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| The 2019 Mazda CX-9. |
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| 2019 Mazda CX-9. |
Number one is a refined, retuned suspension. Good to begin with, the CX-9 is now positively silky and those inevitable side-to-side motions that SUVs will put you through on a speed bump are now very effectively damped.
Number two---ventilated front seats. It being December in Northern California, the heat feature was what got used, but still-vivid memories of Sacramento in the summertime tell me that the ventilation will be a favorite feature.
Third---a 360-degree monitor. Backup cameras are wonderful things, but in a tall vehicle with significantly high sightlines, being able to see what's all around you is a tremendous safety feature.
And last, but by no means least---the 2019 CX-9 now has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you've lived with this feature, which simplifies phone calls, text messaging via audio, navigation and entertainment by interfacing with your smart phone, you find very quickly that you don't want to live without it.
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| 2019 Mazda CX-9 interior. |
Our tester was the second-to-the-top-of-the-line Grand Touring model. With all-wheel-drive, the base price is $42,640 and includes a staggering list of standard equipment:
- 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder (227 horsepower/310 pounds per foot of torque). EPA estimate 20 city/26 highway.
- Six-speed automatic transmission with sport mode.
- Four-wheel disc brakes.
- Electric power assisted steering.
- Independent front and rear suspension.
- Front and rear stabilizer bars.
- G-Vectoring control.
- 20-inch alloy wheels.
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers.
- Intermittent rear wiper.
- Heated power mirrors.
- Rear privacy glass.
- Power moonroof.
- Aluminum roof rails.
- Windshield wiper de-icer.
- LED headlights with auto on/off.
- Adaptive front lighting.
- High beam control.
- LED fog and daytime running lights.
- LED combination taillights.
- Rear roof spoiler.
- Roof-mounted "shark fin" antenna.
- Power open/close rear liftgate.
- Auto-folding door mirrors.
- Power automatic door locks.
- Power windows with one-touch.
- Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with HomeLink.
- Leather-trimmed upholstery.
- Power driver's seat with lumbar.
- Driver's seat memory with two positions.
- Heated front seats.
- Power front passenger seat.
- Genuine aluminum interior trim.
- 2nd row window sunshades.
- Heated steering wheel.
- Front seat ventilation.
- Radar cruise control.
- Keyless entry.
- Three-zone automatic climate control.
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- 12-speaker Bose Audio system.
- Eight-inch color display with rear camera.
- Navigation.
- Active driving display.
- 2nd row heated seats.
- Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.
- Dynamic stability control.
- Traction control.
- Front parking sensors.
- 360-degree view monitor.
- Trailer stability control.
- Blind spot monitoring.
- Rear cross-traffic alert.
- Rear parking sensors.
- Lane departure warning.
- Lane keep assist.
- Smart brake support.
- Smart city brake support.
Our tester had a few (four, to be exact) extra-cost options:
- Front and rear bumper trim ($550).
- Cargo mat ($100).
- Illuminated door sill plates ($575).
- Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint ($595).
With $895 delivery, processing and handling fee, the total comes to $45,455...a stone cold bargain for the level of equipment and all-around excellence.
The CX-9 retains its place in the TireKicker's Best Cars list on the right hand side of this page.
