Spied: 2017 Mazda CX-9

[RedHotFuzz]

I'm glad it's not just me that doesn't like the mid-row captain's chairs. The worst offender is the Hyundai Santa Fe Limited--it becomes a 6 passenger SUV, which kinda defeats the purpose for me. It really makes carpool difficult.

It's not only the loss of a passenger seat but the fact that a third child has to sit in the 3rd row, killing half your cargo space and any usefulness of the vehicle for a road trip or even a Costco visit.

 

[crikey]

I'm glad it's not just me that doesn't like the mid-row captain's chairs. The worst offender is the Hyundai Santa Fe Limited--it becomes a 6 passenger SUV, which kinda defeats the purpose for me. It really makes carpool difficult.

For the 2017 model year, the Hyundai Santa Fe now has the SE ULTIMATE trim that seems to have all of the features of the Limited except for the 6-passenger configuration. See 2017 SANTA FE: FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS. I think Hyundai realized that a lot of buyers don't prefer bundling captain's chairs with the trim that has the most features.

 

[crikey]

I am considering the Pilot and Highlander, but the styling is a bit more mundane and to get the features I want I have to get top trim levels and for the Pilot that's a total waste since I don't need BluRay media. At last Mazda isn't putting captains chairs in their 2nd row, which Toyota and Honda did but with added center consoles you can't remove that look cheap.

According to 2017 Toyota Highlander Gets A Makeover, More Powerful Engine:
Inside, Toyota has added new brown leather option, four more USB ports (five in total) for device charging and second-row captain's chairs for the 7-passenger seating or second-row bench for 8-passenger configuration in the Limited and Limited Platinum.

No word on whether Honda changes course for its 2017 Honda Pilot Elite.

 

[sjg]

2nd row captains chairs as a premium feature in 3 row CUVs is one of the dopiest "premium" features out there. They really have one primary benefit and that's walk through access tot he 3rd row without sliding/folding the 2nd row or removing car seats. And they have one primary drawback and that's the loss of seating for one passenger. One or the other option might be better for each customer but neither is universally better.

I also bought a Durango like RedHotFuzz. It seems Dodge is a bit better about pushing some features down to lower trim levels as options. They're still not perfect though and, if you're not going to custom order, you end up with the most common bundling of options. I ended up with a power liftgate that I didn't want and annoys me to no end.

 

[tex2670]

2nd row captains chairs as a premium feature in 3 row CUVs is one of the dopiest "premium" features out there. They really have one primary benefit and that's walk through access tot he 3rd row without sliding/folding the 2nd row or removing car seats. And they have one primary drawback and that's the loss of seating for one passenger. One or the other option might be better for each customer but neither is universally better.

I also bought a Durango like RedHotFuzz. It seems Dodge is a bit better about pushing some features down to lower trim levels as options. They're still not perfect though and, if you're not going to custom order, you end up with the most common bundling of options. I ended up with a power liftgate that I didn't want and annoys me to no end.

Look--I can see the benefit to 2nd row Captain's chairs, but make them an option; but not everyone will benefit from that. Don't force me to get them, because that's going to force me not to buy your vehicle. It's not like forcing a sunroof or DVD player--or power liftgate (which I personally love)--upgrade for someone that doesn't want it.

 

[RaptorOO7]

According to 2017 Toyota Highlander Gets A Makeover, More Powerful Engine:
Inside, Toyota has added new brown leather option, four more USB ports (five in total) for device charging and second-row captain's chairs for the 7-passenger seating or second-row bench for 8-passenger configuration in the Limited and Limited Platinum.

No word on whether Honda changes course for its 2017 Honda Pilot Elite.

Very true, I have been following the '17 Highlander, but the only shots I can find of the interior are for the SE model and not the Limited Platinum. My road testing begins when the models in question actually hit dealers this summer, CX-9, Highlander, Outback Touring, Pilot. Shooting for summer and winter test drives since my purchase window is this time next year when our Mazda 6 lease is up. Fortunately I will have enough early buyer feedback on the latest models to compare to my own testing.

 

[crikey]

Very true, I have been following the '17 Highlander, but the only shots I can find of the interior are for the SE model and not the Limited Platinum. My road testing begins when the models in question actually hit dealers this summer, CX-9, Highlander, Outback Touring, Pilot. Shooting for summer and winter test drives since my purchase window is this time next year when our Mazda 6 lease is up. Fortunately I will have enough early buyer feedback on the latest models to compare to my own testing.

The 2017 Highlander is actually quite interesting as it is effectively the 3-row Lexus RX. That is, until the Lexus RX gets its own 3-row version. With the same engine and transmission, I'll be interested in how the SE drives. However, it will likely not have all the bells and whistles that the Limited trims will have. Still, the 2016 CX-9 (at least, to my eyes) will look so much more attractive than the 2017 Highlander.

