A few other things to consider- the FWD version is rated at 18mpg and 24mpg highway vs. 17/22 for the AWD version. The lighter weight and reduced rolling resistance of the FWD also give it slightly better acceleration. The FWD models also cost $1500+ less than their AWD counterparts.
TrueDelta.com and Consumer Reports, the two sources of reliability data that I consider the most accurate, both show the CX-9 to be very reliable. My neighbor is currently on her 3rd CX-9 and hasn't had a single problem with any of them! The first one was a 2008 Sport FWD which was totaled in an accident in 2009 with 48k miles on it. Her husband was driving, she was in the passenger seat, two children were in the middle row in carseats and their oldest child was in the third row seat. The only injuries any of them had were minor contact burns from various airbags and bruising from the seatbelt pretensioners in the front seats. She replaced it with a 2009 Touring FWD and commuted 118 miles daily in it for three years. It had 118k miles on it when she traded it for a 2012 Touring FWD which currently has about 40k miles on it. Her experience with the CX-9 was one of the reasons I bought my 2012 Grand Touring FWD four months ago!
I must disagree with the advice to go with the Sport or Touring model instead of the Grand Touring. The GT FWD sticker price is only $1,990 more than the Touring FWD (comparing both models with Tech Pkg) and that $1,990 buys a lot of extras! The 20" wheels and chrome door handles give the GT a much more upscale look. You also get Bi-Xenon headlights with Automatic on/off, Rain-sensing wipers, Fog lights, LED daytime running lights, memory driver's seat and side mirrors, auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homlinke remote and an alarm system. It also adds a very handy "tilt-in-reverse" feature for the side mirrors which I love when I drive my sister's Lexus GX470. The 2013 GT also features "Bordeux" interior accent trim on the instrument panel, steering wheel and doors instead of the Piano Black trim on Sport and Touring models. One of the very few, minor things I dislike on my 2012 GT is the Piano Black trim on the steering wheel and center console.
When I bought my CX-9, it was with the intention of keeping it for 7+ years, so long-term reliability was something I seriously considered. I was concerned about features like the Power Liftgate and Rain-sensing wipers. But if the Power Liftgate motor ever fails, it will still work like a manual one; I also have the option to never use the rain-sensing wipers or to use them normally if the automatic function ever fails.
I would also recommend a few accessories that I consider "must-haves" on the CX-9. The front/rear splash guards, cargo tray and cargo net are essential. If you like the roof rack just for looks and don't plan to actually use it, just get the side rails only without the crossbars- looks the same and saves $100+. I also added the Stainless Steel Rear Bumper Guard and it looks awesome! If you buy all the accessories you want with the car, you can negotiate the cost and installation labor but after the sale you'll pay list price!
Sorry if I'm rambling, I just keep thinking of things that might be useful for you. One final note about the AWD vs. FWD decision- the FWD model has a very aggressive (overly aggressive, some might say) traction control system on wet or frozen surfaces. It's not a replacement for AWD, but it certainly helps in low-traction situations. It can also be disabled with the push of a button if it becomes too obtrusive.
Good luck, hope all of my rambling is somewhat helpful! Just out of curiosity, what color are you planning to get?
