Mazda CX-5, CX-8 and CX-9 2018 snow review

All of the line-up was factory-standard, except for being shod with winter tyres.

The specific vehicles in attendance were: an AWD CX-5 Limited (same grade as Australia's CX-5 Akera) with a 2.5-litre petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission; an AWD CX-8 Limited (same grade as Australia's CX-8 Asaki) with a 2.2-litre twin-turbo-diesel engine and six-speed automatic transmission; and an AWD CX-9 Limited (same grade as the CX-9 Azami in Australia) with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

The CX-5 is available as petrol or diesel; the CX-8 is available as diesel only; and the CX-9 is available as petrol only.

All of the line-up was factory-standard, except for being shod with winter tyres: Bridgestone 225/55R19 BS Blizzak DMV2 99T on the CX-5 and CX-8; and Bridgestone 255/50R20 BS Blizzak DMV2 109T on the CX-9.

We tackled a mix of events and terrains in these CX models – including snow slaloms and slow laps on ice, and earlier in the week I'd driven hundreds of kilometres over bitumen, chopped-up dirt tracks, corrugated gravel tracks and light patches of snow in a CX-8.

But none of these vehicles were ever troubled or came close to losing their composure, even when we were encouraged to intentionally be a bit reckless when driving.

However, a few other interesting aspects were revealed through the course of general driving and snow-based set pieces.

The medium-sized five-seat CX-5 is lighter and livelier to drive than the other two.

The medium-sized five-seat CX-5 is obviously lighter and livelier to drive than the other two, being the baby of this bunch, but while that can be a good thing on a high-grip surface, such as bitumen, it's not always such a good characteristic on low-traction stuff like snow.

The seven-seat CX-8 is like a hedged bet – a bit medium-sized and a bit large SUV. It's shorter, narrower but heavier than the CX-9.

Its diesel engine is nice and torquey in just the right doses at just the right times. It has the same length wheelbase (2930mm) as the CX-9, yet never feels quite as sure-footed or as settled as its big bro.

The lightness of the CX-5 is not always such a good characteristic on low-traction stuff like snow.

But that's nitpicking by increments and it's generally still pretty good on every surface including the soft slushy snow that we were faced with later in the day. (If you want some snow-driving tips, read this)

The seven-seat CX-9 is one of the best driving large SUVs around, especially at this price. It handles supremely well, has that nice, precise steering – just right for inspiring confidence in a driver when on slippery surfaces – and offers a very comfortable all-round ride.