Why the CX 9 leads it's class

[CX9 SportOwner]

That's a good example of what makes the CX9 better. Instead of focusing on things they could claim as advantages, Mazda made the CX9 functional.

Comfortable seating for 7, rather than impractical seating for 8. (Highlander will only seat 4 adults and 2 children, realistically)

Better seat folding and entry system.

A LOT more room behind the third row. What good is 7 or 8 passengers if they can't take anything with them?

Etc

I'd buy a Veracruz over anything else besides the CX9. At least it's attractive and has some nice features.

 

[ceric]

Honda claims "8 passengers", not "8 adults". The back seats are for 3 kids. For CX9, you can actually fit 2 adults there for a short drive (I put two 6 footers there for company lunches many times). Adding one more seat belt there does not add much usefulness to me, but it might have added some value, marketing-wise.
The non-split-able 3rd seat of the Highlander is an absolute joke to me. Very low quality, also. Shame on Toyota.

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

Honda claims "8 passengers", not "8 adults". The back seats are for 3 kids. For CX9, you can actually fit 2 adults there for a short drive (I put two 6 footers there for company lunches many times). Adding one more seat belt there does not add much usefulness to me, but it might have added some value, marketing-wise.
The non-split-able 3rd seat of the Highlander is an absolute joke to me. Very low quality, also. Shame on Toyota.

I so agree with you.
However, Honda DOES claim 8 adults, by showing all adults in their ads. You notice, though, that they only show them from the front seat looking back.

And Toyota really should be ashamed of pulling a GM, and using gimmicks to sell the highlander.

 

[Force-1]

 

[Mx5+Cx9]

I'd like to see more details on what are considered problems.

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

These are not a good gauge of quality.

They are REPORTED issues requiring service or repair, and only what JD Power receives. So if one person reports a major engine problem with their Chevy, and 3 people report broken gas cap tethers on their Mazdas, then the Chevy is 3 times better quality, right?

 

[Mx5+Cx9]

These are not a good gauge of quality.

They are REPORTED issues requiring service or repair, and only what JD Power receives. So if one person reports a major engine problem with their Chevy, and 3 people report broken gas cap tethers on their Mazdas, then the Chevy is 3 times better quality, right?

That's where I'm going. I don't know much about how JD powers crunch the numbers they collect, but unless their system is weighted in such a way that bigger problems are given bigger values than smaller problems, then this chart is useless.

 

[Force-1]

To provide both auto industry and consumer audiences insights into the long-term reliability of todays new vehicles, the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS) focuses on problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old vehicles (2006 model-year vehicles). The study is used extensively by the worlds auto manufacturers to help design and build better vehicleswhich typically retain higher resale valuesand by consumers to help make more-informed choices for both new and used vehicles.

The 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study provides information gathered from over 46,000 original owners. Performance is measured using a problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) metric. A lower PP100 score indicates better performance and a higher PP100 score indicates worse performance. The 2009 study covers a total of 202 total problems, broken out into eight major problem categories as follows:

* Exterior
* The Driving Experience
* Features/Controls/Displays
* Audio/Entertainment/Navigation
* Seats
* HVAC
* Interior
* Engine/Transmission

The study finds that the frequency and severity of component replacement has a particularly strong impact on customer loyalty intentions. Component areas for which the impact is greatest include the Engine/Transmission category. When engine components are replaced or rebuilt, just 11 percent of customers state that they definitely intend to purchase or lease another vehicle of the same make, compared with nearly 40 percent among owners who report replacing no components.

 

[vikefan7]

Wow, looks like I made a mistake in buying this thing. Luckily I have at least 3years to enjoy it before I have to start shelling out my own money to fix it. Hopefully I am not too inconvenienced at all the time it will be spending in the shop. (bang)

 

[ceric]

Don't put too much emphasis on JD Powers. It's based on "surveys", and we know how accurate that "could be". Also, it is rated on the entire brand, not individual vehicle.
If you read the ConsumerReports on reliability, CX9 actually did as well as any Toyota/Honda.

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

This is my 5th Mazda, and all of my previous ones have been bulletproof. Unfortunately, no one surveyed me on those.

