2015 Mazda CX-9: A Strong Three-Row Choice At $34k

Few purchase a three-row crossover with the illusion that they'll achieve even a modicum of driving pleasure shepherding truckloads of children, drywall, or hockey equipment from point A to point B. For the most part you can merely hope to be comfortable on your journey or perhaps even coddled by a bevy of luxury features intended to distract you from the bulk of your chosen conveyance.

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 is a surprise, then, not so much because it's particularly fun to drive, but because it's more engaging than the majority of its full-size crossover rivals. It manages to rise above the dynamics of its peers without compromising its practicality - in fact, it offers one of the largest interior volumes of any crossover or SUV at its price point. The secret? The CX-9 succeeds thanks to a balance of older running gear and Mazda's willingness to focus on chassis development across all of its products, not just the ones with the 'Zoom Zoom' license plate frames.

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Big, But Light On Its Feet

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 certainly isn't any less titanic than its competitors, what with its enormous 2,860 litres of total interior cargo space with the second and third row of accommodations folded forward and respectable, if somewhat tight legroom for those riding at the very rear of the vehicle. Where the CX-9 stands out is its curb weight: it's possible to order a base version of the crossover that tips the scales at just over 1,900 kilograms, which makes it less ponderous than full-size sedans like the Dodge Charger and Ford Taurus.

Throw in a genuine hydraulic steering system (in a world where deadened electrically-assisted designs are now common) and a suspension that's willing to keep drivers informed of what's actually happening underneath the Mazda's wheels, and the end result is quite pleasing. The CX-9 isn't a track-ready people mover, but rather one that recognizes not everyone is willing to trade-in driving's simpler pleasures merely because they need the ability to haul seven passengers.

Power is decent, too, from the Mazda CX-9's standard 3.7-litre V6. Like the traditional steering setup, the six-cylinder is a bit of a throwback, pushing out 273 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. The price paid for the crossover's ample acceleration is a higher-than-average fuel bill, as the V6 doesn't feature any of the baked-in gas-sipping technologies found in several of its contemporaries (and it makes do with a six-speed automatic transmission). Adding the option of all-wheel drive increases foul weather traction, but further compounds the CX-9's thirsty nature at the pump.

Hold Back On The Extras

I have one caveat about recommending the Mazda CX-9 to the average buyer, and that has to do with its price. You can order the vehicle in two trim levels, one (GS) starting at a reasonable $33,995, and the other (GT) tilting the scale with a surprising window sticker of $45,995. Although the GT includes features such as all-wheel and leather seating as standard equipment, it's hard to justify paying $12,000 more for these niceties when the entry-level edition is already very family-friendly from an equipment perspective. At nearly $50,000, your SUV and crossover options expand by a fair margin, and you should be shopping around before deciding you simply must have the most expensive CX-9 model parked in your driveway.

I was also extremely frustrated by my CX-9 GT tester's infotainment and navigation interface. The touchscreen system (which is standard for the entry-level Mazda, too, minus navigation and satellite radio) hails from an era where it was impossible for a Bluetooth connection to both sync phone data and stream audio at the same time. Each and every journey in the crossover saw my phone disconnected, refused a connection, or put into a loop on the LCD screen telling me I had received a message, even though no message had been sent, with no way to escape even after turning the car off and back on. Entertainment and communications technology is a genuine weakness for Mazda in its high-end automobiles, and aside from fuel mileage it was the only real dark spot during my time with the vehicle.

A Familiar Mazda Story: Stick With The Base Model, Stay Happy

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 drives better and outhauls many other full-size SUVs in its class. It's the kind of practical daily driver that's well-bought at $34k, especially for anyone who has tired of the over-insulated experience offered by the current crop of large three-row vehicles.

Although capacious and boasting better than average handling, it's important to note that the CX-9 is also dated from a technology perspective, and its interior also hasn't quite kept pace with competing designs. You can't fix either of these problems by opting for the more expensive GT trim, either, so don't bother. Accept the CX-9 for what it is, and you'll squeeze a surprising amount of utility out of its well-tuned platform. Try to paper over its weak spots by throwing more money at the order sheet, and you'll only end up disappointed.