Mazda CX-9 2007 Review

At least that is how it felt as we roared Mazda's massive CX-9 seven-seater SUV/people mover up the twisty road to Mt Beauty in the Victorian Alps; during the media launch.

Here, the road beckons the spirited 204kW V6 engine to press on, but the dynamic stability control steps in with brute force almost as soon as a wheel begins to step out of line and shuts everything down as if the invisible hand of God has grabbed the car.

If you want to play, you are out of luck. But if you want a safe people mover, this is about as safe as you can get.

The biggest and most powerful Mazda yet is also the first in its class with rollover stability control and the first Mazda with a reversing camera. It also features side curtain airbags that go all the way back to the third row. Safe and almost as big as houses.

The CX-9 is a massive piece of sheet metal that replaces Mazda's MPV people mover and will compete in the medium SUV segment against the new Toyota Kluger, Ford Territory, Hyundai Santa Fe and updated Subaru Tribeca.

It sits above the CX-7 compact SUV which costs $39,910-$45,560.

The Classic model starts just under $50,000 and features a long list of standard features such as rain-sensing wipers, reversing camera, fog lamps, touch-screen entertainment system, 18-inch wheels, three-zone airconditioning, cruise control and trip computer.

The $57,265 Luxury model adds leather, sunroof, powered and heated front seats and 10-speaker Bose sound system.

A retro-fittable satellite navigation accessory item costing $3000 will arrive in January.

Mazda global marketing chief Dan Morris says; the CX-9 takes the company in a new direction.

“It opens up a new section of the market we have not been in before,” he said.

“It really is tailor-made for Australia. We know you like big engines. We know you like big interior space.”

CX-9 program manager Hideaki Tanaka from Hiroshima said the car was designed to be sporty, prestigious, versatile and safe, having earned top marks in American crash testing.

He said Australia was the first market to get the right-hand-drive version.

It was tested here by Hiroshima and Australian Mazda engineers for steering, handling, comfort, noise, vibration and harshness.

Several standard features were fitted for the Australian market including the reversing camera, touch-screen display and trip computer, while the 60/40 second row split and middle seatbelt were reversed.

Tanaka said the distinguishing feature of the CX-9 was the amount of room in the second and third rows and the easy one-handed access to the rear seats.

Mazda Australia marketing manager Alastair Doak said they would sell about 400 a month, about 80 per cent Luxury models.

He refused to call the CX-9 a soccer mum's car.

“Our potential customers would be horrified by that term. They want a performance car with lots of space,” he said.

In the boring colours offered it looks like a beached whale or at least an over-inflated CX-7. To be fair, it is difficult to make such a big slab-sided car look sleek, but Mazda has done a reasonable job.

It is also difficult to make such a big car responsive, economical and dynamic. The 3.7-litre engine has plenty of top-end power. It is Mazda's first mass-production car with more than 200kW of power and it is claimed to reach 100km/h from standstill in 8.3sec.

But while it lacks some low-end torque, the super-fast and smooth six-speed Aisin gearbox makes the best of the engine's strengths. It is the same gearbox as in the CX-7, but with a taller top gear to maximize economy.

Mazda quotes 13 litres/100km, but on the launch we managed 14.4 and most others fared worse. Still, it's better than our experiences with the Ford Territory.

The auto transmission tells you what gear you are in and slips quickly into sixth gear for more economical driving. If you lightly touch the throttle, it immediately drops back to fifth almost imperceptibly. Dab the throttle a little more vigorously and it drops two gears instantly.

There is a fair ratio gap between second and third which, on top of the interventionist DSC, made our charge up Mt Beauty even more difficult as we were either over or under-revving.

Around town the big machine feels light and easy to manoeuvre despite an 11.4m turning circle. Manoeuvrability is aided by very light steering that becomes heavier with speed.Out on the highway the power-assisted steering has a bit of an American dead feel in the middle.

The quiet cabin becomes rather tiresome with plenty of tyre, road and wind noise, especially from the wing mirrors. Yet the cabin is a comfortable, roomy and a classy place to be.

Mazda is marketing it under the slogan “It can carry your whole life,” and that's not far wrong.

There is plenty of legroom, although it should be noted that it really isn't a seven-adult carrier. More like four adults and three kids as the centre seat in the second row is narrow and the third row has limited room, although it is better than many in its class.

Access to the third row is easy because the second row slides a long way forward and the floor is flat. But the third row suffers from a lack of headroom and a high floor that will have adults sitting with their knees up high. Also, unlike some other seven-seaters, the third row is actually lower than the second which, together with a low roof and small side windows, makes it claustrophobic.

There are drink holders in the rear, but only floor air vents. The second row gets separate air controls and vents, while the third row is only for juniors; there is still more room behind the seat for luggage than in competitors' cars. The third row easily folds flat to reveal a very large and serviceable cargo area. The second row also folds flat, but a little higher and with a gap in the floor.

Mazda could do with the Kluger's self-opening/closing rear door because the tailgate is quite heavy.

Up front, there are comfortable seats, with plenty of easy-to-operate controls, but the raked windscreen allows in too much sun so your legs can bake.

The Luxury model's small sunroof only extends over the front seats. It would be better placed over the second and/or third rows or with a second sunroof as some competitors have.

Mazda claims the temporary spare tyre is not a bicycle tyre like most space savers. They say it is a very serviceable 17-inch spare that has a larger profile to provide the same diameter as the fitted tyres, It is also a reasonable 195mm wide compared with 245mm on the fitted tyres. Mazda says it is only called a temporary because of Australian Design Rules.

Doak says there will be no diesel nor two-wheel-drive stripper model like some of its competitors.

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Snapshot

Mazda CX-9

Price: $49,990-$57,265

Body: 5-door, 7-seat, Classic and Luxury trim

Engine: 3726cc 24-valve, V6 DOHC

Bore X stroke: 95.5 x 86.7mm

Compression: 10.3:1

Power: 204kW @ 6250rpm

Torque: 366Nm @ 4250rpm

Fuel: ULP, 76-litre tank, 13L/100km (claimed)

Emissions: Euro IV, 309g/km

Transmission: 6-speed sequential auto, AWD

Brakes: 320/325mm ventilated discs

Turning circle: 11.4m

Suspension: MacPherson strut (front), multi-link (rear)

Tyres: 245/60 R18 (Classic), 245/50 R20 (Luxury)

Wheels: alloy, temporary spare

Dimensions (MM): 5074 (l), 1936 (w), 1728 (h), 2875 (wheelbase), 200 (clearance)

Kerb weight: 2041kg (Classic), 2080 (Luxury)

Towing: 2000kg (braked), 750kg (unbraked)