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By
EWAN KENNEDY
10 December 2007
Mazda, the number-four player in the sales race in Australia, has
entered yet another market segment in an attempt to further increase its
hold on the market. This time with a medium-large SUV that can carry up
to seven occupants, the Mazda CX-9.
This is a medium-large vehicle that was principally designed
for the American market, yet which is equally well suited to
Australia. It has good interior space and, though best used by
four adults and three children, can carry seven adults without too
much discomfort for moderately long trips.
Though the Mazda CX-9’s name would suggest it’s simply a
bigger Mazda CX-7, the new model is aimed at quite a different
market. The CX-7 is very much a sporty crossover and is as much a
hot-hatch as an SUV, the CX-9 is intended more for the family
buyer.
So the CX-9 has a squarer rear end to not only give it improved
headroom in the rearmost seats, but also to provide a decent sized
boot.
At the front the designers have managed to come up with a fair
bit of style using a new evolution of the Mazda five-point grille.
Mazda CX-9 is powered by a 3.7-litre V6 engine producing peak
power of 204 kW, and torque of 366 Nm at 4250 revs. While that
torque figure may seem to be at high rpm, the band is quite fat
and the engine produces decent grunt from about 2000 rpm upwards.
Mazda Australia has insisted on a redesign of the interior of
the CX-9 because Australians will be getting into the back seats
from the opposite side of the car to the Americans. Some importers
don’t go to this trouble and getting into and out of the rear
seats can consequently be a real hassle. Because the flip-down
section of the centre seat is often the larger part, not the more
manageable smaller section. The third row of seats fold flat to
give a handy increase in luggage space.
Australian road tests carried out secretly over the last year
by local and Japanese engineers have resulted in changes that give
it more dynamic settings and firmer steering than the American
models. Thus it’s more suited to Australian drivers’ tastes.
There has been a minimal loss of ride comfort to achieve these
results.
Mazda Australia has been pushing safety features hard for
several years now. So the CX-9 has electronic stability control
and rollover protection, as well as six airbags. A reversing
camera is a welcome installation.
Mazda's new CX-9 comes at an attractive price that’s
substantially lower than that being predicted when it was shown at
the 2007 Melbourne Motor Show. The CX-9 Classic has come down
through the mental $50,000 barrier to retail for just $49,990
(plus on-road costs). The upmarket CX-9 Luxury sneaks in under the
luxury tax limit, with a recommended retail price of $57,265.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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