Mazda CX-9 2007 review
Even though the Mazda Tribute — a version of the Ford Escape compact SUV — has been on sale for years, SUVs don't come to mind when I think of Mazda. Instead, I see Miatas and RX-7s — sporty cars.
That said, Mazda took the right approach with the new seven-seat CX-9 crossover by giving it a sporty look that both reaffirms Mazda's brand image and is likely to appeal to more buyers than conventional SUVs do. Add a roomy interior, refined engine and transmission, and carlike handling, and the CX-9 is an attractive entry that seems more than able to hold its own against other full-size crossovers like the new Saturn Outlook.
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The Inside
Because of its preproduction status, Mazda warned that there might be some
imperfect trim pieces in the cabin, but our CX-9 held up well to our scrutiny.
Sport models have cloth seats, and the fir ...
An SUV With Zoom-Zoom?
One of the best things about the CX-9 is its drivetrain. Every CX-9 comes
with a 263-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine that teams with a six-speed
automatic transmission with a clutchless-manual mo ...
Highway Driving
On the highway is where you'll notice you're driving a small, light car, and
that's not always a great thing. Right off, there was fair amount of road noise,
and passengers noticed a lot of wind n ...