The five-year-old 7-seater Mazda CX-9 has undergone a facelift. We picked up the mid-range version for a drive to see how it fares. Here are some key observations:

Exterior

The Mazda CX-9 has been retouched according to Mazda’s new Kodo design language. This stylish update features:

Sleek lines and curves
Smooth finishes with a bumper the same color as the body
Dual trapezoid exhausts
A rear roof spoiler

Kudos to Kodo for this impressive piece of kit.

Interior

The spacious cabin of the Mazda CX-9 easily accommodates 7 passengers with adequate legroom and plenty of boot space, without compromising comfort. However, the hard black plastics throughout the interior could use some improvement. The hesitantly updated instrument panel is striking in black with white meters, and the audio controls on the steering wheel are well-placed.

The third row of seats, while useful for families with many children to ferry about, is quite hard to access. It’s necessary to fold down the middle row of seats to enter the rear set, which means you have to load your family in order of seating, rear seats first, preferably according to size. The upside of the third row is that you could even fit two small adults in there by moving the second row forward slightly.

All the usual functions and interfaces are available, including:

Air conditioning and heating
AM/FM radio with 6 speakers (the flagship model has a Bose sound system with 10 speakers)
Powered seats
Cruise control

The Mazda CX-9 has all the sophisticated technological trappings of a much more expensive vehicle, but without the price tag.

2013 Mazda CX-9 Interior View

However, the infotainment interface is not particularly intuitive, as it features more buttons to press than you would think necessary for simple operations. Additionally, Mazda could have made the screen somewhat larger, considering the cabin has a very spacious feel to it.

Driving Experience

We enjoyed our outing in the Mazda CX-9. We took it on mainly tarmac, well-surfaced roads, and a small area of rough terrain. It provided an extremely comfortable drive, making it ideal for large families who enjoy long drives. Traveling from the UAE to Oman would be a pleasure in the CX-9, or even from Jeddah to Riyadh for that matter.

The V6 engine delivers smooth acceleration and good power, with very pleasing power transitions, both front and rear, in nearly all situations. Although it might not be the most exciting drive, the steering provides a slightly over-assisted feel with nearly no feedback, which seems appropriate for its audience. Any family with five screaming kids in the back needs as safe and careful a drive as possible.

2013 Mazda CX-9 Rear View

The price is also competitive for its target audience. With a starting price of 120,000 AED, the Mazda CX-9 offers good value when compared to higher-priced alternatives like:

Verdict

Buy the Mazda CX-9 if you want a reasonably priced, no-frills family SUV for long drives. Don't expect amazing technology or luxury; it's a good everyday car with adequate space and comfort. If resale value is a major concern, you might want to look at other Japanese competitors as well.

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