CX-9 lets suburbanites ditch safari dreams

Access to the back row is eased by Mazda’s clever in-floor tracks for the second-row seats, which saves passengers from tripping over the raised tracks that other manufacturers use. The third-row seat is split 50/50 and is designed to fold down easily from the rear hatch area (without the hassle of having to remove the head restraints, as is necessary in the Honda Pilot).

In its CX-9 and CX-7 crossovers, Mazda (a third of which is owned by Ford) uses components that are also used in the new Ford’s Edge crossover. All three vehicles were developed independently and by their own design teams, but the evidence suggests the Mazda teams have done the best job.

The CX-9 shares the same 263-horsepower V6 engine used in the Edge, but in Mazda’s case the engine is quieter and more refined, perhaps because Mazda uses different intake and exhaust systems.

Both cars have six-speed automatic transmissions, and Mazda’s development team has programmed the CX-9’s gear shift computer exactly right, giving the driver the ability to toggle up and down through the gears manually. But there’s actually little motivation to shift manually because the transmission is smart enough to make the right gear selections automatically, even when you’re driving quickly.

The steering stands out too. In contrast to the light, disconnected feeling of the Toyota Highlander, the CX-9 is true to Mazda’s “Zoom-Zoom” slogan with accurate, communicative steering that never leaves the driver feeling like a bus driver. And unlike the sluggish, ponderous handling of the Honda Pilot, the CX-9’s suspension reacts adeptly to changing road surfaces, producing family-vehicle handling that was unthinkable before the introduction of Mazda’s even more nimble CX-7 and BMW’s stellar X5.

While shoppers in this segment may not harbor a secret desire to enter the CX-9 in a race, all drivers can appreciate and benefit from adept, confident handling. Hustled over twisting country byways, I found the CX-9 demonstrated confidence-inspiring agility and stability.

And Mom needn’t fear a shortage of luxury amenities during chauffeur duty. The CX-9 offers available leather seats, a navigation system, satellite radio, back-up display, keyless entry and start, rear-seat DVD players and a 110-volt household-type power socket.

Surrendering outback fantasies by adopting family wagons in place of square-shouldered SUVs may ding a few egos, but given the superior ride, handling and efficiency of crossovers, especially when they are as athletically styled and easy to drive as the CX-9, it’s probably worth it. And we were getting tired of wearing khaki anyway.

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