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2015 Mazda CX-9 Road Test and Review

Benjamin Hunting
by Benjamin Hunting
June 30, 2015
6 min. Reading Time
2015 Mazda CX-9 front 3/4 ・  Photo by Benjamin Hunting

2015 Mazda CX-9 front 3/4 ・ Photo by Benjamin Hunting

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 enjoys the uncertain dignity of being the oldest member of current Mazda line-up, pre-dating the major redesigns that have swept across the Japanese automaker's family of cars and crossovers in recent years. Although it first debuted back in 2007, a few mechanical updates and a stream of cosmetic improvements have kept the three-row crossover in many ways competitive with its contemporaries. It helps, of course, that the CX-9 happens to embody the Mazda brand's reputation for being a decent drive: although not quite sporty, it's certainly nimble in a way other full-size people movers aren't.

In order to enjoy the Mazda CX-9's roomy interior, reasonable power, and above-average handling, you will of course have to deal with a number of blasts from the past - specifically in the area of technology and interior fit and finish. Still, there's enough about the big crossover to keep it compelling for those seeking something a little less boring when carting the kids across town.

Models and Prices

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 is available in three distinct trim levels, each of which can be had with the option of all-wheel drive. The base CX-9 Sport (MSRP $29,985) comes with three zones of automatic climate control, a touchscreen infotainment display (with Bluetooth connectivity), a CD player, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 18-inch rims, an adjustable driver's seat, and cruise control. Moving up to the CX-9 Touring (MSRP $32,480) installs additional active safety gear, heated side mirrors, leather seats, power adjustments and heaters for both front buckets, a rearview camera, and parking assistance. The range-topping Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring (MSRP $35,035) adds a number of styling upgrades such as 20-inch rims, HID running lights wrapped around HID headlights, and foglights, and it also comes with keyless ignition, a driver's memory seat, a power tailgate, and nicer interior trim. 

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 that I drove for a week was an all-wheel drive Grand Touring model painted Crystal Mica White (a cost-option) and featuring the Technology package (Bose surround sound system, moonroof, satellite radio). All told, the sticker price for my tester came to $39,630.

 Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Design

What’s New:

  • The 2015 Mazda CX-9 does not add any new design elements for the current model year.

You certainly wouldn’t know that the 2015 Mazda CX-9 was getting a little long in the tooth just by looking at it. From the outside, the sleek, rounded curves of the large crossover have aged quite well, aided and abetted by a near-constant refresh campaign that has kept the Mazda's visage nipped and tucked in search of a youthful appearance. Even in profile the CX-9 remains pleasing to the eye, with only a lack of detail on its slab-like sides (accentuated by the Mica White paint) adding a touch of plain. Once again, the Grand Touring model's LED lighting and HID headlights go a long way towards dressing up the front end of the vehicle, a trend that is increasingly employed by car companies seeking to keep their designs current.

The Mazda CX-9's passenger compartment tells a very different story. Welcome to a world where hard plastics abound, and although Mazda has done its best to offset the sea of grey and black with wood-look trim along the center stack and bracing the forward door panels, it's clear that the interior hails from a different era in design. This is true even in the priciest version of the vehicle: entry-level editions are still more spartan.

 Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Comfort and Cargo

What’s New:

  • The 2015 Mazda CX-9 does not introduce any new comfort or cargo features.

Would it surprise you to know that you can fit more gear inside the 2015 Mazda CX-9 than you could in a comparatively-enormous Chevrolet Tahoe. With both the second and third row of accommodations folded forward, you get 101 cubic feet of total interior storage space, a number which catapults the CX-9 near the top of its class and makes it competitive with traditional full-size SUVs such as the Ford Expedition (which is only eight percent larger inside).

All that utility is wrapped in a package that's much easier to drive on a daily basis, especially if you take urban parking realities into consideration, although larger options like the GMC Acadia/Chevrolet Traverse twins will net you as much as 116 cubes to play with. Passenger room is also quite generous in the first five positions, with a sliding second row that allows you to boost leg room while crushing those riding in the very back of the CX-9 (especially if they won't stop complaining about the somewhat lower headroom they have to deal with).

 Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Features and Controls

What’s New:

  • The 2015 Mazda CX-9 does not bring any new features or controls to the table.

The 2015 Mazda CX-9's biggest weakness is tied to the fact that its platform hails from the previous decade. Specifically, the implementation of the crossover's driver-facing technology features, such as its infotainment system, is absolutely brutal. The 5.8-inch touchscreen that comes standard with the CX-9 was developed in part with third-party navigation software provider TomTom, and I experienced nothing but frustration trying to use it to manage my Bluetooth-connected phone as well as access the vehicle's entertainment features. I had the screen lock up on me several times, as well as go into a loop regarding a phantom text message notification until I physically disabled Bluetooth on my mobile device. To top things off, every time I got into the Mazda, the system would attempt to 'sync' with the Android phone in my possession, blocking any other Bluetooth access for the duration, which meant no music or phone calls during that time. In short, it's not a modern experience, and it's one that falls way behind the competition.

