Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
As the market is shifting towards more EV vehicles, the SUV market is still very important. The 2022 Mazda CX-9 is continuing to make waves as consumers are constantly looking for something comfortable, stylish and able to handle family activities.
The Mazda CX-9 is a rare example of a crossover that still blends a great deal of driving fun with all the utility thanks to a well-sorted chassis and communicative steering. The Mazda CX-9 is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured since April 2006 by Mazda in Japan, at its Ujina #1 plant in Hiroshima Prefecture.
Upon first look you notice the long sloping hood and prominent large Mazda emblem on the CX-9. This Signature edition CX-9 adds LED lighting to the signature grille, LED headlights plus LED fog and daytime running lights. The model that I received came in a machine gray metallic hue. The exterior of the CX-9 is beautifully designed with the body colored rear roof spoiler, aluminum roof rails, bright finish exhaust outlets, all sitting on 20-inch alloy wheels.
The interior of the CX-9 is has luxurious touches all the way through it. Seating six people comfortably, the cabin has NAPPA leather trimmed 1st and 2nd row seats, heated and ventilated front seats and a heated leather steering wheel. The CX-9’s second row is a 60/40 split-folding bench seat while the third row is a 50/50 split-folding bench that flipped into the floor to create a completely flat cargo area. The tech inside the CX-9 is equally up to par with a 360-degree-view exterior camera system, SiriusXM Travel Link, a digital gauge display. The luxurious Signature trim comes with a new wood trim inside and exclusive exterior badging. The dashboard features a 10.25” color center display at the top of it. A variation of tunes came blaring from the 12 speaker BOSE system as we cruised around town. It was a pleasure to be able to choose from Sirius XM, Pandora, Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
The throttle response was quick and boost from the turbo is instantaneous. Sport mode in the six-speed automatic transmission definitely adds some pep in your step while the normal mode set us up for a more relaxed commute. The G-Vectoring Control system reduces engine torque to help settle the front end so the SUV would take the turns smoothly. The suspension setup has been refined to offer a smoother and quieter ride. The 227 hp, 310 lb-ft torque, SKYACTIV-G 2.5T turbocharged four-cylinder engine was surprisingly very good on gas averaging 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg combined. If you plan on pulling a trailer, know that the CX-9 has a maximum capacity of 3,500 lbs.
The Mazda CX-9 continues to earn a Top Safety Pick honor from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also gave the CX-9 a five-star result. Key safety features in i-ACTIVESENSE package in the CX-9 include traffic sign recognition, smart brake support, Mazda radar cruise control, automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, adaptive front headlights, lane departure warning, front obstacle warning, distance evaluation, braking assist and pedestrian detection.
Mazda has a bumper to bumper warranty that covers 3 years or 36,000 miles, a Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles, 24 hour roadside assistance but complimentary scheduled maintenance is not an option. Key competitors to the Mazda CX-9 are the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, GMC Acadia, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Kia Sorento, Toyota Highlander and the Volkswagen Atlas. The model we reviewed comes in at $49,030.00 and very well worth price tag considering the size, safety and comfort of the vehicle. Please enjoy the photo gallery
