Mazda may have found a cure for minivan aversion.
Not single-handedly, of course, but the Japanese company has powerful new medication in the 2007 CX-9 crossover utility vehicle. It delivers some of the utility of a minivan without aggravating the chronic condition among potential buyers who say they would rather suffer warts and rashes than drive a minivan.
The CX-9, like all crossovers, is based on a car platform — in this case, the Mazda 6, which also provides the basis for the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX. However, they are five-passenger vehicles, where the CX-9 seats seven. Unlike truck-based sport utility vehicles, which have body-on-frame construction and rear- or four-wheel drive, crossovers have unit-bodies and come with front- or all-wheel drive.
Generally speaking, they are more nimble and deliver better fuel economy than the trucks. But they are still more ponderous than sedans and station wagons.
Minivans, of course, are the most practical of all, with better interior room than SUVs and crossovers, as well as good handling, decent performance, economy and ease of entry. And they still sell well, though they are declining in popularity. Maybe it’s the sliding side doors, although they are practical as well.
In any case, the new breed of large crossovers, including the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and the CX-9, are finding favor with an increasing cadre of buyers. They have standard front-hinged doors, which apparently makes the minivan-averse crowd feel better.
Though the CX-9 is plenty big at 16-feet-8-inches long, it doesn’t cut it as a minivan. It can seat seven, but compromises are required, including a noticeable lack of cup holders. Moreover, to provide room for two comfortably in the third row of seats, the second row must be moved forward, cramping kneeroom there, which can be alleviated by moving the front row seats forward.
Cargo space behind the third row of seats is a mere 17 cubic feet. Though that’s as big as the trunk in some full-size cars and is competitive with crossovers like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, it doesn’t approach the 33-to-38 cubic feet of cargo space in the Dodge Grand Caravan and Honda Odyssey.
Of course, you always have the option of folding the third row, which gives the CX-9 nearly 48 cubic feet for cargo, but then it becomes a five-passenger vehicle. You can seat six if you stow only half of the split third-row seat.
Up front, the seats are deep and supportive, with good side bolstering. The second row, in the outboard positions, is nearly as good. However, the center passenger gets a hard cushion. The second-row seat backs do not recline. In the third row, the seats are flat but adequate.
The instrument panel is nicely designed, with large knobs for the radio and climate controls. However, the information readout on the top of the dash is a narrow slit, difficult to see into, that tries to do too much, crammed with climate, clock and radio information.
What the CX-9 has going for it is looks, a classy luxurious-interior, comfort, performance and handling — not a bad amalgamation of attributes. There are three versions: Sport, Touring and Grand Touring, each available with FWD or AWD.
Prices start at $31,917 for the FWD Sport and rise to $34,470 for the tested AWD drive Grand Touring model. All come with a decent level of standard equipment, including traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes, side air bags and side-curtain air bags, alloy wheels, remote locking, power windows and mirrors, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, audio system with CD player and so-called “tri-zone” climate control. The three zones, however, cover both sides up front and the second row of seats, but there are no outlets for the third row.
The top-of-the-line Grand Touring version adds leather upholstery, 20-inch alloy wheels, motorized and heated front seats with driver-side memory, rain-sensing windshield wipers, keyless entry and starting, heated outside mirrors, Bluetooth telephone capability and daytime-lighted instruments.
The tested CX-9 also had an in-dash six-disc CD changer, a motorized sunroof and a towing package, which brought its suggested price up to $37,185. With the towing package, the CX-9 can tow up to 3,500 pounds. Also available, but not on the test car, are a navigation system and rear-seat DVD entertainment system. Both would bring the tested price to more than $40,000.
At a fairly porky 4,546 pounds, which holds the EPA city/highway fuel consumption to 16/22 miles per gallon, the CX-9 obviously is no sports sedan. But for a big vehicle, it has crisp handling — as good as any of the larger crossovers and certainly better than most truck-based SUVs. At highway speeds, the CX-9 tracks steadily, with few steering corrections required.
Power is provided by a 263-horsepower V-6 engine. Linked to a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift mode, the CX-9 can make it to 60 miles an hour in about eight seconds. That’s respectable for a vehicle this size.
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