Test drive the updated Mazda CX-9
Remembering the Jinba Ittai philosophy, Skyactiv technologies and Kodo's corporate identity behind the wheel of the largest crossover of the Japanese brand
The March sun almost completely melted the snow on the two-lane highway from Murmansk towards Apatity. Only the marking lines are hidden in some places behind the snow porridge. Even so, the CX-9's Lane Keeping Assist will recognize lane markings whenever the wheel tracks cross the white lines on the pavement when they try to overtake a truck again.
The dashboard is now combined, which is why it was necessary to abandon the wells familiar to all Mazdavods. In the center of the new tidy is a 7-inch display with a large speedometer, fuel consumption and power reserve scales. The latter are a little confusing at first, but you get used to them over time. It also displays the mileage, the selected transmission mode, the temperature overboard and the set cruise control speed. On the sides - the usual analog scales with "live" arrows: tachometer, fuel level in the tank and coolant temperature.
In general, all the changes in the CX-9 crossover are hidden in the details. But it is they who together are designed to increase the level of comfort in the cabin and make the ride quieter and smoother. For example, the front seats. It seems to be the same as on the pre-styling car, but now with ventilation. Instead of black plastic, which has set the teeth on edge, on the central tunnel and front doors, there are natural wood inserts. The architecture of the ceiling console has changed, and the lighting shades have been transferred to LEDs. The only pity is that a full-fledged heating of the windshield has not been added to the heating of the wipers' rest zone, which some of our competitors have already taught us.
Special attention was paid to improving the noise insulation of the crossover. There are now more sound absorbing mats both on the ceiling and on the floor. Unfortunately, it was not possible to fully assess the work done during the test drive: all the cars were shod with studded tires, the rumble from which was clearly audible when driving on the asphalt. But even with this soundtrack, it was clear that the aerodynamic noise in the cabin was reduced, especially at highway speeds.
The multimedia complex has finally become friends with the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces. Now you can use the main applications on your smartphone, almost without distracting from the road. The rest of the multimedia system migrated here from the pre-styling car without changes: the same logical arrangement of all menu items and intuitive control using the joystick on the central tunnel.
Navigation also went to the updated CX-9 from its predecessor and, as it turned out, is ready to help even outside large settlements. Having mistakenly drove onto a secondary road, I effortlessly returned to the main street through the courtyards and back streets of the city of Kirovsk, through which our route ran, guided only by the regular navigation map. And to maneuver in a limited space (snow removal in the Far North is a particularly delicate topic) I was helped by an all-round camera, which was previously unavailable even in the top-end configuration.
The main changes in technology occurred in the chassis of the crossover. Additional rebound springs have appeared in the front and rear shock absorbers: from now on, the passage of road irregularities is not accompanied by extraneous sounds, and the course itself has become softer. In addition, the new polyurethane C-pillar supports also helped to weed out the vibrations that come to the body on a bad road.
There were almost no large-scale claims in terms of handling to the CX-9 even before the update: the car was perceived more like a large sedan than a crossover. Now the difference is even smaller. Thanks to the new rigid steering rack mounts, engineers were able to achieve more linear steering responses, and the relocation of the outer ball joints allowed for less dive during braking.
When the route turns off the asphalt, the Mazda CX-9 overcomes all the obstacles of a snowy lane with familiar and confident movements. Of course, in the absence of a choice of transmission modes and mud tires, you should not go out on open off-road, but the CX-9 will deliver you to the dacha or a picnic with comfort at any time of the year. Moreover, under the bottom there is an honest 220 mm of ground clearance. You just need to correctly use the available arsenal, well known to the owners of the pre-styling version.
All CX-9 trim levels rely on an uncontested 2,5-liter Skyactiv engine with 231 horsepower. The turbocharged aluminum in-line "four" allows you to comfortably drive a heavy car in the city, but when overtaking on the highway, an additional 50–70 hp. from. she would not be disturbed. The torque is still transmitted to the wheels through a 6-speed "automatic", and the all-wheel drive transmission i-Activ AWD is equipped with a simple imitation of interwheel locks.
By the way, about the trim levels. After the upgrade, the CX-9 has five of them at once (instead of the previous three). The basic version of Active on a pre-styling machine is now called Active + Pack and costs $ 883. more expensive. The initial equipment on the updated crossover did not change the name, but now it is equipped with a simpler fabric interior and will cost a minimum of $ 36 320. For the mid-range Supreme, they now ask for at least $ 40, the Exclusive version has risen in price to $ 166, and the Executive version, previously unavailable for the CX-42, will cost $ 323 more.
While retaining its striking appearance and decent ride quality, the updated Mazda CX-9 offers the buyer even more comfort and useful options with a slight increase in price. However, against the backdrop of some other players in the full-size crossover niche, this is still a generous offer. Among the closest competitors in the Russian market, Mazda representatives single out Toyota Highlander and Volkswagen Teramont. All three cars have approximately the same dimensions, seven-seater salons and are focused mainly on the American market. But this is a topic for a separate comparative test.
| Body type | Crossover |
| Dimensions (length, width, height), mm | 5075/1969/1747 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2930 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1926 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 220 |
| engine's type | Gasoline, L4, turbocharged |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 2488 |
| Power, hp with. at rpm | 231/5000 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm at rpm | 420/2000 |
| Transmission, drive | Automatic 6-speed full |
| Max. speed km / h | 210 |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h, s | 8,6 |
| Fuel consumption (city, highway, mixed), l | 12,7/7,2/9,2 |
| Price from, $. | 36 320 |
