud Mazda for delivering equal measures of power and fuel efficiency with the new SKYACTIVE engine.
wknd@khaleejtimes.com

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