2009 Mazda CX-9 GT AWD Review

Mazda has been brainwashing us for the last six or seven years that they are a performance brand, a sport-oriented manufacturer that builds vehicles for those who like driving pleasure.

So that basically means that every model in their line-up must be baked with those key ingredients to be tagged as a true Mazda. Does every Mazda currently fit this philosophy? Nope. The B-Series pickup doesn't, and the Tribute SUV doesn't really either. What about the CX-9? It's a stretch, but we think it does.

With a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 7.9 seconds, this big Mazda is by no means a slug.

Power for the masses
The 273-horsepower, 3.7-litre V6 might seem average for a mid-size SUV by today's output standards (some rivals offer a V8), but it gets the CX-9 moving along swiftly. With a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 7.9 seconds, this big Mazda is by no means a slug. Fuel consumption is not as impressive, though, averaging 13.4 L/100 km in our hands.

The CX-9 displays sporty driving characteristics, but at the same time, we have to keep in mind that we're talking about a 4,500-lb (2,000-kg), high-riding SUV. Body roll is well-controlled but still present, while the steering rack is one of the quickest within the 7-passenger SUV stratosphere. You can toss the CX-9 around quite a bit, but you'll never mistake it for a sports car. And those massive 20-inch wheels unfortunately provide a harsh ride.

The smile is coming
Some trucks are shaped in a way that they don't look as big as they really are--BMW's X5, for example. But the CX-9 looks as heavy as it is, with broad shoulders and hips, long overhangs and wide grille. When you look at the face of a CX-7 and a CX-9 side by side, you'll instantly think that the latter is subsisting on Big Macs and Pizza.

And for 2010, the CX-9's jovial grin will change to a Colgate smile when the truck receives its first facelift to resemble Mazda's new corporate face.

One thing that really needs improvement is rearward visibility, since the CX-9's fat fanny complicates backing out of parking spaces and hides objects like the kid's bicycle that he left lying in the parking lot because he heard the ice cream truck approaching. A rear view camera is optional with the navigation package on the GT; a backup sonar system should at least be standard on every model.

One thing that really needs improvement is rearward visibility.