2009 Mazda CX-9 GT AWD Review

2009 Mazda CX-9 GT AWD Review
by Charles Renny / Auto123.com

Zoom-Zoom in snow is just as much fun as it is on pavement, particularly when your CX-9 has the optional all-wheel drive. Zoom-Zoom is really an attitude about driving as much as it is an advertising campaign. I came to this realization about the second day that I had my top-of-the-line Mazda CX-9 GT. The way I see it, the CX-9 is much more than just another crossover-utility vehicle (CUV). It is fun to drive, fun to be in and it hauls the freight (so to speak).

The GT versions start at $44,795, and as tested, it costs $52,885.

CUVs are normally car-based, and as with the CX-9, may or may not have AWD. Since the main focus for this seven-passenger CUV is to have fun driving (Zoom-Zoom), Mazda has made sure that the CX-9 does a bit of everything.

Engine
Power comes from a 273-horsepower 3.7-litre V6 that has had several "electronic" tweakings since its introduction. Two years ago when the CX-9 was introduced, I found the throttle tip-in and engine response to be not quite to my liking. Now the throttle application is much more suited to daily driving, with a gentle tip-in that becomes more linear the harder you push the pedal. This change allows me to take full advantage of the fat torque curve that the engine has.

Transmission
The electronically-controlled six-speed automatic has had a few tweaks of its own, too. Sport shifting with the center console-mounted lever lets you row up through the gears in the best sports car style, complete with crisp shifts at redline, as long as you remember to move the lever. Leave it in drive and the suburban grocery getter side takes over.

Handling
It may seem odd to think that a seven-passenger, fully-optioned-out CUV can hold the corners with more "sporty" cars, but it can! I found a couple of dry portions on clover leaves to see at what speed I would be comfortable at. Most of the time, it was just over the posted limit. I could still push harder and probably do more than double, but the risk of a bit of frost or sand quickly shelved that idea.

The Mazda CX-9 is fun to drive, fun to be in and it hauls the freight (so to speak).

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