My Roadtrip Review

[broomco]

We have had our CX9 for 17 months, and I have to say it had not endeared itself to me in that time - was still wishing we would have kept our Pilot (although I rarely drive it as it's the wife's car). My biggest complaint has been fuel mileage - to date a best of 18 and worst of 15.2, although mostly city with no full-tank highway trips (most tanks right around 16.5).

Loaded up the family and went from Denver to Cody, WY, and then Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, and back home. After this trip I have a new found love for the CX9:

- 500lbs of passengers and ~300lbs of "stuff"
- plenty of room for passengers and said "stuff"
- averaged 21.8 mpg, with a high of 24.79 and a low of 19.57
- the 24.79 was from Rock Springs to Laramie @ 80mph and AC on
- car handles like a dream, maintains hwy speed effortlessly, and passes other cars like a rocket
- handles curves great with little body lean, even when loaded up (huge contrast to the Pilot)
- seats are awesome, 1500 miles and no backache
- especially loved the manual mode while driving up and down hilly and twisty Yellowstone
- when fully loaded and rear window blocked, BSM is a godsend
- only saw 5 other CX9s the entire trip

Really a great road trip car, and I am now more than pleased with this thing and plan on keeping it awhile. Only negatives are the tires (which will be replaced in Oct. before the snow flies), and I still managed to hit my head a few times getting in and out (I'm 6').

If you have yet to take a roadtrip in it, do so - and have fun!(2thumbs)

 

[jbdiver]

Sounds like a fun trip. I have a couple mini-trips coming up and I'm looking forward to taking the cx9. My first big trip is over the 4th of July -- six hours with the wife and baby. Usually I dread the drive but this time I might actually enjoy it.

 

[ceric]

broomco,
To improve city-driving
- pump up tire to 35-40 PSI (if you can live with the bouncier ride)
- if possible run at 42mph+. CX9 changes to 6th gear at 42mph. It runs at 5th gear below that - less MPG.
- go easy on the 1st gear (very short)

If you do all those, it should give you another 1mpg on city driving.

 

[09sxy9]

Hi all,
We just purchased a 09 GT Copper Red Sexy9 with 318 miles...has Navi and Rear Entertainment. Since we bought a new car, we figured a road trip was warranted for vacation this summer. We live in Tahoe...no problems at all with inclines on mountain roads, yet, as snow is still months away and we live at 6500 feet. Anyhow, the car road like a dream. We put on over 1000 miles on the trip alone going down eastern sierra to LA and up the coast back to Tahoe. According to the trip computer, it averaged about 17.2 miles per gallon. But, I don't know how accurate that truly is.

The DVD Rear entertainment system was a god send as we never heard...'are we there yet?' And, it was great to use as a reward or punishment (withdrawal) for misbehaving! The A/C was perfect with rear control for the kids to turn off when too cold or not in use. We had the car packed to the hilt as my husband even bought a large safe from Gottschalks going out of business...don't ask, but it did fit perfectly in the back with 3rd row down.

I love this car soo much, and so far so good. The only thing I now notice is a clicking sound as the driver door opens fully and upon closing. Can't find a TSB on that, so don't know if it is a problem for others. Anyhow, if you have a chance...a Road Trip is the perfect vacation in the Sexy CX-9.

 

[fxpthl]

About those "road trip" mileages.....Be sure you re-set the mpg mode after each tank or the computer will just average out your mpg for the next tank. Differences in the road/highway traveled will have a marked affect on that mpg figure. When we took our 5500 mile trip last month I forgot to reset on a couple of legs and got the averaged mpg and not a true reading for the conditions experienced. Sure do love this car! We too are looking for any reason to get back out on the road again!

 

[ceric]

Foe those of you who are concerned about MPG, there is light at the end of tunnel...
LRR tires are well-known in hybrid community. Prius' OE tires (Goodyear Integrity) are very bad tires, traction-wise, but they are king of fuel saving. Anyone changes the tires out back to normal ones (non-LRR) will see 10% drop in MPG at least.

There seems to be a dilemma here. But, no more.
Yoko annouced a new tires that makes this trade-off virtually disappear.
LRR at cruising speed, and traction when pushed at corners or braking.
Details here..
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/0...-e-spec-orange-oil-infused-tires-now-on-sale/

Initially, there is no tire sizes for CX9. Eventually, I am sure there will be.

P.S. LRR stands for low rolling resistance.