Choosing the right car can sometimes be overwhelming, but if you look at what you need in a car, as well as what you want, narrowing your choices gets easier and you’ll end up with a car that meshes perfectly with your lifestyle.
I am currently in the market for a new car and I know that I need something with a third row seat, captains chairs and plenty of trunk space. I also want my car to look stylish and sleek. Enter the Mazda CX-9…. It has nearly everything in a car that I want and a few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to test drive a CX-9 Grand Touring for a week.
Mazda CX-9 Exterior
Everything about this car shouts awesome. From it’s sophisticated design to it’s bold and trendy interior, the CX-9 can accommodate a large family of 5 comfortably and safely.
One of my favorite things about Mazda’s is their logo. The CX-9’s front end is unmistakable, with its sculpted five-point grille and wide, bold bumper. It has a very aerodynamic look that separates it from the boxy crossovers and drives more like a sporty sedan due to its tight suspension, sharp steering and responsive brakes.
It’s 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with platinum silver finish looks classy and you can choose between Front-Wheel Drive and Active Torque Split All-Wheel Drive.
Cargo Space
Cargo space in the CX-9 is plentiful. We are a water-loving family and we go to the beach often. I was able to fully load the car with beach chairs, umbrellas, a wagon and a cooler and we still had room for one of my son’s friend to join us. My kids also take swim lessons weekly and we were able to pile towels, bags, change of clothes, shoes, floats and so much more in the car with plenty of room to spare.
We even fit two french horns in the car without a hitch and those are not small instruments.
Mazda CX-9 Interior
(Credit: Mazda USA)
Seats
As a carpool, soccer, tennis mom of 3 kids, space is a necessity. I still have one in a car seat and we carry sporting equipment with us everywhere we go. The Mazda CX-9 grand touring seats 7 comfortably with captains chairs in the 2nd row with a 60/40 split fold-down and a 50/50 split fold-down 3rd-row seatback.
Did I mention sliding seats? The 2nd row seats slide!! How awesome is that? So many cars have a 2nd row where the seat folds into themselves and you have to drag the seat forward and then push the seat back. It’s practically a science project. But the CX-9 has a bar under the seat that you just engage and slide the seats forward and back. Even my four-year old figured it out on her own.
Sun Roof
Sun roofs are fun and they also have some strange advantages. Not only are they great for visibility purposes (you can get great views out of them on the way to the mountains) but you can sometimes open the roof to get better wi-fi, cell phone, satellite radio, or GPS reception. This can really matter if you are using hand-held devices vs. built-in GPS or Satellite radio. We got some great views out of our sun roof during our week-long test drive.
Back up Sensors
You will always have extra help when backing up with the CX-9’s rear back up sensors. You have a camera display in the navigation panel and a sound beeps if you get too close to an object. The closer you get to it the louder it beeps. I will never buy another car without one of these.
Hands Free/Bluetooth
Technology has come a long way and laws are stricter now. We all know holding a phone while driving is illegal now but lets face it, we still see people doing it. The CX-9 has bluetooth and hands-free phone and audio streaming capability so you can talk directly through the car. You can even dial on the touch screen without ever picking up your phone. Just press the phone button on your steering wheel to start a call and press the hang up call when you’re done.
One day during our test drive we headed up to Knott’s Berry Farm for a nice smooth drive into Buena Park. It handled multiple freeways with ease and we were able to enjoy some fun 80’s music on our Bose® Centerpoint® Surround Sound System.
A Few Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring Specs
- Alarm
- Back-Up Camera
- Cruise Control
- Vehicle Anti-Theft System
- Fog Lamps
- Auto-Off Headlights
- HID headlights
- Interior Cargo Shade (Optional)
- Keyless Start (Optional)
- Luggage Rack (Optional)
- Rear Parking Aid
- Power Liftgate
- Remote Engine Start (Optional)
- Adjustable Steering Wheel
- Steering Wheel Controls
- Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
- Trip Computer
- Remote Trunk Release
- Universal Garage Door Opener
- Intermittent Wipers
- Rain Sensing Wipers
- Variable Speed Intermittent Wipers
- Front Floor Mats
- Keyless Entry
- Power Door Locks
- Electrochromic rearview mirror
- Heated Mirrors
- Mirror Memory
- Power Driver Mirror
- Driver Vanity Mirror
- Driver Illuminated Vanity Mirror
- Passenger Vanity Mirror
- Passenger Illuminated Visor Mirror
- Power Steering
This was my first time ever driving a Mazda and it definitely won’t be my last. For more information visit Mazda on Facebook and on Twitter.
Disclosure: We were provided a Mazda CX-9 for a complimentary week-long test drive. Gas was not included. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are our own.
