2015 Mazda CX-9

I had an SUV years ago, and have missed it ever since. When I was asked to test out the 2015 Mazda CX-9, I was elated. There is just something fun about driving in an SUV – I don’t know if it is because of the height, or just the overall feel, but I have always liked them. I didn’t quite expect to adore the Mazda CX-9 quite so much.

I like power! Mazda CX-9 that I received, came equipped with a 3.7 liter V-6 producing 273 horsepower. While this might not seem like sports car numbers, when paired with the smooth shifting 6-speed sport automatic transmission, the CX-9 was deceptively responsive. The power combined with the smoothness of the ride made it necessary to keep an eye on the speedometer so as not to exceed the state mandated maximum speed on the freeway. The ventilated four wheel disc brakes with an Anti-Lock system (standard equipment) are certainly sufficient to bring the CX-9 to a safe and controlled stop.

While I have never been a big fan of front wheel drive vehicles, the Mazda CX-9 does not exhibit much torque steer (the steering wheel trying to turn in your hand when accelerating), except during the hardest of acceleration. As a matter of fact, absent full throttle acceleration, you might not even notice that the 2015 Mazda CX-9 is a front wheel drive vehicle.

Suspension: The Mazda CX-9 that I tested, came with 20” alloy wheels and P245/50R20 tires as standard equipment. This tire and wheel combination coupled with a independent front and multi-link rear suspension provided a smooth ride and a surprisingly balanced handling characteristic. Many times, SUVs often feel top heavy and handle like a wet sponge. This is not the case with the CX-9, however. It is an excellent compromise between ride quality and handling. While the ride height and seating position make you feel like you are sitting higher than you actually are, the CX-9 does not experience a lot of body roll when cornering adding to the feeling of stability and control.

My test vehicle came with a well equipped interior replete with leather trimmed seats and steering wheel and pretty much every feature you could want as standard equipment. The only items that were optional were the “Recreational Accessory Package” which includes full color touch screen navigation system and power moon roof as well as the “GT Tech Package” which includes an excellent sounding Bose Audio 10 speaker sound system and Sirius Radio subscription.

Not only are the seats comfortable and the passenger compartment spacious, the controls are within easy reach and logically laid out. As you can see from the pictures, the controls are within easy reach. The climate control, radio and GPS controls are located in the center section reachable by both the driver and the front passenger, which can be the source of several energetic “discussions” regarding the proper selection of music or the best route to the grocery store. I loved the backup camera, and believe that every car should come with one. This is such a great safety feature. The blind spot indictor on the sideview mirrors helped me determine when it was safe to change lanes (but you should always do your normal checks too, and not rely on the side mirrors solely).

The interior is absolutely gorgeous! The white leather trimmed seats made me swoon. It felt very luxurious, and coupled with the “new car smell”, it was just…ahhhh.

Not a detail was missed (for me at least). I could ride in this beauty all day long.

Front end:

Rear end:

I had fun taking the Mazda CX-9 to the grocery store, and I was not disappointed as we loaded the groceries in the back, with plenty of room to spare. I could have fit plenty more in the back, if I had more. It is roomy enough to fit all types of cargo (which would be so much easier than the sedan I currently own – I am a little bit limited). The hatch can be closed by pressing a button on the underside of the hatch. This is really convenient!

This is an awesome vehicle for families – both large and small. Of course, even single folks would enjoy the 2015 Mazda CX-9 too, as there is plenty of room for purchases, pets, bikes and whatever else!

The price of the CX-9 starts at $29,985.00 which seems very reasonable to me for all it has to offer. Of course, a few bells and whistles are always fun too, and definitely worth paying a little more, if desired.

*No compensation was received for this post. I was asked to test drive the above vehicle and share my thoughts and opinions.

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