2011 Mazda CX-9 Review
Price
RM322,405
Installment
RM3,075/mth
2011 Mazda CX-9 at a glance
The 2011 Mazda CX-9 is handsome, agile, well-made and roomy for seven. But can you get past the fact that the hefty price tag buys you a supposedly mainstream Mazda? Then there is the issue of running costs...
2011 Mazda CX-9 quick specs
| Body Style | SUV |
| Class | Crossover |
| Assembled | - |
| Engine Range | - |
| Fuel Options | - |
| Seating Capacity | 7 |
2011 Mazda CX-9 ratings (overall rating : 3.5/5.0)
| Styling | |
| Handling | |
| Comfort | |
| Quality + Reliability | |
| Performance |
| Roominess | |
| Running Costs | |
| Value for Money | |
| Equipment | |
| Environment |
Styling
Longer and wider than the BMW X5, the Mazda CX-9 however looks far from bulky. In fact, in line with Mazda's Zoom-Zoom tagline, the 2011 Mazda CX-9 looks athletic and oozes road presence only premium SUVs could. With orange-coloured instrument dials and displays illuminating the cosy cabin, the interior is familiarly sporty like all other Mazdas.
Handling
For an SUV so large and heavy, the 2011 Mazda CX-9 feels agile, cornering much flatter and gripping on much better than SUVs of this size normally would. The direct steering provides reasonable feel while cornering, and is light enough to ensure city driving and parking are effortless chores.
Comfort
The ride is on the firm side, but it remains fairly comfortable over most surfaces and feels settled at speed. Noise insulation is not great but good enough, as wind, road and engine noise are mostly kept out of the cabin during cruising. Electrically-adjustable front seats and a two-way adjustable steering column allow drivers to find their preferred driving position easily. Primary driving controls are within reach handily, while dashboard controls are well laid out, although the slim digital display at the top of the centre console can be rather hard to read.
Quality + Reliability
Like for most Mazdas, the cabin looks beautifully detailed and feels solidly made. Unsurprisingly, the dashboard materials are less appealing than those in premium SUVs, but at this price level, the plastics used should be of a higher quality. The fit-and-finish are exemplary, however. Mazda has a brilliant reputation for mechanical reliability, so the 2011 Mazda CX-9 should pose little or no problems in the longer term.
Performance
Powering this large SUV is a big 3.7-litre V6 engine capable of producing 273 bhp and 366 Nm. The V6 is refined, keen to rev, and sufficiently powerful to give the 2011 Mazda CX-9 decent pace. Also contributing to the overall drivetrain refinement is the standard six-speed automatic transmission, which shifts through gears almost imperceptibly.
Roominess
The 2011 Mazda CX-9's cabin is roomy and seats up to seven. The front and middle rows provide generous room, and the last row has more than adequate room for two average-sized adults. The cabin is equally versatile: the middle row seats can slide, recline and 60:40 split-fold, while the last row seats can also 50:50 split-fold, if loading space beyond the original 487 litres is required.
Running Costs
The 3.7-litre V6 coupled with the 2011 Mazda CX-9's substantial weight means fuel bills will be sizable. Servicing and repair costs are nowhere as high as for premium brands. But depreciation could be steep, considering how the CX-9 wears a mainstream Mazda badge and yet demands a price usually reserved for luxury cars.
Value for Money
The 2011 Mazda CX-9 is handsome, agile, well-made and roomy for seven. But we suspect the Mazda CX-9's key appeal lies in its unique positioning: being a full-size Japanese SUV that costs slightly above RM 300K, the 2011 Mazda CX-9 has no direct rivals. And given that Mazdas are rare compared to Nissans or Toyotas, many owners of the Nissan Murano or Toyota Harrier may see the Mazda CX-9 as an upgrade of sorts. That said, is the 2011 Mazda CX-9 worth the money? Yes, if you want something different; no, if you are expecting the Mazda CX-9 to provide much more than a Murano or Harrier.
Equipment
Standard equipment includes 20" alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, leather upholstery, 4-way power front passenger seat, 8-way power driver seat with memory settings, auto on-off headlamps, fog lamps, power side mirrors with turn indicator, power moonroof, keyless entry, automatic climate control, and in-dash 6-CD/MP3 audio system with 10 speakers. Safety kit includes ABS + EBD + BA, front/side/curtain airbags, Traction Control System (TCS), Dynamic Control System (DCS) and Rollover Stability Control.
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions of 309 grams/km, plus the similarly abysmal fuel economy, rank the 2011 Mazda CX-9 as one of the most polluting cars on Malaysian roads—which is of little surprise when you place a 3.7-litre V6 inside a two-tonne-plus SUV.
Live Life Drive Verdict
Handsome looks
Agile handling for an SUV
Room for seven
Expensive for a Mazda
Cabin plastics could be better
Costly to run
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