2021 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD
Price: $54,631 CAD
Colour: Machine Grey Metallic
I’m not sure where or when it started but in recent years carmakers have seemingly decided that all their cars have to look the same. I’m not talking about design elements or themes but in a lot of cases nearly identical vehicles just in slightly different sizes. The first time I can recall this in recent history was the Aston Martin lineup of vehicles from the early 2000’s. You had the DB9, V8 Vantage and the Vanquish. They all looked exactly the same. I remember an old episode of Top Gear where they had all 3 lined up next to each other and I couldn’t tell one from the other. All achingly beautiful, but it was like triplets. For years before this phenomenon began you had clear rules of basic car design as related to class. You had the entry level vehicles that were perfectly serviceable cars but didn’t stimulate a man’s private bits to any great extent. For that you had to go up a level and yet another level before you hit the good stuff. That’s how cars were. You bought a Civic Coupé in 2003 but you secretly wanted the Accord Coupé because it was better looking, bigger, cooler and had more power. This system gives car owners something to aspire to. In modern times however we have the exact opposite. Take the current lineup from Mazda as an example. Their SUV’s are mirror reflections of each other. The CX-5 and CX-9 are the worst offenders but if you’re in a rush the CX-3 looks too much like it’s big brothers for my liking as well. When I see any of these cars on the road I think to myself “Nice looking car, which one is it?” and I wait for it to drive by so I can see the model name on the back end. I should be able to tell immediately which of these vehicles is the low end rot box and which one is the car you’d actually want to own, but I just can’t. This week’s car is the 2021 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD… at least I think it is. Let me check the back.
power & performance
I have expressed in previous reviews that I respect Mazda as a manufacturer. They make good quality cars that drive well, feel tight and offer a somewhat unique driving experience. SUV’s are naturally not sports cars and with few exceptions, none of them drive like a sports car either. I’m not saying they should as they exist for another purpose. We drive SUV’s and CUV’s because we have children. Those children need to get to school, tutoring, sports, play dates and all the other banal activities of our everyday that slowly whither the soul. We choose SUV’s and the like because they present a little cooler than vans while still getting the job done.
The CX-9 is a big vehicle. It is prone to a bit of wallowing, swaying and leaning like other vehicles it’s size. Mazda seems to know that it’s stock setup is a little soft as they have included a “Sport” setting for this vehicle. I usually don’t notice much of a difference between these settings in more everyday cars. The CX-9 however offered me a little bit of a surprise. After I hit that little switch everything changed. The suspension tightened up, the engine revved louder and all of a sudden it had a little bit of pick up. I noticed something similar in the Mazda 3 Sport but on a larger scale. I’m beginning to believe that Mazda actually gives us something when we kick their cars into “Sport” mode. Many other cars just include the button so they can add it to the equipment list. Pair this with the AWD this model comes with and you have a good little driver that can offer a little stimulation without overdoing it.
exterior
I want to make it clear, I think the Mazda CX-9 is a good looking car. Even that huge, wide open mouth that looks like it’s designed to suck up plankton doesn’t put me off. I really rather like it. The lines are pleasing and the shape works for a vehicle in this class. Now take this last sentence and cut and paste it into a review of the CX-5 and it would be just as accurate. The body of a car is when carmakers have a chance to do something different. Mazda took the CX-9 and put it on a little diet and out came the CX-5. I find this disappointing as the CX-9 really should be a step up from the CX-5 in every way. If this isn’t possible it should at least be something different. I don’t know how I can like the look of a car so much and yet be so disappointed all at the same time.
interior
The thing that struck me first about the CX-9 Signature’s interior is the second row Captain’s Chairs. This small change makes a huge difference in the feel of riding in the second row. Full grown adults would have no problem sitting in the second row in absolute comfort. The seats are heated as well which is always a perk. The downside of this choice is that you loose one seat and can stuff a maximum of 6 people in the car. This might bother some people . For me it’s almost a perk as it’s one less unwanted extended family member I have to haul around on lovely family road trips.
