Really want to pull the trigger, but can't

[HerbM3]

Hi everbody,

I had been convinced I was buying a Signature when they came out. Got approved through Mazda. Test drove two non Signatures - none were in stock at the time.

I'm in Tampa. Second tester, a GT, had been baking in the blazing Florida sun when I drove it. the air was super weak. I tried to keep that in mind while driving, but it never cooled to a comfortable level during the drive. The other knock against it was the front passenger seat height adjustment, or lack there of. My wife is 5'2" and would like to sit higher. Now I read about the infotainment being buggy and I think I'm about to cross the CX-9 off my list.

Two questions:

1. Would my concerns be deal killers for you?

2. What other vehicles have you cross shopped that would be close or better? I really like the F-Pace, but specced the way I'd want, it'd be $10-$15K pricier.

 

[jcpharm]

i think if you feel the A/C is too weak for the Florida sun, that's a deal breaker. also if your wife cannot get comfortable, that's a deal breaker (my wife is 5' 2" and it is her primary car and she loves it so i think there is some variability in personal preference). if the CX-9 were not available i would look at the updated Pathfinder (value choice), and if i'm willing to loosen my wallet the F-Pace, Volvo XC90, or see if the new VW 7-seater SUV coming out next year is worth a look.

 

[SeCX-9]

Have my Signature for 2 months now and not a single reboot or problem with my Infotainment system.

My wife is 5ft tall and always is a passenger. She hasn't complained once about the seat height and visibility. She drives a CX-7.

As for A/C, I tried it one day when it was high 80's and didn't have a problem. Perhaps I have a late-fall hardware revision..

 

[Bibs]

I'm in Canada, and witnessed the weak A/C up here in the summer (high 90s, high humidity, 6 passengers). My car is black, and its a real problem....but I may only have to tolerate it a few days a year.

It was a problem when the car was "heat soaked" from being parked in the sun for hours. It took a LONG time to cool down. If I pulled out of the garage on that same day, no heat soak, no issue.
Other than that, it has been a tremendous car. We love it. Quiet, quick, for what it is, economical and comfortable.

 

[tekbiz]

I'm in Canada, and witnessed the weak A/C up here in the summer (high 90s, high humidity, 6 passengers). My car is black, and its a real problem....but I may only have to tolerate it a few days a year.

It was a problem when the car was "heat soaked" from being parked in the sun for hours. It took a LONG time to cool down. If I pulled out of the garage on that same day, no heat soak, no issue.
Other than that, it has been a tremendous car. We love it. Quiet, quick, for what it is, economical and comfortable.

Just curious as I haven't firmly decided to order yet as still contemplating on it and been test driving the CX9 lately but have you experienced any issues on the infotainment? How long have you had the vehicle (what trim level) and MPG? I'm in Cda too and don't see a lot of cx9s in my area...

 

[SDL]

I'm in CA, the heat isn't as bad as FL...The AC hasn't been much of an issue for me, but I can definitely see it being a problem in FL. I would suggest really dark tints and sand interior, plus a Covercraft sunshade.

 

[pholway]

Just tint the windows. Heat soak is the issue since it's been sitting in the sun for a few days. It's not an issue in normal life - I had the same worry but it blows nice and cold in the 98 degree DC summer.


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[forty9er]

I live in Naples and have no complaints about the AC cooling the car. I have had it since July and would still buy it today. I do have the windows tinted (moonroof as well) and that does help keep the car cooler when it's sitting in the sun.

 

[Bibs]

Just curious as I haven't firmly decided to order yet as still contemplating on it and been test driving the CX9 lately but have you experienced any issues on the infotainment? How long have you had the vehicle (what trim level) and MPG? I'm in Cda too and don't see a lot of cx9s in my area...

We have Signature trim.
Infotainment has been fine for me, no issue. That being said, I don't talk/text when driving...I think I have made 5 calls since I bought it (July). Just not a priority for us, not part of our daily life. I work from home, so no commuting.
It can be a little slow to boot up, but that's an issue with other cars I rent for work. NAV works well. Dial controller works well, and voice recognition has worked, the few times I used it.
Infotainment wasn't a priority for us when we bought this: We're in our 40s, and not tied to our phones. I see why others may need it more than we do, with work, etc....but it was low on our list.

