Need advice on possible purchase of '08-'12 CX-9, comparing to Outback/Venza

[JohnSMazda]

My wife and I are currently shopping for a larger car to accommodate a baby and our 50-lb dog, and we're currently deciding between a Subaru Outback, Toyota Venza and Mazda CX-9. I know they're not the most similar cars, and if anyone has ideas on other cars to consider I'd love to know.

I'm probably least familiar with the Mazda and this looks like the best Mazda forum, so I figured I'd ask if anyone has thoughts/advice on the topic. My main concern is with reliability, since I can't find that out from a test drive. How has reliability been on the 2008-2012 model CX-9s? Any differences among those model years as far as reliability? Any common issues I should look out for when looking at and test-driving cars? We'd probably be looking at one with 40-60k miles on it.

Thanks everyone in advance for your help!

 

[tex2670]

The reliability of the initial CX-9's was average, but it is much better now. If you can, try and get your hands on the April '13 issue of Consumer Reports, which is their annual car issue. They have detailed charts on each model's reliability, year over year.

I can tell you, of those 3 cars, the CX-9 will get the worst mpg, by far. It's probably the lowest of its peer competition; as the Venza and Outback are more car-like (plus most Outbacks are 4 cylinders), they will be much better on gas consumption--it that's important to you.

 

[DDDonkey]

When the wife and I looked at new cars the CX-9, Venza, and a couple of fords were on the top of the list. We ended up with a new 2012 CX-9 GT. If I could go back I would more than likely get the Ford Explore with the captains chairs in the back seat. I really like the CX-9, driving it is fun, you do get the Zoom-Zoom feeling, and the handling for such a big vehicle is really great. The reason we did not get the Venza was the lack of a third row, and at the time Ford did not want to deal (I would have had to order the explore I wanted), and Mazda had one 2012 CX-9 left and it fit the bill. Good luck with your search.

 

[Brucie66]

I absolutely love my 9!!! All the room i could possibly use, great ride and handling(even on the 20s), and way better gas mileage than alot of people here seem to achieve! I avg 70 mph on the highway with mpg of 22 - 25 mpg!!

As long as you don't drive it like you stole it.... the mpg is right on par with any other 3 row CUV! I travel close to 5k miles monthly for my job and love this vehicle!!!!!!!!!!!

To the OP... wouldnt buy a Toyota with ur money! The Sub is a good car, but the 9 has a ton more room and flexibility than the Outback... i know folks with the OB and they don't get much better mpg's than I do! AWD really takes a hit in that dept.

 

[tex2670]

I absolutely love my 9!!! All the room i could possibly use, great ride and handling(even on the 20s), and way better gas mileage than alot of people here seem to achieve! I avg 70 mph on the highway with mpg of 22 - 25 mpg!!

As long as you don't drive it like you stole it.... the mpg is right on par with any other 3 row CUV! I travel close to 5k miles monthly for my job and love this vehicle!!!!!!!!!!!

To the OP... wouldnt buy a Toyota with ur money! The Sub is a good car, but the 9 has a ton more room and flexibility than the Outback... i know folks with the OB and they don't get much better mpg's than I do! AWD really takes a hit in that dept.

I too love my CX-9, but I have to disagree with the MPG assessment. While I would never disagree with the MPG that any individual is achieving in their vehicle, I think it's fair to say, as a whole, the CX-9 gets poor gas mileage. My wife is the primary driver, and does a lot of in town driving, and commutes 15 miles each way to work, every day, mostly on the highway (but frequently in moderate to heavy traffic). While it is definitely easy to be cruising at 85 on the highway and not even realize it, my wife doesn't "drive it like she stole it". I have not reset the on board MPG setting in over a year, and am getting 16.5 MPG. While that may be on the low side, read any test, especially long term test, of this vehicle, and one of the known drawbacks is that the MPG is near the bottom of its class. Literally, YMMV--but to say you will only get poor MPG if you drove it like you stole it is not accurate.

 

[Brucie66]

All i know is that when I drive in Philly and NYC (weekly) mpg goes to toilet... unless I pay attention to throttle input. I do alot of highway driving as well... I check combo MPG weekly and avg 20.5... Nuff said...

 

[IslandTractor]

I've put 50,000 miles on my CX9 AWD GT and average only about 16-17mpg in 25%city50%suburb and 25% highway driving. Worse in winter. The car has been near flawless (could have said flawless as it never went back to the dealer in three years until the dreaded transfer case gave out a month or so ago). I'm currently looking for my next vehicle only because I cannot stand the gas mileage. The car is fun to drive and reasonably flexible. I did look at the Venza (boring, nothing particularly good about it) and the Outback (very nice but under powered with the 4 and no advantage over the CX9 with the six). A next generation CX9 with skyactive treatment and the new diesel would be my choice but that will be years away.

Overall the CX9 is much more vehicle than the Venza or Outback but you pay for it at the gas pump.

 

[table5511]

Reliability was great 08 - 11 and has begun to plummett. In my opinion, based on my observations. Due in part to cost reductions. However the all wheel drive system in cx-9s is shorted lived and high maintenance in my opinion. Seals start leaking and splines start getting stripped and the ford edge drop in transfer case does not seem to last very long. 09 in my opinion is the sweet spot.

 

[Bgallodoro24]

My 08' has 240k miles and nothing replaced on motor but oil, air filter, belts, and spark plugs. Also coolant flushed twice. I run Mobil 1 full synthetic