Note: I received a 2013 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD to test drive around town for one week in order to facilitate my honest review. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own.
As I’ve said with my previous car reviews, I am not a car expert. A lot of the technical mumbo-jumbo goes in one ear and out the other, so I like to focus my reviews on comfort, affordability and ease of use, particularly from a mom’s point of view.
During my week of driving around in the 2013 Mazda CX-9, I was overcome with a particular thought every time I got behind the steering wheel. This car is like driving chocolate.
Yes, every time I drove the CX-9 I couldn’t help but think about chocolate – not because I wanted to eat chocolate (which I do, pretty much every day) but because the CX-9 drove so smooth and the seats (everything, actually!) felt so luxurious that all I could do was imagine silky smooth chocolate.
The other thing I noticed about the Mazda CX-9 was that, despite the fact that it’s a 7-passenger crossover SUV, I felt like I was driving a much smaller car. It was very responsive to turns and parking was much easier than I’m used to with my minivan. The CX-9 is comfortable to drive – not too heavy or stiff. I also loved that I could fit a full grocery haul in the sufficiently spacey cargo area, with room to spare.
A few things I didn’t love about the Mazda CX-9: I was not thrilled with the console between the two front seats. I prefer to have somewhere I can set my purse (without having to reach to the back seat) and I admit I felt like I was kind of boxed in. There IS plenty of room in the driver’s seat, but I’m the kind of person that likes some wiggle room for my arms and legs. I don’t even like driving with the arm rest down. So the console was a little much for me.
Also, as much as I love that the Mazda CX-9 has 7 seats (and all 7 seats are very roomy and comfortable!), as a mother of five, I am not crazy about the fact that one of the seats must be folded down in order to reach the 3rd row.
Beyond those two things, I absolutely loved the car!
2013 Mazda CX-9 Specs:
The Mazda CX-9 is available in three trims: 2013 CX-9 SPORT (MSRP: $29,785), 2013 CX-9 TOURING (MSRP: $32,230), and 2013 CX-9 GRAND TOURING (MSRP: $34,785).
How Much will it cost to drive the Mazda CX-9? The Mazda CX-9 front-wheel drive models get an EPA-estimated 17 city/24 Highway MPG, while the all-wheel drive models get an EPA-estimated 16 MPG in the city and 22 Highway MPG.
NAVIGATION: Mazda has partnered with TomTom navigation systems to add a fully integrated system with a 5.8-inch touch-screen display and voice recognition. (I especially loved the navigation system in the CX-9 because it was so easy to understand).
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION: 273-hp, 3.7L DOHC 24-valve V6 with 6-speed Sport automatic transmission
DRIVETRAIN: Front-wheel drive (FWD) or available Active Torque Split All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
INTERIOR FEATURES:
- Available Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry & Start System and standard Welcome Lighting System
- One-touch power moonroof and retractable sunshade are available on select models
- Available 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat with memory settings for up to three drivers
- Three-zone automatic climate control and available heated front seats
- Cavernous cargo space with 60/40 split fold-down second row and 50/50 split fold-down third-row seating
The kids loved that the 2nd row had 3 seats, with the middle seat back folding down to reveal cup holders!
SAFETY FEATURES:
- 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Brake Assist
- Roll Stability Control moderates braking to help stabilize the vehicle during accident-avoidance maneuvers
- Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control System
- Tire-Pressure Monitoring System
- Rearview camera: see directly behind your vehicle, including lower blind spots. The backup sensor alerts you with increasing frequency as distance decreases between the rear bumper and an object within the detection zone.
- Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) System: uses motion-detecting technology to scan blindspots. If it detects a vehicle in your blindspot when you initiate a turn signal, it sounds a warning chime and illuminates an icon in the corresponding side-view mirror.
Note: Some of the features listed are not standard and not all features are available on all models.
Final word: My family and I loved the 2013 Mazda CX-9, and I really had a hard time giving up my “ride-on-chocolate” car. Give it a test drive and you’ll see what I mean about this incredibly smooth ride!
Special thanks to Mazda for providing the car for review!
© 2013 – 2015, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
Mazda CX-9 2013 is so nice model.
The Mazda’s cabin is also a step up over the Nissan in quality. Fit and finish is excellent and the front seats provide more lateral support. And while the CX-9 is narrower than the Pathfinder, the Mazda offers more cargo room with either the third-row seats up or down.