They say Russians and Americans have a lot in common — and it's not just about the love of fast food or space achievements. Our car preferences are also largely similar. That's what the Japanese company Mazda thinks, which decided to bring its full-size crossover CX-9 to the Russian market. In Europe, this model is not sold and is not yet planned. But in the USA, South America, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine, Mazda's largest crossover enjoys good demand.

The pre-production prototype of the CX-9 was first shown in New York in the spring of 2006. The new model immediately drew attention with its unusual design, which favorably distinguished it from other boxy SUVs. The sporty look is successfully combined with SUV practicality. Many consider the CX-9 simply an enlarged version of the CX-7. If you look at the exterior, this is largely true. But it's worth remembering that the "suit" of the older model is noticeably more spacious. Therefore, many similar elements, such as headlights, are made on a larger scale. However, there are also differences: the silhouette and wheel arches have become less aggressive.

But looking for similarities with the CX-7 in the interior is useless. Inside, it's a completely different car, which favorably differs from its younger brother in comfort, quality of finishing materials, and acoustic comfort. But there are also controversial solutions. For example, the center console and control panel are trimmed "wood-style" — perhaps Americans like this style, but for us it looks like a cheap and old-fashioned trick. It seems to me that the glossy black plastic used in other Mazda models would look much more modern. The instruments with dark dials and diffused backlighting are framed with silver rings. Leather seats — black or sand — are decorated with neat decorative stitching.

The CX-9's cabin is designed for six. Inside, three rows of seats are placed, which became possible thanks to a record wheelbase of 2875 mm. The Japanese paid special attention to the ergonomics of the driver's seat. The leather seat adjusts forward-backward and by height, there is electric adjustment of lumbar support and memory for three positions. The lever of the 6-speed automatic is located high, so the gearbox is convenient to use in any mode. On the steering wheel — buttons for controlling the audio system and cruise control.

Enough describing — time to drive. We start the engine and immediately notice how quietly it works: no extra noises, no vibrations. We move off. Despite the length of more than five meters, the crossover is a pleasure to drive. With smooth movement, it almost doesn't roll in corners.

With such a huge body, it's easy to get out of a tightly packed parking lot. Next — 50 kilometers of high-speed highway. We press the gas — and the crossover accelerates quite briskly. Honestly, neither I nor the navigator expected such agility. According to the specs, acceleration to 100 km/h takes 10.1 seconds, and it seems that's true. The maximum speed is 181 km/h. Good dynamics are provided by a new 3.7-liter gasoline engine that produces 277 hp at 6250 rpm. In addition, the engine pleases with solid torque — 366 Nm at 4250 rpm. The compression ratio is high (10.3), plus electronic throttle control — all this gives an instant response to the gas pedal. At first, I even didn't believe that I was driving a huge crossover: everything reminded me of an ordinary passenger car.

On the highway, the CX-9 can confidently be called very comfortable. Noise insulation while driving deserves special praise. At the technical presentation, they said that engineers worked seriously on acoustic comfort: sound-absorbing foam material was applied to 22 sections of the body, which perfectly isolates the cabin from road noise.

I'll separately note the 6-speed automatic transmission — it gives an almost perfect balance between dynamics, smoothness, and silence. During the entire test drive, the automatic never delayed shifting, worked quickly and without a hint of jerks.

Where the legs grow from

The Mazda engineers responsible for the suspension did an excellent job. The CX-9 received a McPherson front suspension mounted on a subframe. It is connected to the body at six points through rubber mounts — this provides good damping and precise response to the steering wheel. The steering is rack-and-pinion with hydraulic power assist. At the rear — a multi-link scheme with one trailing and two transverse arms per wheel. The mounting points of the trailing arms are raised higher than usual, which adds stability during braking. The placement of suspension elements was chosen so that the wheels maintain a vertical position — this is important for adequate handling.

Driving
The Japanese managed to create a huge and at the same time perfectly controlled crossover with excellent dynamics.

Interior
It stands out for its acoustic comfort and quality materials. Inside, the CX-9 is completely different from the CX-7.

Comfort
In terms of comfort, the Mazda CX-9 deserves sincere praise.

Safety
5 stars in frontal and side crash tests by NHTSA and 4 stars for rollover protection.

Price
For the CX-9, they ask for reasonable money: not much and not little.

Advantages and disadvantages

  • + Good dynamics and automatic transmission.
  • − It's worth considering abandoning the "wood-style" trim in the cabin.

Technical specifications

Make and model — Mazda CX-9
Dimensions — 5089x1936x1728 mm
Engine — gasoline, 3726 cm³, 277 hp
Transmission — automatic, 6-speed
Dynamics — max 181 km/h; 10.1 s to 100 km/h
Competitors — Toyota Land Cruiser

Our opinion

The latest new products from the Hiroshima manufacturer are met with a bang by our market. I'm sure the CX-9, which rightfully takes the place of the flagship, will be no exception. This is the largest car in the lineup, with the most powerful engine. And they ask for it, accordingly, more than for others.