There are a few other weird reminders of the CX-9's encroaching age sprinkled throughout its control surfaces, but to me the most indicative is its 'keyless ignition' system. This consists of a plastic 'dummy' key fitted over a bump on the steering column where one would traditionally insert a real key. You simply grab it and twist it to turn the crossover on - not quite as sexy as an engine start/stop button.

 Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Safety and Ratings

What’s New:

  • The 2015 Mazda CX-9 does not introduce any new safety gear.

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 comes standard with seat-mounted side airbags up front, dual forward airbags, and side curtain airbags that stretch along the entire length of the passenger compartment. Electronic stability control and traction control are also standard, and if you opt for the Touring trim or above you also get a blind spot monitoring system as a nod toward modern active safety.

The Mazda CX-9 scored 'Good' in two of the IIHS' five important crash tests, posting a 'Marginal' rating in Roof Strength and Head Restraints & Seats while posting 'Poor' in the Small Overlap Front test. The NHTSA awarded the CX-9 a four out of five star rating for overall crash safety.

 Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Engines and Fuel Economy

What’s New:

  • The 2015 Mazda CX-9 carries over the previous year's drivetrain.

Regardless of trim level, every 2015 Mazda CX-9 is outfitted with a 3.7-liter V-6 that delivers 273 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive models return 17-mpg in city driving and 24-mpg on the highway, while those equipped with optional all-wheel drive drop down to 16-mpg around town and 22-mpg during highway cruising. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard across the board.

Those looking to pull a trailer with their full-size crossover are in luck. The Mazda offers a towing package that gives it 3,500 lbs of capacity, which is a respectable figure for a people mover in its class.

 Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Driving Impressions

The 2015 Mazda CX-9's old-tech V-6 engine might not offer the same level of fuel efficiency as some of its more recent rivals, but it sure does reach down deep when you mash the gas pedal to the floor. The relatively lightweight CX-9 makes the most of its 273 ponies, and although the all-wheel drive model is considerably slower off the line, all versions of this Mazda are mighty enough to keep up with the flow of traffic in almost any situation. In a world where a never-ending stream of family haulers are adopting turbocharged four-cylinder motors, the CX-9's V-6 is a reminder of a past where throttle response was valued more than overall miles per gallon. 

The best part of the Mazda's driving experience, however, comes when that traffic light drag strip starts to curve. The suspension system in the CX-9 appears to have been tuned with the increasingly-novel concept of providing the driver with actual road feedback. This philosophy has also been carried over to the CX-9's steering, which remains hydraulically, and not electrically-assisted. Piloting the crossover is therefore a much less numbing chore than you might expect if you've ever crawled, barely breathing, from the captain's chair of a Toyota Highlander or similarly appliance-like ride. 

I'm not saying that the Mazda CX-9 is going to be a threat at your local autocross competition, but the vehicle's willingness to go where it's pointed without complaint makes it that much less cumbersome when navigating heavy traffic or trying to stuff it into a crowded parking spot. It's also a ray of light that proves it's possible to design a useful, yet still somewhat engaging sport-utility vehicle.

 Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Final Thoughts

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 is an illuminating example of the modern car crossroads we're currently facing. I'm happy to praise its focus on driver engagement, respectable handling, and peppy V-6, but at the same time I'm forced to criticize its poorly-conceived suite of infotainment and communications features, low-rent interior materials, and sub-par fuel economy. The fact that the CX-9 was designed almost 10 years ago is largely responsible for both the positive and negative aspects of its character, as when Mazda first put pen to paper for the people mover it could not have foreseen the rate at which electronic immersion would influence buying decisions, nor the speed at which 'premium' passenger compartments would extend even to non-luxury models. 

Even so, if you stick with the least expensive CX-9 model - the Sport - and don't attempt to gloss over its pedestrian interior with optional leather and wood, you're going to be quite happy with the amount of passenger and cargo room that it has to offer, and even more pleased with the price. Throw in its life-affirming on-road personality, and the Mazda CX-9 stands as a unique alternative on a largely homogenous large crossover landscape.

 Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Great handling
  • Good power
  • Excellent interior room for passengers and cargo
  • Easy on the eyes
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Thirsty at the fuel pump
  • Outdated infotainment and communications technology
  • Dull interior trim
  • Limited active safety gear

Mazda Canada supplied the vehicle for this review.

 Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Photo by Benjamin Hunting


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