Mazda CX-9 Touring 2017 Review

Comfort, convenience and safety are the CX-9's key virtues – including things we take for granted, like rapid Bluetooth connection or the pollen filter for the climate control system that provided some relief from Victoria’s hay fever pandemic during the week we tested this variant.

How much will it cost?
Sitting just above the entry-level 'Sport' grade in the four-tier hierarchy, the vehicle tested was an all-wheel drive CX-9 Touring at $52,890 (plus ORCs). For that price the CX-9 brings plenty of kit, but without incurring the luxury car tax.

Mazda recommends the CX-9 be serviced every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. For the week in our possession the seven-seat SUV used fuel at the rate of 11.6L/100km on a mix of freeways and free-flowing arterials. That figure may come down as the engine runs in.

Mazda warrants the CX-9 for three years/unlimited kilometres, with six-year panel protection in addition.

The CX-9 is an exceptionally quiet, composed touring wagon that's safe, easy to drive and solidly built.

Boasting a turbocharged 2.5-litre SKYACTIV-T four-cylinder engine coupled with a six-speed automatic, the CX-9 produces punchy performance that's also highly refined. A supple ride will endear the Mazda to family buyers, yet the CX-9's road-holding is fine. Like its competitors, the CX-9 is slow to respond to the wheel, but lift-off oversteer can be induced.

Measured against Land Rover's Discovery Sport or Mitsubishi's Outlander, the CX-9 is not an off-roader, being hampered by a long wheelbase and lower ground clearance in the bush.

When is it available in Australia?
The CX-9 in this second-generation has been on sale in the local market for less than a year. Since going on sale around the middle of 2016 it has posted nearly 2000 more sales than its predecessor, year on year.

As a package, the CX-9 is well designed and retains reasonable boot space with all seven seats occupied. There are no vents in the third row however, and the seating there is suitable for kids only.

The towing capacity is 2000kg with a 100kg tow ball download weight.

Where does it fit?
A large SUV, according to VFACTS, the CX-9 was judged by motoring.com.au to be the best SUV under $50,000 in 2016. The CX-9 is bigger, better equipped and more affordable than some smaller prestige rivals, although it doesn't necessarily match their off-road capability, on-road dynamics or cachet.

Mazda is not aiming to be explicitly a prestige brand, but the fit and finish, plus other acknowledged traits of its larger models – the CX-9 included – place the company's product range in striking distance of models that cost more and arguably boast a more illustrious brand name.

Price: $52,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 170kW/420Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 206g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP