TWO WEEKS IN P.E.I.
Mazda CX-9 passes test
SPRINGBROOK, P. E . I . “Compromise” is a great descriptor for the majority of family road trips.
“Compromise” is also the key requirement for buyers seeking a new mid-size crossover with minivan seating capacity, family sedan fuel economy and the allweather capabilities of a fourwheel-drive SUV, all wrapped in a stylish package. To minimize compromise on all fronts, I borrowed a 2015 Mazda CX-9 GT for a two-week family holiday this summer on Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island.
Introduced in 2007, then refreshed in 2010 and again for 2013, the front- or all-wheeldrive, seven-passenger, four-door CX-9 crossover is not only the Japanese automaker’s largest vehicle, it’s also the final product from Mazda’s former relation- ship with Ford.
In the CX-9 two-model lineup, pricing starts at $35,890 (including freight and pre-delivery inspection fees) for the front-wheeldrive GS. The standard kit is generous, highlighted by 18-inch alloy wheels, three-zone climate control and heated front seats. For $3,000 more you can get traction at all four wheels. My tester was the top-of-theline $47,890 GT, an all-inclusive trim that adds 20-inch wheels, bi-xenon HID headlights, power moonroof, navigation, upgraded audio system, backup sensors, rear cross-traffic alert and a blind-spot monitoring system — among other details. Our four-member, three-generation holiday group picked up the Mazda at the airport just outside the island’s provincial capital of Charlottetown. Right off the bat, we tested the CX-9’s cargo capacity with luggage and gear (including three sets of golf clubs) and a pantry’s worth of food. With its third row and 40 per cent of the second-row seating folded, the Mazda accommodated every necessity, with room to spare.
It only takes about five hours to drive the full length of P.E.I., and it’s relatively stress-free to drive. With a limited number of fourlane highways, trips at speeds over 100 km/h rarely occur. So instead of long journeys, we took a lot of short trips. Whether we were exploring the Seacow Head Light lighthouse just west of Central Bedeque, picking up a dinner of mussels at Carr’s Wharfside Market in Stanley Bridge, exploring the long stretches of open beach at Greenwich National Park or hitting the links at the French River Golf Course, the CX-9 GT handled it all with aplomb, particularly from the driver’s seat.
Mazda hasn’t yet employed its Skyactiv fuel-saving technologies in the aging CX-9, but an all-new 2017 model is expected to debut this fall. Until then, all models use a Ford-sourced 3.7-litre, 273-horsepower V-6 gas engine with 270 pound-feet of torque, enabling a scoot to 100 km/h in eight seconds.
In our two weeks with the CX-9 GT, however, we averaged an uncompetitive 12.8 L/100 km. Of course, Mazda’s long-rumoured North American diesel would fix this problem in the next CX-9.
But when it comes to how the Mazda feels from behind its leather-wrapped steering wheel, it leaps ahead of less-enthusiastic rivals. Buyers looking for a sevenseat utility vehicle are seldom concerned with clipping apexes or pushing it to the limit on back roads, but if you’re one of those rare buyers, the CX-9 GT is one of the more capable options.
The Mazda’s six-speed automatic transmission is very responsive. Upshifts and downshifts are surprisingly quick, with the chosen gear indicated in the driver’s instrumentation. And the CX-9 is lighter than most competitors and is supported by a rigid body structure.
The result? The CX-9 will stay relatively flat, with steering that is accurate, definitive and linear, giving actual feedback, keeping this driver happy. The CX-9’s ride is well controlled, too, without the floatiness you get in a larger SUV. And even with its tight suspension, the Mazda is rattle-free and hushed inside, coming close to some luxury crossovers with fancier badges.
From its debut, the Japanesemade Mazda’s cockpit was one of the more refined in its class. Its high-quality materials and tight fit and finish are a step above its rivals and while second-row seating is roomy, the back row is cramped. The only blemishes were a small touch-screen interface and a TomTom nav system that didn’t know where some of P.E.I.’s provincial parks were.
The Mazda crossover may be getting a bit long in the tooth, but it still competes well. With its updated and aggressive styling, roomy and luxurious interior and athletic road manners, the Mazda remains a good choice if you like to drive and need the capabilities of a large vehicle.
For uncompromising crossover buyers who love family road trips, the Mazda promises to answer your needs.