Third rows on large SUV’s are typically useless. They are hard to access, the roof is too low and there is nothing for leg room. The CX-9 is no different. The third row is reserved for kids who can’t argue or adults you have an issue with. Otherwise it would be best to leave the third row folded down (easy to do in the CX-9) and enjoy the extra cargo space.
This “Signature” trim level of the CX-9 is the top of the line model. It’s called “Signature” because it’s designed to be the sophisticated and higher end model aimed at upper crust. As a result we get more quilted leather in the CX-9. Apparently nothing conveys class like quilted leather. It’s in almost every mid to high end car and it’s out of control. We’re on the verge of a Quilted Leather Pandemic and if we don’t flatten this curve (remember that slogan?) we’re going to be in real trouble. It’s not something that’s going to age well.
Mazda loves Heads Up Displays in their cars. So do I. I like the information that the HUD gives you and you truly keep your eyes on the road. Adjusting the HUD is sometimes accomplished through a control on the dash somewhere but in the CX-9 you get that job done through the infotainment system. The HUD display gives you speed of the vehicle, the prevailing speed limit and an indicator that someone is in your blind spot. It’s a good system that gives you what you need.
Considering the “Signature” is the top of the line it should have either a roof made of glass or at the very least 2 sunroofs to let the world in. The single, and very tiny, sunroof in the CX-9 is a huge disappointment. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at when I saw it. I don’t use the sunroof a lot but many people do and this will leave them wanting more, a lot more.
The CX-9 includes one of those little design details that make a huge difference for me. Much like the Mazda 3, it has a little knob on the console for adjusting the stereo volume and also turning it on and off as needs be. Such a small detail but I love it. They put that knob right where I rest my chubby little hand. Saves me the effort of lifting it to the screen on the dash.
Functionality of infotainment systems is sometimes a challenge. They aren’t well thought out and it can be very difficult to find the option you’re looking for. Mazda’s system is easy enough to use and I have no real complaints. A huge bonus of their system are the shortcut buttons they include (right next to that knob I love so much) on the console. These buttons take you to the home screen, music and navigation. No fumbling with the wheel and all those sub menus.
Back-up cameras are a very useful tool. I’ve been able to spare everything from bicycles, both my children and my beloved Labrador from death when I saw them at the last minute on the back-up camera. The back-up camera in the CX-9 was a little different than what I’m used to. The angle on the camera is very low. So low in fact that it takes away from the fish eye, wide angle lens and doesn’t show you as much information as it should. It still prevents you from hitting lamp posts right behind you but things to the side are a little less clear.
Quality
The CX-9 is a good quality car that’s made from quality materials. Despite the brown colour and quilted nature of the leather it’s good quality leather. The interior materials feel solid and there isn’t a cheap piece of plastic to be found. Driving a Mazda makes you understand the cars are built to last.
CQI – 8. The carpet it the CX-9 is still carpet. That’s a good thing. Not premium carpet but we dodged the velcro so we must take the win. Oddly it must be noted that the floor mats are made from a really nice type of fiber that I wish they had laid across the whole vehicle. That would have put them at a 9 or 10 and made one very humble car blogger very happy.
value
The Mazda CX-9 competes with numerous vehicles. The Hyundai Palisade/Kia Telluride are both good options and are worth a drive while shopping. They are similarly priced but come with even more equipment, more power, second row Captain’s Chairs and the interiors are even nicer places to be vs. the Mazda. The Toyota Highlander also offers similar pricing and equipment. It also offers a trim level with the second row Captain’s Chairs I love so much. Toyota’s also hold their value on the resale market better than Mazda or the Korean twins as well so keep that option open as well.
final thoughts
The Mazda CX-9 is a good car. It looks good and is made from quality materials. I like the 6-seater arrangement that shows respect for the passengers stuck in the second row. The short thrift sunroof is something that would barely bother me but would enrage many other prospective owners. What I can’t forgive so easily is the lazy, photocopier design of this vehicle. It needs to be different from the other cars in Mazda’s lineup. Different is good. Different implies value and a little bit of exclusivity. I have not problem with being able to identify a vehicle as being from a certain manufacturer based on how it looks on the outside, but I would like to be able to tell them apart.
