HANG ON TO THE HELM

Assertive lane-keeping is a foible of the CX-9

At first I thought I was imagining things: the steering wheel was almost wrestled from my grip as the car tried to stay within the lanes. This was Mazda’s version of lane keeping technology. A camera in the windscreen reads the lane markings ahead. As with an increasing number of new cars, the Mazda will intervene if it thinks you’re about to wander from your lane unintentionally.

In this instance the detour lane markings for roadworks tripped it up. Mazda is not alone with this foible and it’s why the owner’s manual says the driver must always be in control.

Fortunately, the Mazda CX-9’s lane keeping assistance is easy enough to switch on and off, via a button to the right of the steering wheel.

The other adjustment I’m making is to the driver’s side mirror.

Most cars we test these days come with convex “wide view” mirrors on both sides. Some drivers don’t like it because, as the fine print says, objects are closer than they appear.

But I’m a fan of convex mirrors for both sides. They take a little getting used to at first but the view is much wider and you don’t always have to turn your head to check your blind spot.

To that end, the CX-9 has blind spot warning, too. But I’d prefer a better view in the first place, rather than having to rely on the tiny red light in the mirror when there is an object in the way. Experience shows you can get false positive readings — or sometimes no reading at all, even though cars or motorcyclists are there.

What we’re loving? The quality feel of the interior, the comfort of the seats, the power of the four-cylinder turbo and the overall quietness and refinement.

But I am still getting used to the CX-9’s very long nose. It makes going up car park ramps a little more nerve-racking than they ought to be.