Ah! More Aussies with CX9s. Since I got mine on New Year's eve I have only seen another 2 on the road, both platinum silver (damn you mazda for not offering the sand interior with that exterior colour!) After all this time I have finally manged to give it a run on our good, if somehwhat speed restricted highways. I took a fully loaded CX 9 - parents, 2 kids, car seats, pram, cot, luggage (luckily the wife was working and could not come) and headed down to the Hunter. I must admit, 204kw does not seem alot on paper especially when hauling a 2080kg kerb weight, but this sucker really moves. I have been in a Q7 which has 240kw which needless to say hauls its own bulk with a lot more grace and less effort, but the CX 9 has no issues charging up hills and easily races to the mandatory 110km'h speed limit on flat surfaces with a bit more puff (only a bit) in comparison. Ok, I'll admit that you can always do with much more power, but considering the price/performance ratio, you really can't beat this SUV. it also only requires ULP which is a lot friendlier than my ex-Subaru outback which only liked PULP. Everyone knows that fuel consumption is most unfriendly around town, but on the highway it is only marginally better. During the trip I swayed from 0.0 when i was freewheeling down the hills to 36l/100km when I was speeding up the hills. Generally my old Subaru would have drunk just over a quarter tank to get to the Hunter, but the CX 9 drank nearly half a tank and the tank is nearly 20l bigger! However, comfort factor is absolutely top notch, the AC could freeze water (even the rear vents are great) and my mother was actually quite comfortable in the 3rd row pews for the entire trip. Mazda's setup of the seats and egress for the 3rd row is simply exemplary. I have pretty much squeezed in and out of most 7 seater SUVs available on the Oz market and the CX 9 is by far the best in class. I can even squat in the foot well of the 3rd row to buckle up my son in his booster (when the 2nd row is pushed forward of course) which i could not do quite so comfortably in other SUVs, even in the up market Euros. The CX 9 offered a very smooth ride, precise handling and literally just ate up the kms. Mazda could improve on wind insulation around the driver's door sills as it gets a bit annoying. Not severely so, but I have been in other SUVs that do not generate as much noise as the CX 9. All in all a sensational bahn stormer and i can't wait to take it on the highways again.