 

[tex2670]

The 2017 Highlander is actually quite interesting as it is effectively the 3-row Lexus RX. That is, until the Lexus RX gets its own 3-row version. With the same engine and transmission, I'll be interested in how the SE drives. However, it will likely not have all the bells and whistles that the Limited trims will have. Still, the 2016 CX-9 (at least, to my eyes) will look so much more attractive than the 2017 Highlander.

But, did Toyota learn its lesson on the SE from the Camry? Because initially, you could only get an SE, but then they later added the XSE, to match up with the XLE. It would be a shame if they didn't do the same on the Highlander.

 

[crikey]

But, did Toyota learn its lesson on the SE from the Camry? Because initially, you could only get an SE, but then they later added the XSE, to match up with the XLE. It would be a shame if they didn't do the same on the Highlander.

Yeah, I'm sorry but I wasn't aware of that. I do not normally pay attention to Toyota or Lexus offerings since I find their vehicles to be more of appliances which do not provide a pleasant driving experience. The update to the 2017 Highlander just caught my eye since they finally implemented direct-injection to their V6 (which lead me to finding out that the current-gen Lexus RX receiving the engine first), along with the addition of the SE trim. Seemed like worthwhile updates to, at least, look into.

 

[otapnam]

Hey guys n gals I just got an email from my sales rep that I worked with when I bought my mom a 2015 Mazda 3.

Looks like the 2016 cx9 is indeed arriving in 9 days. Set your calendars!

 

[RedHotFuzz]

The update to the 2017 Highlander just caught my eye since they finally implemented direct-injection to their V6 (which lead me to finding out that the current-gen Lexus RX receiving the engine first), along with the addition of the SE trim. Seemed like worthwhile updates to, at least, look into.

Too bad about the new butt-ugly front end.

 

[crikey]

Too bad about the new butt-ugly front end.

Seems par for the course, considering the current Toyota and Lexus designs.

 

[crikey]

Hey guys n gals I just got an email from my sales rep that I worked with when I bought my mom a 2015 Mazda 3.

Looks like the 2016 cx9 is indeed arriving in 9 days. Set your calendars!

Yet not even one CX-9 commercial. (bang)

 

[batmancx]

Too bad about the new butt-ugly front end.

Agreed !! not sure what Toyota is trying to do here, just a hot mess,
as-is it looks like it was in a wreck and the front color bumper panel is missing,
how did these so called car designers graduate from college ??
I can do a better job in designing ! What most buyers don't realize is that once you slap on a license plate there it'll look even more ugly,
the license plate will be the center of attention because of the large grill and empty space .....

http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2016/03/2017-Toyota-Highlander-front-close.jpg

 

[otapnam]

Looks like they've landed i n Australia !

In white! https://www.instagram.com/p/BFQgBNNM1zE/

 

[colnago1331]

Hmmmm.....
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...owcaseOwnerId=596827&sortBy=distanceASC&Log=0

 

[jcpharm]

spoke with a dealer near me in Northern NJ because actual VIN# vehicles (including 1 Signature trim in Machine Gray) are listed on their dealer website and through Edmunds. he said they are due to arrive in the dealership by early June and that many of the coming vehicles already have customer deposits on them. of course, deposits are refundable, and i'm sure he's just trying to get more customers to put down more money ahead of time. other dealerships here in NJ have nothing listed on their websites (except 2015 models).

 

[racerscott]

Looks like they've landed i n Australia !

In white! https://www.instagram.com/p/BFQgBNNM1zE/

The auto RO-RO ship that off-loaded the CX-9's in Melbourne, Australia is the "Prestige Ace". The owner (Mitsui O.S.K Lines, or MOL) of that ship also owns the auto RO-RO "Swallow Ace", which docked today at the Port of Tacoma (Washington). The Swallow Ace's port of departure was the Port of Hiroshima, so for sure it is carrying Mazdas, and I would expect that some of them are CX-9's. We should know soon. Unfortunately, it's not an easy drive for me to Tacoma; perhaps another member in the area could verify (they should be on the Auto Warehousing Company lot after off-loading).

 

[Prepreludesh]

That Instagram post did say that they were offloading them so that they could go on sale "by July..." so I think that my timeline is still holding true (start sale by July 1st)

 

[otapnam]

That Instagram post did say that they were offloading them so that they could go on sale "by July..." so I think that my timeline is still holding true (start sale by July 1st)

They're going to be on sale the 20th if my dealer is correct. I'm pretty sure he didn't email me with that to waste time

Other thoughts - Im starting to think you either go super cheap with the sport model or you have to go GT. The touring is where I wish I could spend but there's too many things missing without the convenience package and GT upgrades