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Malcolm Flynn road tests and reviews the all-new second-generation Mazda CX-9 seven-seat large SUV, in Sport, Touring, GT and Azami trim levels with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.
Bigger and better than ever. This phrase applies to pretty much every new generation of car that arrives, but bigger isn’t always better.
The all-new second-generation Mazda CX-9 is one model that bucks this trend by letting its intended function define its size, rather than simply getting bigger to offer more room than the competition.
It may be 19mm taller and 63mm wider than the TB model it replaces after nine years on the market, but unlike every other recent new model in the large seven-seat segment, the new TC CX-9 is actually 31mm shorter.
Unreserved praise is deserved for being the first large SUV to offer AEB as standard, with the key crash avoidance tech not only covering the front of the car but also the rear.
Being the first CX-9 to have the Mazda SkyActiv wand waved over it makes it almost certainly better in every other regard, with the one remaining question mark hovering over the switch from a grunty V6 engine to a new efficiency-focused four cylinder turbo.
The new CX-9 is a class act. It may not offer the roomiest third row of its class, but it didn’t set out to.
The interior is otherwise as versatile as we could hope for, and the drivetrain has succeeded in matching its intended purpose. No diesel, who cares?
It’s a very comfortable way to cover long distances and offers the value, safety and refinement to make it a new segment benchmark.
We’d argue that the Touring is the sweet spot of the range, bringing the leather trim and bigger multimedia screen but still riding on the more plush 18-inch tyres and sneaking in under $50,000 in two-wheel drive form.
The new CX-9 may not be bigger, but it is certainly better.
Vehicle | Specs | Price* | |
---|---|---|---|
Azami (FWD) | 2.5L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $36,300 – 43,230 | 2016 Mazda CX-9 2016 Azami (FWD) Pricing and Specs |
GT (fwd) | 2.5L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $35,090 – 41,800 | 2016 Mazda CX-9 2016 GT (fwd) Pricing and Specs |
GT (awd) | 2.5L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $35,860 – 42,680 | 2016 Mazda CX-9 2016 GT (awd) Pricing and Specs |
Azami (AWD) | 2.5L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $37,400 – 44,000 | 2016 Mazda CX-9 2016 Azami (AWD) Pricing and Specs |
$17,800
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