2019 Hyundai Santa Fe vs Mazda CX-9

What's the difference?

Hyundai's Santa Fe has never been a car you could ignore. They are absolutely everywhere, and have been for nearly a decade. The name has been with us for twice that long, but the first one didn't make much of an impression, wobbling around awkwardly on too-small wheels and generally not being all that good. It did have an interesting boot handle, though.

The second-gen was better looking and holds the distinction of having one of its ads banned because apparently the Advertising Standards Bureau thought we'd all take to heart the idea of letting our toddlers drive a two-tonne SUV without adequate training. 

The third-generation was bold. As a country, we liked it, we liked it a lot, and bought them at a rate of knots that I'm pretty sure surprised even Hyundai. Like other Hyundais at the time, it was a huge improvement on what had gone before, but still took a while before it was finished. That doesn't happen anymore. Hyundais now arrive fully cooked. The fourth-generation car has a lot to live up to.

The CX-9 is Mazda's big, SUV flagship and it has been updated with more cool tech, better safety features, better handling and real wood. Yup, you read that right: real wood. There's also been a price rise on this seven-seater.

You did know it was a seven-seater, right?  And not all seven-seat SUVs are the same. There are off-road capable ones which can be as uncomfortable as a tank on city streets. Then there are those that feel like giant, cushy lounge rooms that handle like a ship really and are just big cars so you better not take them off road. There are others which say they're seven-seaters but in reality those extra two seats in the third row are just for kids – and even then you'd only put your least favourite ones back there. So, what's the Mazda CX-9 then?

That's what this review is all about and by the end of it you'll know if this new Mazda CX-9 the right seven-seater for you.