2008 Mazda CX-9 Review (continued)
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Walkaround

Mazda has presented the CX-9 as a substitute for either a conventional sport utility vehicle or a minivan. And Mazda has made sure it looks like neither.

The CX-9 is not a longer version of the five-seat CX-7. The mechanical underpinnings are different and the structures of the two vehicles are not related. The CX-9 shares some components with the five-passenger Ford Edge, although the Mazda is longer, by 2 inches of wheelbase and 14 inches overall. In fact, the CX-9 is the largest Mazda ever. Its overall length of almost 200 inches makes it nearly a foot longer than the 2008 Toyota Highlander or the 2009 Nissan Murano. What is perhaps most surprising about the CX-9 is that it doesn't look big from the outside.

The CX-9's nose features a huge Mazda insignia and prominent, flared fenders that lead a character line heading back and slightly upward just below the windows. The roof arches, crests and then slides back and down. One surprise is a pronounced bulge in the tailgate, like an old-fashioned bustle. It is a neat trick that adds a little extra storage capacity.

Safety researchers say the strength of the vehicle's body is also crucial in providing protection in a side-impact crash. Mazda took this into consideration, providing B-pillars that are extra wide and strong. (The B-pillar is the second roof pillar back from the windshield, which uses the A-pillar.)

Interior Features

Climbing into the Mazda CX-9 reveals some surprises. The first is that it is so easy to climb into the front seats. The second is that the seating position is as high as in most SUVs, providing the driver with a good look down the road. The third surprise is the amount of room inside.

Carrying seven people means two up front, three in the second row and two in the third row.

We found a 6-foot, 4-inch driver could be comfortable in the driver's seat, then move back to the second row and still find enough legroom; that's with the adjustable second-row seat in the middle position. The second row is split 60/40, and either side moves fore and aft almost five inches. That allows a nice amount of flexibility in carrying people and cargo of different sizes.

Then, without moving the second-row seat, we climbed into the third row and found adequate head and legroom for that same 6-foot, 4-inch driver there, too. To get to the third row, grab the handle built into the top of the second-row seat and pull. That releases the seat and slides it forward. The opening is smallish, in part because the wheel arch intrudes. But with a wiggle and a twist an adult can reach the third row without a severe loss of dignity.

Buyers have a choice of black or beige upholstery, and the latter made the interior seem brighter and roomier. The look is upscale, and nothing about it says boring family transportation.

Up front, all the basic driving controls are simple and easy to use.

A small storage bin between the front seats and relatively thin storage compartments on the front doors provide some cubby storage.

Mazda says there is 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row upright. There's not much more than the trunk of a mid-size sedan, and to use it all would require piling luggage up to the roof, blocking the rearward view. Nevertheless 17.2 cubic feet gives the CX-9 a significant advantage over the Toyota Highlander, which has 10.3 cubic feet behind its third row and 2.5 inches less legroom in the third row. To carry more stuff and fewer people, the Mazda's third row (a 50/50 split) can be lowered by pulling a strap. Gravity does the work. With both sides down the result is 48.4 cubic feet of space. Getting the seat back up requires pulling the same strap, which we found easy to do.

The second row can also be folded down easily. However, it doesn't create a completely flat cargo area. There is a slight uphill slant.

The tailgate when open does not have a 6-foot, 4-inch clearance, we discovered, and there is nothing like a good rap on the forehead to brighten the day.