FAMILY FAVOURITES
The latest crop of sevenseat SUVs are brimming with advanced safety tech
Bigger isn’t always better. But in this case, the biggest cars offered by Mazda, Hyundai and Kia represent some of their best work. Engineered to seat seven comfortably and safely, this trio of SUVs are among the most popular with modern families.
MAZDA CX-9 AZAMI
The range-topping Mazda CX-9 crowns a company-wide push into premium territory.
Priced from $69,990 drive-away, the Azami is the most expensive Mazda in the range.
You don’t need a magnifying glass to see why it costs nearly $25,000 more than the brand’s entry-level CX-9. Walnut brown nappa leather seats have 10-way electric driver adjustment along with heating and cooling for the front row and heating for the middle bench, where dedicated climate control and armrestmounted USB points keep passengers satisfied. There are sun blinds, a powered tailgate and a clever sliding bench seat. Connectivity is accounted for by a 9-inch infotainment system controlled by a rotary dial near the gear selector, hooked up to Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, satnav and a 12-speaker Bose stereo. There’s also a head-up display and driver assistance features including forward and reverse auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane keeping assistance and more.
Backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty that has become the new industry standard, the CX-9 is the cheapest to service at a little more than $2100 for five years, though its 10,000 kilometre intervals are too short. The largest boot hides a space-saver spare.
We found the CX-9 has the most room in the third row, but were disappointed by a lack of air ventsback there. Powered by a 2.5-litre turbo petrol engine using 8.4L/100km to make 170kW and 420Nm, the CX-9 is the thirstiest car here, offsetting that with smooth performance.
It’s a polished car overall, with a sweet engine and well-sorted transmission. Mazda’s contender is an ergonomic triumph, with clear instruments and key features that can be accessed without a long reach to a touchscreen that drags your eyes off the road.
Our test car’s suspension was a little noisy, though it rode reasonably well on enormous 20-inch wheels. The Mazda is the biggest car here, and noticeable body roll dulls driver input.
HYUNDAI SANTA FE
Introduced back in 2000, the Santa Fe is now in its fourth generation. The current model debuted in 2018 with arresting looks, a premium cabin and class-leading safety tech such as rear doors that stop kids stepping into the path of fast-moving traffic.
An updated model with even bolder looks, a comprehensively reworked cabin and important mechanical changes is just around the corner. But for now, we have the existing Santa Fe Highlander priced from about $66,900 drive-away.
There’s heating and cooling for the front seats and heating to the outboard rear seats. The driver gets 14-way electric adjustment, but the quality of leather used is sub-par compared with the Kia and Mazda. It misses out on the Mazda’s three-zone climate control but adds wireless phone charging. Likewise, 19-inch wheels don’t look as sharp as its rivals, but a fullsize spare is great to have. Its 8-inch centre