I am at 6,000km so far, and lifetime mileage is at 10.4L/100km (22.6 MPG). That is ~60% city driving / short trips. On longer trips, I have dipped into the 8s (~27 MPG), but that was long, 2 lane roads with speeds at 90-100km/h.
On the 400 series highways, at 125km/h, it will net high 9s on flat ground (~24 MPG). But above that level, the mileage drops off quickly.

Our top priority was driving dynamics, and it delivers. Torque of the turbo is great, it rides firm but controlled. It's quiet, drives smaller than it is, and has a gorgeous interior. I would have bought it with an AM/FM radio and an AUX port. If there are flaws with the infotainment, it wouldn't have stopped me from buying it.

 

[tekbiz]

We have Signature trim.
Infotainment has been fine for me, no issue. That being said, I don't talk/text when driving...I think I have made 5 calls since I bought it (July). Just not a priority for us, not part of our daily life. I work from home, so no commuting.
It can be a little slow to boot up, but that's an issue with other cars I rent for work. NAV works well. Dial controller works well, and voice recognition has worked, the few times I used it.
Infotainment wasn't a priority for us when we bought this: We're in our 40s, and not tied to our phones. I see why others may need it more than we do, with work, etc....but it was low on our list.

I am at 6,000km so far, and lifetime mileage is at 10.4L/100km (22.6 MPG). That is ~60% city driving / short trips. On longer trips, I have dipped into the 8s (~27 MPG), but that was long, 2 lane roads with speeds at 90-100km/h.
On the 400 series highways, at 125km/h, it will net high 9s on flat ground (~24 MPG). But above that level, the mileage drops off quickly.

Our top priority was driving dynamics, and it delivers. Torque of the turbo is great, it rides firm but controlled. It's quiet, drives smaller than it is, and has a gorgeous interior. I would have bought it with an AM/FM radio and an AUX port. If there are flaws with the infotainment, it wouldn't have stopped me from buying it.

Thanks for your feedback....good to know you are enjoying the vehicle. I know it's not going to be a deal breaker for me and if it was my only decision I would likely go fof it but it'll also depend on the wife as she'll be driving it most of the time. The mileage seems like close to what's advertised although I heard from dealer that there's a change in the MPG for 2017 but it's still TBD.

 

[dups]

We bought the 2014 Mazda3 when it was brand new for this design and it was the first system with the Mazda Connect Infotainment like we have in the CX-9. It had some bugs similar to what others have posted (I haven't experienced them yet on the CX-9) but Mazda quickly came out with updates and within 6-8 months I was bug free. I think they are pretty good about continuing to work on it so I don't think I'd make that a deal breaker.

The other issues are more personal taste I think and you'd have to evaluate that on your own. For me, the seat wouldn't be a deal breaker for the passenger, only for me as the driver. The A/C I'm a little worried about for our Texas heat next summer but I'm hoping with good tint (which it has) and a good window shade up front it'll be okay. I traded in a Volvo XC60 for this car though and have no regrets so far.

 

[tekbiz]

We bought the 2014 Mazda3 when it was brand new for this design and it was the first system with the Mazda Connect Infotainment like we have in the CX-9. It had some bugs similar to what others have posted (I haven't experienced them yet on the CX-9) but Mazda quickly came out with updates and within 6-8 months I was bug free. I think they are pretty good about continuing to work on it so I don't think I'd make that a deal breaker.

The other issues are more personal taste I think and you'd have to evaluate that on your own. For me, the seat wouldn't be a deal breaker for the passenger, only for me as the driver. The A/C I'm a little worried about for our Texas heat next summer but I'm hoping with good tint (which it has) and a good window shade up front it'll be okay. I traded in a Volvo XC60 for this car though and have no regrets so far.

How old was your xc60? How much was the trade in value and mileage?

 

[cubanomx]

Hi everbody,

I had been convinced I was buying a Signature when they came out. Got approved through Mazda. Test drove two non Signatures - none were in stock at the time.

I'm in Tampa. Second tester, a GT, had been baking in the blazing Florida sun when I drove it. the air was super weak. I tried to keep that in mind while driving, but it never cooled to a comfortable level during the drive. The other knock against it was the front passenger seat height adjustment, or lack there of. My wife is 5'2" and would like to sit higher. Now I read about the infotainment being buggy and I think I'm about to cross the CX-9 off my list.

Two questions:

1. Would my concerns be deal killers for you?

2. What other vehicles have you cross shopped that would be close or better? I really like the F-Pace, but specced the way I'd want, it'd be $10-$15K pricier.

