2011 Mazda CX-9 Reviews

WE turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?Mazda's big seven-seater people mover/cum sports utility vehicle. The big difference with this particular one is that it is two-wheel drive instead of all wheel drive. This cuts cost and reduces the weight which bodes well for a vehicle of this size.Our test vehicle, the top of the line Luxury with Satellite Navigation FWD, is $59,233 - but you can pick up the front wheel drive entry level model from $44,425. The fronty is $4908 less than the all-wheel drive model.Anything with seven seats really, people mover or SUV. You can  get a top of the line diesel powered Kia Carnival for less than this, so that's worth considering.All CX-9s continue to be powered by a 3.7 litre V6 engine mated to a 6-speed Activematic transmission. FWD models offer fuel economy of 11 litres per 100km while the fuel efficiency of AWD models has improved to 11.2 litres per 100km. Power and torque figures remain unchanged at 204kW and 367Nm respectively.Like a jet. Make sure you don't plonk it the wet though because the front wheels will start scrambling before it gets going.No. In no stretch of the imagination could you call 11.0 litres/100km economical. That's on a good day _ with a full load and plenty of hills you can expect to see a lot worse. Needs a diesel option like its little brother the soon to be discontinued CX-7.The front-wheel drive model has not been rated by the Government's Green Guide, but the all-wheel drive gets three out of five stars (with fractionally better fuel economy it might pick up half a star)Not rated by ANCAP, but comes with a full complement of safety gear including six airbags (offering protection for all three rows), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Roll Stability Control (RSC) and a reversing camera.Yep. Plenty of room inside. Comfortable seats. Plenty of vision from the high driving position.Deceptively small. Park it in the driveway and you will soon discover just how big it is, especially across the girth.Luxury model adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a power-sliding and tilt glass sunroof, heated power mirrors with 3-position memory and reverse tilt-down function, power adjustable leather seats with 3-position memory function and a premium Bose audio system with 10 speakers. Satellite Navigation option adds a large 7-inch touch-screen satellite navigation system and Bluetooth with audio streaming.Yep. Fit and finish are first rate. Don't miss all-wheel drive. Has got plenty of get up and go, but you the cost of running it could be a worry?

VIRILITY was once established by a man's courage in the face of death. Fighting a lion using nothing but his bare hands was one early test, halted when the villages realised they were quickly running out of men.A more sophisticated civilisation softened the need to pursue wildlife, replacing it with the ability to croon to a theatre packed with women. This was replaced by the ability to make lots and lots of money.Which brings me to seven-seat wagons. Clearly, a bloke driving around in one of these says more about his reproductive potential than that of Tarzan, Bing Crosby and Donald Trump.And let's not be sexist. A woman driving such vehicles is telling the world more about her desires behind the wheel than wearing a T-shirt imprinted with "Child Rearer".But what seven-seat wagon has the style to pull it off? This one.Seven seat wagons generally aren't cheap because they're made with a lot of metal and fabric. The Mazda CX-9 comes in three versions priced from $50,015.Tested is the Luxury at $57,015. It's about $11,000 above the five-seat Mazda CX-5 and basically adds more room, more seats and a bigger engine - though no diesel option.It is a serious end of the market. Children aside, bigg-ish SUVs like the CX-9 are loved by outdoorsy people, even those that don't go outdoors.The wagon must be flexible, roomy and with the ability to have a decent tow rating. The CX-9's enemy includes the new Ford Territory, now with the option of a diesel engine. I'd be carefully doing my sums before making judgement.This is a good looking wagon with a big smiley face. It follows the design of the smaller CX-7 and yet doesn't look like an awkward stretch job. More a 110 per cent enlargement. The extra 406mm length allows a third row of seats suitable for two small people. Trust me, if you're an adult you will not be comfortable back there.Boot space shrinks, naturally, to the point where not much more than a suitcase will slip behind the third row of seats. But it's great for family and friends and the versatility of the seating - the centre row is on sliders - gives it a purpose for almost every occasion.Lots of leather and an attractive dashboard is spoilt only by so-so sat-nav graphics and the foot-operated park brake. The rest is great.Not rocket science - a 3.7-litre 204kW/367Nm V6 petrol and all-wheel drive oily bits under an attractive body. It's a well executed and pleasantly simple package.Actually, the wagon is a front-wheel drive and will only start sending power to the rear wheels when needed - for example, when the front wheels slip on a wet surface or during heavy-footed acceleration.Theoretically, you could venture off the bitumen and gravel but reality says this is not intended to compete with 4WDs and besides, I wouldn't want to dig its 2-tonnes out of beach sand.Interestingly, the Toyota Kluger is near identical in spec and market but has almost four times the CX-9's sales - and there's no logical reason for this disparity.Mazda scores a maximum five-star rating for practically all its cars and the CX-9 is no exception.It also adds all the necessary electronic nannies, including ESC, ABS and rollover mitigation. Plus it's tall and looks like it wouldn't dint against a Mack.Yes, it's big but it has a confidence about it that creates the impression it is nimble.The steering is nicely weighted - though there's a bit too many turns lock-to-lock - and the automatic transmission puts down the cogs quickly and without fuss.The V6 engine is silky smooth and willing to rev with a good dab of torque at low revs - about 330Nm is available from 2800rpm - which makes it pointless to scream it out to 6250rpm to find the 204kW of power.Handling is secure though pushed hard will unleash understeer (the car wants to keep going straight ahead during a corner) and body roll. But it is so comfortable and quiet that you lose the desire to drive it quickly. It is, of course, a wagon for lots of people or luggage.