Voted the best large utility vehicle in Canada for 2018 by AJAC and as a top IHSS safety pick, the Mazda CX-9 is full of premium design, craftsmanship, and materials all for an affordable price. Every effort was made to make driving less distracting and more relaxing, in this three-row 7-passenger crossover SUV.
The impressive KODO design is very prominent and unique, with a sleekness and agility combined with a deep muscular stance. The attention to the smallest details is found throughout the vehicle with handcrafted materials such as Nappa leather-trimmed seats, and genuine aluminum and Rosewood trim. I mean even the paint is revolutionary! They specifically designed a new “Soul Red” which is able to deliver an enhanced level of vividness and depth. Mazda’s TAKUMI-NURI robotic painting technology aims to create the most innovative mass production painting process using a semi-transparent paint layer coated on to a reflecting layer comprised of regularly arrayed aluminum flakes, finished with a clear layer that emphasizes translucence.
The innovation continues throughout the driving experience, starting with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5T 4-cylinder with Dynamic Pressure Turbo. The Dynamic Pressure Turbo provides a higher level of power at lower levels of rpm with no noticeable turbo lag. A class-leading 310 lbs-ft of torque at a minimal 2,000 rpm gives you immediate power exactly when you ask for it. The Mazda CX-9 also is equipped with SKYACTIV Vehicle Dynamics, which was the winner of the AJAC award for Best New Innovation Technology for 2017. This technology works behind the scenes to provide a smoother, less tiring drive for both you and your passengers. The i-ACTIVE AWD monitors 27 sensors 200 times per second, so everything from steering angle, windshield wiper use, exterior temperature, and braking patterns is considered to perfectly deliver the right amount of traction right to when and where you need it. At 200 times per second, the CX-9 can start to lose traction, use the electromagnetic clutch to shift power from front to rear tires, and regain traction all before your brain could even compute the minor changes in road conditions. Also, ensuring optimal distribution of torque, minimizing drivetrain energy loss, allowing you to only be using fuel to power AWD when required, providing an exceptional combined fuel economy of 9.6L/100 km. As for the size and available room in the CX-9, the 3 rows of seating provided enough room for us to drive 6 full grown adults out to dinner on a few occasions while testing. Although the people in the back rows might not be the most comfortable if they are over 6ft and have to sit back there for an extended period of time. For use as a family vehicle, you could easily take the kids and all their toys out for an extended road trip without any worries.
Mazda offers plenty of standard and available passive/active safety features to help keep you and your passengers/family safe. Using all the latest innovations such as cameras and radar sensors gives your CX-9 an awareness of what is happening in the world around it. The i-ACTIVSENSE safety technologies support safe driving habits by helping the driver recognize potential hazards, as well as provide pre-crash systems which help attempt to avert collisions or reduce their severity in situations where they cannot be avoided. Now while these systems are not a replacement for safe and attentive driving, like the backup camera or heads-up display, they provide an extension of your natural abilities and reactions. Mazda provides Canada’s only unlimited mileage warranty program. It features unlimited mileage on the 3-year New Vehicle, 3-year Roadside Assistance, 5-year Powertrain, and 7-year Anti-Perforation warranties. Allowing you to drive the vehicle as you intend, not having to worry about how far or long you are driving.
