I’ll be honest. Writing car reviews these days is challenging when everything is basically a white crossover with some sort of automatic transmission & oversized infotainment screen. But when it comes to the Mazda Cx-9 Signature…
Where is the Mazda CX-9 stands out the most for me is the interior.
Both Mazda & Genesis kind of have their own thing going when it comes to interior design, and I like the forethought & styling. If you’ve been in one, then you know. They’re just a little bit sleeker. Mazda takes a more minimalistic, driver-centric approach. As if you’re ‘wearing’ the car. They use more curves, which gives the entire line-up from MX-5 to CX-9 a more sport-centric & engaging feel. But at the end of the day, the Mazda CX-9 is still a 3rd-row crossover… still an appliance.
Driving the Mazda CX-9 is very comfortable, and pretty generic…
Which I guess is the goal for this segment. I get it. People who buy these types of crossovers don’t care about the drive. They’re not rolling the windows down on backroads & breathing it in. They’re probably… on the phone… in the Chick-fil-A line… trying to get somewhere on time. Therefore, they just want to get to the destination comfortable & unrattled. And that, the CX-9 does very well. The CX-9 Signature’s 2-row captain’s chairs (with center console) is something rear-seat passengers will love.
Under moderate-to-heavy throttle, I noticed a little more engine noise than I would have expected. Not an arousing throaty/powerful sound. Just… sound.
But on the positive side, CX-9s have an economical-yet-powerful 2.5-turbo engine. They’ve got all-wheel-drive to get you through the elements. And CX-9s use a 6-speed auto instead of a deplorable CVT transmission. Visibility is good. And the Mazda CX-9 feels trim & fairly agile for its size.
Basically the CX-9 is a 3-row crossover… with Mazda’s design spin on it.
And Mazda has great design. Exterior-wise, the CX-9 separates itself with some subtle curvature, little whispers of performance/motorsport, & attention to detail. A sense of motion is infused into the CX-9’s design. But will you still lose it in the parking lot with all the other white crossovers? Probably.
