Test Drive: The 2022 Mazda CX-9 has an amalgam of capabilities
Though not in the current sense, the 2022 Mazda CX-9 Signature qualifies as a hybrid vehicle. It does not have an electric motor singing in concert with a chugging gasoline engine.
However, it does have an amalgam of capabilities that can satisfy both a driving enthusiast and/or someone focused on practicality. It’s not oriented toward off-road activity like a purpose-built Jeep or Ford Bronco, but still has some of those chops.
The CX-9 is a three-row crossover sport utility vehicle that can carry seven passengers, including the driver. Smaller than other three-row SUVs, it nevertheless incorporates driving dynamics dear to the hearts of aficionados who embrace driving for its own sake.
Among them: Responsive steering and sharp handling on curving roads, a comfortable ride despite the handling orientation, decent acceleration of zero to 60 miles an hour in about seven seconds, with an advertised top speed of 132, and supportive seats that conserve energy during long-distance motoring.
The handling is paramount. Despite a length of 16 feet 7 inches, the CX-9 has a nimble feel in urban traffic as well as on crowded interstate highways — not unlike a sport station wagon or sedan. Even at that, it is the smallest of the three-row crossovers with 150 cubic feet of interior space — 136 for passengers and 14 cubic feet behind the third row for cargo, as measured by the EPA.
That’s smaller than the Subaru Ascent, 166; Volkswagen Atlas, 175; Kia Telluride, 188, and way below big bruisers like the Chevrolet Tahoe, 203, and Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 206.
The downside is a third row seat that is cramped, forbidding to access by senior citizens and out-of-shape boomers, and welcoming mostly to athletic kids.
Though some competitors install V6 engines, the CX-9 gets Mazda’s turbocharged 250-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 320 pound-feet of torque, or twisting force. It gets the grunt to all four wheels through a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission with a manual mode for drivers who like to shift for themselves. City/highway/combined fuel consumption is a respectable 20/26/23 miles to the gallon.
For all of its highway prowess, the CX-9 also can handle middling off-road conditions and snowy weather, aided by Mazda’s i-Activ all-wheel drive, vectoring control and 8.8 inches of ground clearance. The systems work in concert to predict and adjust to changing road conditions.
For some years, Mazda also has been working to ratchet up its reputation with an eye toward becoming recognized as a near-luxury high-performance brand. The 2022 CX-9 provides an example of progress toward that goal.
The tested CX-9 was the top-line Signature trim level. Loaded with features that are options on lower-level versions, it came with a base price of $47,160 and a bottom-line sticker of $47,560. That’s more than the current average price of a new car in the U.S. nowadays but the CX-9 looked the part of an upscale ride to the point where the interior would not look out of place in a haute couture Audi or Bentley.
Items included brushed aluminum, soft-touch plastic that mimicked grained wood and even genuine wood accents. The infotainment system, controlled from a 10.3-inch center screen, provides access to streaming audio, Bluetooth connectivity, SXM and HD radio, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, as well as Mazda’s connected services — including remote start and locking. There’s also wireless smart phone charging.
With all this posh stuff, Mazda has not forgotten one of the top concerns of modern buyers — safety equipment. For some odd reason, surveys indicate that the most popular feature is blind-spot warning, which this reviewer regards as important for some people but at the bottom of the list overall.
That’s because everybody already has it. It is called side-view mirrors, originally invented to remove the blind spots to the right rear and left rear areas behind the vehicle. The problem is that many drivers do not know — or won’t — align them properly to adjust them to cover the blind spots and give the driver a 180-degree view behind the vehicle.
The CX-9’s other safety technologies are totally welcome: Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection; lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist; adaptive cruise control with stop and go, and a heads-up display of speed limits, speed and other functions.
If you happen to be a grandparent, insist on the front or second row seats. Send the pre-teens, teens and La Crosse players to the way back.
Specifications
Model: 2022 Mazda CX-9 Signature four-door crossover sport utility vehicle
Engine: 2.0-liter four-cylinder, turbocharged; 250 hp, 320 lb-ft torque
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with manual shift mode and all-wheel drive
Overall length: 16 feet 7 inches
Height: 5 feet 8 inches
EPA/SAE passenger/cargo volume: 136/14 cubic feet
Weight: 4,365 pounds
Towing capability: 3,500 pounds
EPA city/highway/combined fuel consumption: 20/26/23 mpg
Base price, including destination charge: $47,160
Price as tested: $47,560
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: A review of the 2022 Mazda CX-9 Signature
