Mazda’s top of the line SUV in its highest trim. As expected, it’s quite well executed.
That whole “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” sentiment rings pretty true, especially when it comes to cars. The Nagare design language (you probably know it as the smiley face front grille on all Mazdas) on the outgoing generation of the Japanese manufacturer’s lineup that garnered rather lukewarm acceptance, is being phased out in favor the more muscular Kodo design theme. Kodo has already been shown on the CX-5 and all-new Mazda6, and now the full-size CX-9 will be benefiting from the restyling.
Despite its age, the CX-9’s utility and driving character make it a fine choice for those that need utility but still value driving pleasure. If this sounds like you, then you should get down to your local Mazda dealership.
When we think of luxury SUVs, we commonly think of Lincoln, Lexus, Infiniti, Land Rover, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, and the like. After all, these are the luxury brands, and when someone mentions luxury, the core brands such as Nissan, Ford, and Toyota aren’t the first to come to mind. When we wrote up our luxury three-row SUV comparison for the latest issue of Winding Road, we stuck with the names that people associate with luxury, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be found elsewhere. This is especially true when it comes to these larger vehicles, as we find they have the space and the available options to make them super comfortable.
Based on the chatter around the water cooler at the WR office when we were loaned our CX-9, I’ll probably be in the minority opinion here, but I actually don’t particularly care for Mazda’s big crossover.