I believe if you put good tint in your cx9 you will be fine. But Florida is serious heat. If you put the cx9 in the sun all day, I would expect a long time to cool down this 7 seat SUV. Come on, it's a large vehicle.

For me, air is ok. I don't trust in the AUTO setting, I just adjust the control to my preference settings.

The cx9 infoT reboot happens to me a lot in the past. Until I disabled sms/email sync. No more issues (a reboot every 60 days when power on the vehicle), not a big deal. Please notice I don't apply the latest patch who fix the reboot but you lost the tach enable/disable setting for the HUD

we are more than happy with the cx9.

the new pathfinder is available now in dealers and have a couple of more options like pano roof, around view cameras, sensor for the power lift gate, dvd and memory buttons in the keys for the mirror/radio/seats but a) is more expensive b) no HUD c) CVT transmission d) it's basically the same old model with some updated attributes and e) lack of Zoom Zoom!! the cx9 drives like a great car! fun to drive! (and lot of power/torque/accel)

 

[Padre Dave01]

I believe if you put good tint in your cx9 you will be fine. But Florida is serious heat. If you put the cx9 in the sun all day, I would expect a long time to cool down this 7 seat SUV. Come on, it's a large vehicle.

For me, air is ok. I don't trust in the AUTO setting, I just adjust the control to my preference settings.

The cx9 infoT reboot happens to me a lot in the past. Until I disabled sms/email sync. No more issues (a reboot every 60 days when power on the vehicle), not a big deal. Please notice I don't apply the latest patch who fix the reboot but you lost the tach enable/disable setting for the HUD

we are more than happy with the cx9.

the new pathfinder is available now in dealers and have a couple of more options like pano roof, around view cameras, sensor for the power lift gate, dvd and memory buttons in the keys for the mirror/radio/seats but a) is more expensive b) no HUD c) CVT transmission d) it's basically the same old model with some updated attributes and e) lack of Zoom Zoom!! the cx9 drives like a great car! fun to drive! (and lot of power/torque/accel)

I have a 2015 that I purchased specifically for the V-6 and for the AC. My wife drives a 2016 CS+X-5 GT that has basically the same dash setup that the 2016 CX-9 does. We live in AZ where AC is essential most of the year and I complained every time I drove her car that the dash needed more AC vents and bigger ones. Eventually the unit cools the car but it takes a lot longer.

My "old" CX-9 freezes me out in minutes from startup unless the car has been sitting in 100 degree heat, and then it takes like 2 minutes to be cold.

If that is an issue for you you might consider a new 2015 unit or gently used one.


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[dups]

How old was your xc60? How much was the trade in value and mileage?

It was a 2015.5 that we had for 1 year and had just under 18k miles. I got $29k on trade though I really hoped for more.

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[tekbiz]

It was a 2015.5 that we had for 1 year and had just under 18k miles. I got $29k on trade though I really hoped for more.

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Ok thanks for the info...I have a 2010 T6 AWD model at 80K Km and was thinking of trading it in for the CX9 GT though no idea about it's current value. Good to know you didn't have any regrets going from XC60 to the CX9 but can you share your reasons for the switch considering your XC60 was only a year old?

 

[dups]

Ok thanks for the info...I have a 2010 T6 AWD model at 80K Km and was thinking of trading it in for the CX9 GT though no idea about it's current value. Good to know you didn't have any regrets going from XC60 to the CX9 but can you share your reasons for the switch considering your XC60 was only a year old?

I had an old 1986 Volvo 760 Turbo which I loved and drove until it started having some serious electrical issues around 2001. It was a great car. When we found ourselves shopping for cars last year I really was interested in Volvo and so I pushed towards the 2015.5 XC60 T5 Platinum thinking it'd be a great car. I prioritized safety and MPG pretty much at the top and then other general features and comfort. I really wanted a HUD but didn't have an SUV available at the time that I liked with a HUD so I accepted the digital speedometer on the XC60 as a suitable substitute. When we first got the XC60 it seemed great. I really liked it at first. Over the past year though we've experienced random knocking/pinging (new Drive-E engine platform) that seemed to be unexplainable by Volvo yet - which gave me concerns about the future value and reliability of the engine. There was a couple times the auto stop/start shutoff and wouldn't kick back on - I loved start/stop at first and now I hate it. The infotainment system felt dated at first but I tolerated it but over time it became intolerable. Bluetooth was unreliable, voice call volume was low despite everything being high, built in 3G modem wouldn't reliably connect and stay connected, Bluetooth music would skip around and go faster/slower... I could go on and on.

