Review: 2011 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring

Family Friendliness: 8.0

Recommended: Yes

Specifications apply to test vehicle only.

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By Keith Buglewicz

"Zoom-Zoom" is a little corny for a corporate slogan, but it accurately captures Mazda's emphasis on sporty driving. You expect fun from the two-seat MX-5 sports car, but when even the 2012 Mazda5 minivan offers up more fun than you'd expect, it's clear that "Zoom-Zoom" actually means something.

The same goes for Mazda's big CX-9 three-row crossover. Its fun-to-drive nature helped it win against five newer competitors in a test by a major enthusiast magazine. The thing is, it's a fair bet that a good chunk of crossover buyers are more interested in how the CX-9 can handle three car seats than how it handles a twisty mountain road. Does the CX-9's fun-to-drive nature interfere with its family-friendliness? Only a week behind the wheel of a 2011 Mazda CX-9 would tell.

Model & Pricing

Like all 2011 Mazda CX-9's, the $34,535 all-wheel drive Grand Touring model provided has a 273-hp 3.7-liter V-6 engine under the hood, along with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Touring also includes two-tone leather seats (heated in front), a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio and cruise controls, a high-end audio system, super-bright xenon headlights, and other luxury features.

The optional $400 power rear hatch, $3,055 navigation system, and $1,655 rear seat DVD player are listed separately, but on Mazda's website getting any one requires the purchase of the other two, essentially making them one $5,120 option bundle. Anyhow, the "Crystal White Pearl Mica" paint added $200, and a metallic rear bumper plate cost an additional $150. Throw in the $720 destination charge, and the $40,800 total is a good deal, considering the generous equipment.

Safety

All 2011 Mazda CX-9s come with standard stability and traction control, as well as front, side and curtain airbags. The Grand Touring model also includes a blind spot monitoring system, and a rear-view camera aids backing up. Crash tests are a mixed bag. The CX-9 hasn't been reevaluated with the new, tougher NHTSA crash tests, but it mostly aced the old one. The CX-9 got "Good" scores from the IIHS in front and side impact tests, but only "Marginal" in rear and rollover tests.

Behind the Wheel

For a seven passenger hauler, the CX-9 really is kind of fun to drive. The six-speed automatic makes the best of the V-6 engine's generous power, with quick shifts to maximize acceleration. In fact, the transmission is a little too sporty for its own good. It was reluctant to shift into sixth gear at less than highway speeds, and the CX-9 probably would have scored better than 14.5 mpg with less sport-focused shift programming.

If you want quick reflexes, then the CX-9's firm suspension and accurate steering is stable and secure in emergency maneuvers or on twisty roads. The downside is a stiff ride. You definitely feel road irregularities more than you might in a Toyota Highlander or GMC Acadia. It was also noisier inside than the sleek shape suggests, with wind noise around the big outside mirrors, and intrusive road noise from the tires.

Utility & Comfort

The CX-9's high center console and the shape of the comfortable driver's seat makes this crossover feel more like a sedan than most of its competitors. The big speedometer and tachometer are lit in red, as is everything else at night, and the high-quality controls were all easy to find and use. Touch-surfaces like the center armrest, door armrests and door tops are all soft, and what remains is low-gloss, durable hard plastic.

Storage space is skimpy for such a big vehicle. There are small front door pockets with bottle holders, two console-mounted cupholders behind the shifter, a coin pocket near the driver's left knee, and a small bin ahead of the shifter. The lid on the shallow center console bin is split down the middle, forcing you to open the left and right sides separately.

While there's plenty of head, leg and shoulder room in front, the high console, narrow side windows and thick rearmost pillars all contribute to a slightly claustrophobic feel, especially when looking toward the rear. The light-on-dark interior color scheme helps, but on the second and third rows, the light-colored leather quickly got smudged with kids climbing in and out.

The second row's outboard positions benefit from deeply sculpted cushions, softly padded door armrests, and a fold-down center armrest that includes cupholders and a small storage bin. By contrast, the center position suffers from a high cushion and a seatback hard enough to make even small children complain. Regardless of where you're sitting, legroom in the second row is in sort supply, no matter how far back the seats are in their tracks.

The third row is strictly for kids. The bottom cushion is so low that it's like sitting on the floor, but headroom and legroom are still in short supply. The thick rearmost pillars force passengers to lean forward to see out the side windows, and storage is limited to two cupholders on the right side; the left side had inputs for the rear seat entertainment system. On the plus side is a handle molded into the plastic that makes getting in and out of the rearmost compartment a little easier.

Cargo space behind the third row is adequate, and there's a handy storage area under the floor, too. Expanding cargo space is easy: The two halves of the 50/50 split third row fold and return to upright with the tug of the same strap. The second row seats fold easily as well, but the gap between the third and second row seatbacks is wide enough for an orange to fall through, so bundle those groceries carefully. The slow power liftgate was easily overridden with a quick tug on the handle.

Family Friendliness

It's unfair to say that the CX-9 isn't family friendly, but many newer crossovers outclass it. Its safety equipment includes blind spot indicators and a backup camera, plus airbags, stability control and so on. The second-row lower LATCH anchors are easy to access, kids can get in the second and third rows with relative ease, and the DVD player will keep them entertained once inside.

But there was a long list of minor drawbacks. The third row lacks lower LATCH anchors, but upper anchors are also absent, which is rare for the class. The second row easily slides forward for third-row access, but it doesn't "remember" its previous position, meaning you have to manually return the seatback angle to a comfortable position each time. There aren't ceiling-mounted vents for the rear-seat climate control, so third row occupants swelter on a hot day. Even though the rear-seat DVD player had a sharp screen and good sound, it's cryptically labeled "AUX2" instead of "DVD" or "Video" on the touchscreen interface. It goes on: A stroller leaves little room behind the third row for other cargo; the "keyless" ignition still requires you to turn a faux key instead of pressing a button; the navigation screen is low-resolution; and so on.

Conclusion

As it turns out, the Mazda CX-9's list of annoyances have little to do with its fun-to-drive nature. In reality, it's age. The CX-9 is in its fifth model year, and as newer competitors go on sale, it slips farther and farther behind the state-of-the-art. There's nothing so wrong with the CX-9 that it can't be Recommended, and if driving fun tops your list of priorities, then by all means, drive one home. But if you're looking for a spacious interior, better second- and third-row seat room, more cargo space or better fuel economy, you might want to keep looking.

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