2007 Mazda CX-9 in San Leandro

America did not need the Mazda CX-9. There was no yawning gap in the automotive spectrum that the CX-9 alone was able to fill. In fact, it's fair to say that, upon learning of the CX-9's existence, the collective reaction among staffers at this office was: Why? Must every automaker offer a three-row crossover? Apparently, yes. But the new entry seemed a particularly unlikely fit for Mazda, the brand that professes to worship at the altar of driving fun.

The CX-9 might have been born out of some MBA's desire to plug a perceived hole in Mazda's product chart rather than in response to a crying public need, but you soon forget all that because the CX-9 is so damned charming.

Its polished manners and smooth competence overshadow the fact that the CX-9 is not really a standout in any one particular area. Among third-row-equipped crossover-utility vehicles, the CX-9 is neither the biggest nor the smallest, the fastest nor the most economical, the sportiest nor the most luxurious.

You may think that the CX-9 is simply an enlarged version of the CX-7, Mazda's five-seat crossover, but that's really not the case. The two siblings differ substantially under the skin, most obviously in the engine compartment, where the CX-9 uses a V-6 as opposed to the CX-7's turbocharged four-cylinder. The 3.5-liter V-6 is a Ford unit, and we found it to be quieter and more refined here than in the Edge or the Taurus/Taurus X. But its 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque aren't enough to keep it from giving the six-speed automatic a workout. Luckily, the transmission's shifts are always smooth.... Read full article