We've had several Mazdas over the years with the most recent being a 2014 Mazda 3. It has the same infotainment system as the CX-9 (Mazda Connect) so I knew what I was getting. The Mazda 3 had a HUD so we knew we liked that. After having the CX-9 for a couple weeks I actually feel like its a better car than the XC60 I just got rid of. I just got to the point where every drive in the XC60 was frustrating and disappointing and I didn't want to do it anymore. It's really sad though cause I had a soft spot for Volvo's too in the past but I would have pause about buying another after the experience with our last car. I've never gotten rid of a car so fast either. I usually try to keep them at least 5 years. So hopefully the CX-9 sticks around for a little while.

 

[HerbM3]

Well, I started this thread and now I am almost 100% percent sure I am not buying the CX-9. She's a beauty and I am glad so many folks have found the ride that is right for them. Thanks for the insights and advice.

 

[tekbiz]

I had an old 1986 Volvo 760 Turbo which I loved and drove until it started having some serious electrical issues around 2001. It was a great car. When we found ourselves shopping for cars last year I really was interested in Volvo and so I pushed towards the 2015.5 XC60 T5 Platinum thinking it'd be a great car. I prioritized safety and MPG pretty much at the top and then other general features and comfort. I really wanted a HUD but didn't have an SUV available at the time that I liked with a HUD so I accepted the digital speedometer on the XC60 as a suitable substitute. When we first got the XC60 it seemed great. I really liked it at first. Over the past year though we've experienced random knocking/pinging (new Drive-E engine platform) that seemed to be unexplainable by Volvo yet - which gave me concerns about the future value and reliability of the engine. There was a couple times the auto stop/start shutoff and wouldn't kick back on - I loved start/stop at first and now I hate it. The infotainment system felt dated at first but I tolerated it but over time it became intolerable. Bluetooth was unreliable, voice call volume was low despite everything being high, built in 3G modem wouldn't reliably connect and stay connected, Bluetooth music would skip around and go faster/slower... I could go on and on.

We've had several Mazdas over the years with the most recent being a 2014 Mazda 3. It has the same infotainment system as the CX-9 (Mazda Connect) so I knew what I was getting. The Mazda 3 had a HUD so we knew we liked that. After having the CX-9 for a couple weeks I actually feel like its a better car than the XC60 I just got rid of. I just got to the point where every drive in the XC60 was frustrating and disappointing and I didn't want to do it anymore. It's really sad though cause I had a soft spot for Volvo's too in the past but I would have pause about buying another after the experience with our last car. I've never gotten rid of a car so fast either. I usually try to keep them at least 5 years. So hopefully the CX-9 sticks around for a little while.

Thanks for sharing and now I understand...I can definitely sympathize with you as also being a Volvo owner however I guess we were lucky with ours as the 2010 didn't have the drive-e engine and stop/start feature which honestly is hard on the starter and doesn't really save significant fuel for its purpose. So far ours is turning 7yrs in Feb and no major issues so far (mechanically) just a few minor ones that were addressed during warranty period. My only justification for considering the CX9 would be the additional 3rd row/cargo space, better MPG than our 3.0L T6 w/c was only 16mpg, more upto date safety features and with all the added Bells and whistles it brings better value for money. I have no question on the reliability of mazda having a vehicle back in the late 90s. My wife really loves the volvo so it is becoming difficult to convince her though she may come around later on with much convincing. I can also drive the xc60 to the ground however I have a feeling that soon issues may arise and the repairs would be costly so I am trying to salvage its remaining trade value so I can use that as my downpayment should I get the CX9. I simply look at it as an upgrade in terms of the features. The only negative is where our location is there aren't a lot of CX9s available so they come very scarce into the dealerships and the ones that come in are trims/colours that I don't like. We may have to order from scratch to get the vehicle we want which will take at least 3 months. Good thing is we're not in a hurry so 3 months or so would be fine for us.

 

[dups]

Well, I started this thread and now I am almost 100% percent sure I am not buying the CX-9. She's a beauty and I am glad so many folks have found the ride that is right for them. Thanks for the insights and advice.

Just curious, what made you decide no?

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