Mazda barely gave the paint a chance to dry on the new CX-7 crossover SUV before rolling out another all-purpose family hauler called the CX-9 at the 2006 New York Auto Show. The 2007 Mazda CX-9, designed to carry up to seven passengers, looks quite similar to the smaller CX-7, but Mazda insists that the CX-9 is not a stretched CX-7, and neither is the CX-7 a shrunken CX-9. If you look closely enough, you can see that these are, indeed, two separate vehicles that share just a few bits of the Mazda 6 underneath the sheetmetal.

Though it’s larger to accommodate more passengers, the 2007 CX-9 will, like all Mazdas, possess “the soul of a sportscar” with “strong performance, agile handling, precise steering, and superior quality and craftsmanship,” according to its manufacturer. Mazda also says it “sets new standards for style, while incorporating an interior of sophisticated elegance with class-leading space and unmatched versatility.” Certainly, the young couples, active families, and empty nesters that Mazda has identified as likely CX-9 customers will put these claims to the test when the CX-9 goes on sale this fall in Sports, Touring, and Grand Touring trim levels.