AWD in snow

[kosh2258]

Yes, I subscribe to Motor Trend. I saw that too. I must admit that I was more than surprised!

Using Motor Trend and objective in the same sentence is an oxymoron.

I no longer put much, if any, stock in what they have to say about vehicles in general or test results in particular. Yes, they did pick the CX9 as SUV of the year but, a broken clock is also right two times a day - unless it's a 24 hour clock. (laugh)

The Bridgestone Dueler 400 is only marginal on fresh snow and downright deadly on packed snow or ice. That's no opinion, that's a provable fact.
Drive a CX9 with a set of ice and snow tires mounted and it becomes very apparent how poor the Duelers truly are.

 

[Mazda3]

It did say somewhere in one of those Motortrend long term updates that they replaced the tires on that CX-9, but I don't think it specified the tire. So it is possible they put a better tire on rather than the same tires. With proper tires the CX-9 is amazing in the snow.