2007 Mazda CX-9 - Four Seasons Wrap-up

There were other high-tech foibles. We were frustrated by the fussy Bluetooth connectivity, and the parents on staff looked stricken when they learned that our sunroof meant we couldn't order a rear-seat DVD player. The key-fob remote, with its integrated starting function, became the object of the greatest loathing. The remote was often obstinate about what doors it would unlock and when, but the truly maddening behavior was that if you used its remote-start function, the car would often lock itself once you got inside. Better not run back into the house to grab a forgotten cell phone, as Noordeloos did, or you could face a locked CX-9 with its engine running. Here's a bit of advice for all carmakers: Having doors lock themselves is never a good idea - NEVER.

Mazda did a better job executing the touchy-feely stuff. The seats were deemed comfortable, and the black leather upholstery looked handsome and held up nicely. Our Grand Touring model, the top trim level, was very well-finished inside, from the door trim to the armrests to the steering wheel. "The interior is far above the Mazda norm," concluded one logbook writer. "Of course, so is the price."

The price as tested for our CX-9 Grand Touring AWD reached $39,357. The aforementioned assist package (navigation, rearview camera, and power hatch) and power moonroof plus a high-end audio system ($1760) were the major elements that boosted the the CX-9 from its $34,470 base price. It's a good thing the scheduled services at our local Mazda dealer were a bargain. We paid less than $50 for routine maintenance at 7500 miles; 15,000 miles; and 22,500 miles. Happily, the CX-9 needed no repairs, so the only other service items were a wheel alignment and the mounting of winter tires. The latter might seem like overkill on an all-wheel-drive vehicle, but the combination is a winning one when the snow flies. "I know part of it is the fantastic tires - Bridgestone Blizzaks - but the CX-9 is pretty much unstoppable in the snow," Smith wrote. "I purposely tried to get it stuck in the large plow drifts on my street, and I couldn't get the Mazda bogged. Amazing."

That is pretty typical of the grace with which the CX-9 waltzed through its year here. "I think the CX-9 fulfills its stated mission with ease," concluded West Coast editor Jason Cammisa. "It's a smooth, relaxed, and pretty cruiser that can haul a whole lot of stuff in high comfort." This may not be a unique mission, but it is one that Mazda executed well.