 

[benben01]

I agree with Sporty... This is my 3rd Mazda and no issues thus far. I was a loyal Honda/Acura guy but even Honda has taken the cost cutting route over quality. The most disappointing mfg'er to date is probably Toyota. Has anyone taken a close look at their product line? Talk about cost cutting! $40+k for the Highlander and it still feels cheap. The Venza... Don't even get me started. They went the extra mile to cost cut on a brand new model that's supposedly the future direction of their CUVs.

 

[hamproof]

I love my mom's CX9 but my god, she cant break 12mpg average to save her life.

Even on a trip from Cincinnati to Cleveland it only averaged 17mpg cruising @ 70mph

These 2 statements contradict each other. She can't break 12mpg, means she's getting less than 12mpg.

but then she average 17mpg on the Cincinnati to Cleveland.

Which is it??

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

Totally agree about Toyota. Everything with them is extra, if they even offer it. Poor quality for the money. Gimmicks instead of function. That new FJ Cruiser is supposed to be the new Land Cruiser for off road, but it's all cosmetic, and underpowered. Sad

 

[hamproof]

We looked at EVERY vehicle with a third row, and the CX9 still won.Even after we bought it, I have compared it to newer vehicles like the Highlander. Still the winner.

Did you compare it to the Enclave? If not for the massive discount on the CX-9, Enclave would have been a much nicer vehicle I think.

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

Did you compare it to the Enclave? If not for the massive discount on the CX-9, Enclave would have been a much nicer vehicle I think.

Yes. Enclave is a sloth by comparison. None of the fun of the CX9. I will admit, the Lamdas are the nicest thing GM has ever made, but the quality still isn't good enough for me. (Same with Ford.) The Traverse is actually a lot closer to the CX9, but still the Enclave underneath. It's nice that they offer Captains chairs or a split bench in the middle for the same price, and you do get more towing, so if you need the extra seat and have a bigger trailer, it'd be a good choice.

For me, the Enclave feels twice the size, and the seats are ridiculously complicated. That flip and tumble system doesn't yield any more entry space for it's complexity, and I could never get the seat bottom to relatch. I ended up giving up.

 

[vikefan7]

Don't put too much emphasis on JD Powers. It's based on "surveys", and we know how accurate that "could be". Also, it is rated on the entire brand, not individual vehicle.
If you read the ConsumerReports on reliability, CX9 actually did as well as any Toyota/Honda.

Lol, my comment was with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek. Everything I've read about the CX-9 leads me to believe it will be a reliable vehicle and I absolutely love it so far.

 

[Force-1]

These are not a good gauge of quality.

So if one person reports a major engine problem with their Chevy, and 3 people report broken gas cap tethers on their Mazdas, then the Chevy is 3 times better quality, right?

Depends on one's point of view.

My Cadillac STS left my wife and I stranded in the middle of nowhere last year (thank God for OnStar). Car had to be towed due to failed ECM. Was I unhappy? Yep!

On the other hand, my CX-9 has been back to the dealer for paint flaws, body flaw, grinding breaks, and coolant smell. I still have to take it back for airbag recall, driver seat recall, and broken gas cap tether. I am more irritated with my CX-9 than my STS. Plus, at least Cadillac puts me in a loaner vehicle every time I have it serviced. I have to get on the shuttle or have my wife pick me up whenever the CX-9 needs work.

Don't get me wrong--in spite of the problems, and other short comings, I really like my CX-9, and would buy it again.

My wife and I have purchased/leased 21 new vehicles since 1987, including the 4 we have now, plus several used vehicles. The CX-9 is only the second Japanese vehicle we've owned. By far the worst, problem wise, was a brand new 1997 BMW 528i.

My wife's '08 Hyundai Santa Fe has been completely trouble free so far. She traded in a '02 Hyundai XG-350L for it. She purchased the XG-350 new, and after 5+ years of ownership, zero issues, nothing but LOF, tire rotation, and radiator flush.

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

Every car has bugs. They are just too complex. At least Mazda let's us know about them and fixes them.

Honda tried to screw us by not admitting they knew about an adjustment interval problem that turned into a $1000+ repair.

I'd rather have these little things to get fixed, than be stranded because GM can't make a car run consistently.

 

[vikefan7]

Plus, at least Cadillac puts me in a loaner vehicle every time I have it serviced. I have to get on the shuttle or have my wife pick me up whenever the CX-9 needs work.QUOTE]

Sounds like a dealer issue. I always get a loaner when work is being done that's going to take awhile.