The 2019 Mazda CX-9 is the flagship vehicle in the Japanese automaker’s lineup, and is also their largest offering to date. The first iteration of this mid-size crossover SUV was launched in 2006, while the second generation was made available in 2016. The CX-9 shares its basic architecture, albeit with a few modifications, with the 6 sedan. It’s a three-row, seven-seat crossover and uses Mazda’s Kodo design language.
The first-generation Mazda CX-9 used a 3.7-liter V6 engine, and used the same platform as that found in the Ford Edge of the time. However, with the new second generation, Mazda engineers have trimmed this large SUV’s weight by up to 130 kilograms. So, the 2019 Mazda CX-9 is now lighter, more spacious, better equipped with features, and more fuel-efficient. Its chief rivals in the UAE include the Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse, and Ford Explorer.
Exterior
The 2019 Mazda CX-9’s vast size and aggressive front end design gives it a confident stance on the open road. Its wide front grille wears a large Mazda logo, and is accompanied by a pair of sleek but small LED headlights. The long, sloping hood looks good, and the CX-9 gets a ‘pouting’, shark-inspired front nose found on the smaller CX-5, along with a muscular bumper.
Along the sides, the new CX-9 gets distinctly pronounced fenders, massive 20-inch rims, the ubiquitous black body cladding, and a gently rising beltline. At the back, there are narrow, wrap-around LED taillights, a thick chrome strip on the tailgate, a well-integrated bumper, and twin exhausts. The new CX-9 measures 5.075 meters in length, 1.969 meters in width, 1.716 meters in height, and its wheelbase stretches 2.930 meters. Meanwhile, with the third row down and away, total boot capacity is 407 liters.
Interior
The cabin of the 2019 Mazda CX-9 is a well thought-out and practical place, with loads of cubby spaces and stowage for knick-knacks. The first and middle rows have provide generous room for even tall adults. But the last row is only really useful for kids, or maybe for shorter adults on really short jaunts. The material quality and fit and finish in the CX-9 are quite impressive, and Mazdas usually do well on the build and reliability side as well.
The new CX-9’s interior houses various pieces and variety of trim to liven up the cabin. There’s good use of soft and cushy materials on many surfaces, along with a dash of piano glossy-black plastic and metal accents, as well. Features-wise, you get adaptive cruise control, automatic/adaptive LED headlights, tri-zone automatic climate control, electric sunroof, power tailgate, power front seats with heating & cooling, a 12-speaker Bose audio rig, and an 8-inch touch-infotainment display with navigation. Also included are all-around parking sensors with camera, 6 airbags, active headrests, lane-departure & blind-spot warning, and rollover stability control, among others.
Engine and performance
Under the hood of the 2019 Mazda CX-9 is a turbocharged four-banger SKYACTIV engine – displacing 2.5 liters and producing 226 hp with 420 Nm of torque. In the UAE, this motor comes mated to an all-wheel-drive system and a 6-speed automatic transmission as standard. The 1.9-ton crossover is capable of touching 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds, whilst top speed is restricted to 210 km/h. The SKYACTIV mill in the new CX-9 will do 8.5 L/100 km, if driven appropriately.
Verdict
The 2019 Mazda CX-9 costs AED 145,000 for the GT trim, while the full-option LTD variant starts at AED 165,000. As for the cost of insurance, they vary between AED 3,263 and AED 3,713 for the GT and LTD variants, respectively.
