2022 Mazda CX9 Review
Mazda CX9 Signature
Price as tested: $48,830
2.5 Turbo 4 Cylinder
227 HP / 310 TQ
MPG as observed: 15.8
—
Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi
Photos: Manufacturer
It seems like this generation CX9 has been with us for about an eternity or two, but Mazda does what Japanese companies do best…poke, fiddle and tweak it along the way. Their latest poking, fiddling and tweaking has yielded a very compelling 3 Row Crossover. It’s not without it’s faults but it’s virtues are outstanding!
Let’s go ahead and break it down:
The Great
Interior
Interior
errrr Interior?
Interior
Here it is. On a Mazda. One of the best interiors you can place your body in is on a Mazda. The material quality from the seats, to the door cards to even the dashboard are first rate. Sumptuous and gorgeous looking at the same.
Just damn excellent.
The Good
Handling (kinda)
Handling (kinda)
Driving the CX9 in about the 5/10ths or lower range, it’s amazing. It actually reminds me of the Audi Q7 a bit, in that it’s flat when taking a turn, the steering is direct and overall it’s very confidence inspiring.
So Mazda nailed on that front because that is the range most normal humans drive. Since I’m not a normal human, driving the CX9 beyond the 5/10ths range it falls apart. But more on that below
The Bad
Handling (kinda)
Transmission
Transmission and Handling
Okay to finish off the Handling part, here is the bad. If you drive above the 5/10th range the CX9 goes from compliant and pleasant to a bit of a mess.
It will understeer drastically, the steering goes from perfect to cement like and front end feel is nothing but the sensation of the front tires washing away.
In an era of 10 speed automatics, having a 6 speed auto is ancient. Add that it’s slow to respond to any inputs and it’s easy catch it asleep. It’s disappointing.
The Ugly
Engine
3rd Row
AWD
3rd Row, Engine and AWD
The 3rd access, seating position and more importantly space is more of a drastic last resort than everyday usable space. It’s claustrophobic, with no legroom and with it up the cargo carrying ability goes from ‘pretty good’ to ‘well I guess we have to sacrifice the gallon of milk’.
<— Just look this poor girl’s face!!
It’s no secret, I’m not a fan of the ‘skyactiv’ engine family (except for the Miata). This 2.5 is no exception.
It’s clattery and rough around town.
It idles like a 1930s tractor.
Falls absolutely flat on it’s face above 3000 RPM.
To cap it off, the supposed fuel saving advantages to this engine is non existent, with us averaging a miserable 15.8 MPG in mixed driving. That is with the CX9 being relegated as the weeklong family truckster, so a combination of surface streets, traffic and highway.
The All Wheel Drive system just kinda sucks. It’s an ‘on demand’ system which means the CX9 is largely a FWD vehicle until it senses slip and then the Rear will kick into play.
Which is fine, most AWD systems are like but this is the only system that let’s the Front Wheel spin for a hilariously long time until the Rear kicks in. It’s to the point you would think it’s broke.
It’s not broken, it just kinda sucks.
Overall:
The 2022 Mazda CX9 is a combination of amazement and disappointment. On one hand you have one of the best looking and feeling interiors on the road today with fantastic handling (below a certain speed). Then on the other hand you have an engine from a tractor, handling that falls apart above 30 mph, ancient transmission, lazy AWD system and no room in the 3rd row.
So I guess the only thing I can say is:
It’s confusing.
