Best Motorbuys: June 28, 2019

"It is quiet,
refined and
superbly
comfortable"
By Ross Kiddie
Mazda CX-9 Takami
Price: Mazda CX-9 Takami, $67,895
Dimensions: Length, 5075mm;
width, 1969mm; height, 1747mm
Configuration: Four-cylinder,
four-wheel-drive, 2488cc, 170kW,
420Nm, six-speed automatic.
Performance: 0-100km/h, 8.8sec
Fuel usage: 8.8l/100km
The offer of a pamper package at
Hanmer Springs was too good
to turn down – hot pools, spa,
massage and an overnight stay all
included.
The car my wife and I drove to the
township in was a Mazda CX-9 and it
fitted the occasion, it is quiet, refined
and superbly comfortable on the
undulating North Canterbury roads.
The seven-seat CX-9 is not new, the
latest generation sports utility vehicle
landed in New Zealand in 2016; however,
it has had a bit of a refresh and a high
grade variant has been added to the
line-up. There are now three models,
rounding out with what Mazda label
Takami.
Takami is something you are going
to hear a lot more about from Mazda,
it adds just that little bit of extra
sophistication, sitting over and above
Limited variants and, as in the CX-9’s
case, add several features such as nappa
leather trim, rosewood panels and
aluminium trim items.
These sit on top of what would
ordinarily be a well-specced vehicle in
the first instance.
Those familiar with the CX-9 pre-2016
will relate to the feisty V6 engine which
characterised the line-up. That has long
gone, today’s CX-9 has a turbocharged
2.5-litre four-cylinder engine.
If the thought of a turbocharger has
you a little perplexed, you need not
be concerned. The turbocharger is
low boost, and the engine, and its
management protocols, are structured
so that the engine works consistently
in the area of low revs. Sure, it will
meet the 6000rpm red-line with little
provocation; however, there is a strong,
flat torque curve which meets its
maximum at 2000rpm (420Nm). Add in
170kW at just 5000rpm, the realisation
is that the engine is going to work
tirelessly at low speed.
Power is transferred through a
traditional six-speed automatic
transmission. This is another area Mazda
does really well, the ratios and the shift
management system work well with the
low revving nature of the engine, the
gaps between gears are filled through
the turbo boost, while acceleration is
clean and smooth.
The CX-9 is no slouch, even without
working hard it will still accelerate to
100km/h in 8.8sec, and will make a
highway overtake in 4.7sec. On our
journey north I made use of several
overtaking opportunities and always
enjoyed that solid mid-range punch that
you get from a big four-potter and the
boost from a turbocharger.
Interestingly, the CX-9 gets a driverselectable
sport mode, but even without
the heightened engine urgency it is
still responsive. I didn’t use sport mode
much, but far preferred to let the engine
operate at its area of greatest efficiency.
The benefit of the engine’s low revving
nature is also that of fuel economy.
It’s no surprise the CX-9 is thrifty,
Mazda’s SkyActive programme leans
towards efficiency, and it claims an
8.8-litre per 100km (32mpg) combined
cycle average, which fits well with the
9.2l/100km (31mpg) readout during
our journey. At 100km/h the engine
is turning over at just 2000rpm in
sixth gear, offering a 7.8l/100 (36mpg)
instantaneous figure.
Considering the CX-9 weighs in rather
tubby at just on two-tonne, these
figures are impressive and are a credit
to the Mazda engineers who, for a long
time now, have been plugging away at
driveline efficiency. All CX-9 models are
now four-wheel-drive, which makes it’s
economy even more remarkable.
The 4WD set-up will take you offthe-beaten
track without being fully
classified as an off-roader.
However, with a ground clearance figure
of 220mm, it does have useful off-theseal
capability.
Personally, I see the all-drive function
as a medium to glean grip on all
surfaces, the CX-9 has an on-road feel
which is quite reassuring, it feels tightly
connected to the road surface, and
even in the wet there is surety through
the steering which must be considered
a safety feature. On that subject, the
CX-9 easily qualifies for a five-star
Australasian New Car Assessment
Program safety rating.
My wife never travels light, but her
suitcase was no match for the cavernous
cargo area. With the rear seats folded
flat that area measures up to 810-litres;
if you are seven-up then that area is
compromised to 230-litres, but that
matters little, the CX-9 is very much a
competitive battler in the large SUV
category.
As much as I liked the detailing in the
Takami grade, I’d be an entry-level
buyer, at $59,695 against $67,895 you
are getting a lot of value for money.
However, I fully appreciate that SUV
buyers like all the bells and whistles, and
that’s what you get with CX-9 Takami,
it is a luxury car at an affordable price.
For the record, the non-Takami Limited
grade comes in at $65,295.
I have a certain affinity with Mazda,
there’s one in the Kiddie garage, I like
the way the product is quality built and
the technology constantly surprises me.
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