|
CROSSOVER SUVs have been prevalent in the country in the
past two years, and Mazda has its own take on it with
the CX-9.
The CX-9
is Motor Trend’s 2007 SUV of the Year, and based on
looks alone, it’s not difficult to fathom. The overall
design can be pegged as a Mazda 6 on an SUV chassis,
with steeply raked A-pillars combining with the
10-spoke, 20-inch rims and twin exhausts to give the
vehicle a large sporty dose. It would be better, though,
if Mazda went with a monotone approach instead of making
the lowermost body cladding black, as the result makes
the SUV look more like an off-roader.
The
interior also has a heavy Mazda 6 influence, as seen in
the dashboard gauge cluster, steering wheel, A/T gate,
aircon and radio-control designs. One problem is ingress
and egress, as the low ceiling and roofline can be a
hindrance. You actually must bend your head down 10 to
15 degrees to get your whole upper body into the cabin.
Another problem is the weak air conditioning, which
blows decent cool air at the blower two setting; it’s a
good thing Mazda installed large second-row and
third-row aircon vents to keep all occupants cool.
The CX-9
isn’t lacking when it comes to small item storage, but
it isn’t exceptional, either. The center console doesn’t
have the deep storage that you get in the Ford Explorer
or Expedition, but you have 12 cupholders and large door
storage bins. Both rear rows fold flat, and can swallow
three large balikbayan boxes plus three to four
large travel bags.
The
local market is fortunate to get the 3.7L V6 instead of
the 3.5L V6 that came with the SUV’s first iteration.
The former gets into the powerband early (2,750 to 3,200
rpm), complemented excellently by the all-wheel drive
and six-speed A/T. The latter changes gears crisply
without any shift shock, and downshifts quickly at
one-half throttle effort. Sadly, the governor limits top
speed to 180 kph, the CX-9 is not built for off-roading
due to a low 204-mm ground clearance and 20-inch rims
and the tested 6 km/l on four days of mixed driving is
not exactly fuel-efficient.
Mazda
went to lengths to make the CX-9 fun to drive, and it
shows in its road enthusiasm. The car-like unibody feels
rigid, and the four-wheel independent suspension is
tuned for sporting responses, with minute body roll and
controlled ride motions. The SUV’s safety net includes
dynamic stability control, or DSC (breaking grip at 80
to 85 kph with it turned off), just as it should in a
vehicle this size. It lets you have more fun than any
three-row SUV, but the DSC reminds you that there’s a
handling limit. Unfortunately, the CX-9’s stiff-legged
response to speed bumps isn’t very kind to those in the
third row, and the steering is very heavy at low speeds.
Safety
is a love-hate matter. The brake pedal always feels
reassuringly firm underfoot, yet the effort level never
makes braking a chore, even in stop-and-go traffic. The
5.7-meter turning radius is great for shooting through
the small U-turn slots along Aurora Boulevard, and
exterior/interior lighting is bright. Parallel parking
can be tough, however, as the sharp angle of the
C-pillars results in a number of rearward blind spots.
Irksome also is the lack of backup sensors and side
mirrors with narrow latitude sight.
Mazda
Philippines’ first venture into the crossover segment is
a good one, but it needs to get over some serious
performance and safety issues, otherwise, it could get
all crossed up in an increasingly popular segment.
|
