The arrival of Mazda’s flagship, the 2013 CX-9, inaugurates another year of car/truck reviews for The Post.
The CX-9 is the Japanese builder’s full-sized, seven-passenger SUV; it reached showrooms several weeks ago.
A stylish new grille and bold wraparound taillamps mark the top-of-the-line Grand Touring all-wheel-drive model delivered to me. It is finished in liquid silver metallic exterior, with black leather interior.
Recent suggestions that Mazda may enter the luxury-car field were downplayed in a visit I had a couple weeks ago with Tetsu Nakazawa, vehicle line manager for Mazda. “Think of it, more immediately, in terms of us adding premium upgrades to our current lineup, rather than introducing new full-luxury entries,” he said.
The new CX-9 supports that impression. In addition to its sleekness, it offers a plush interior, very roomy, with high-tech features such as TomTom navigation. Its screen, though, is relatively small (5.8-inch).
Sizewise, it is the same as a year ago with 113.2-inch wheelbase and overall length of 200.2 inches. Performance is adequate from its 273-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission, with EPA fuel estimate of 16/22 miles per gallon. I averaged 19.1.
Long front and rear doors lend spacious access; they’re 3 or 4 inches wider than a typical sedan. Care is necessary to avoid swinging them into the adjacent vehicle in a parking lot.
The second-row seats will slide fore and aft. At half forward position, it allows room for two occupants to crawl into the third row and appreciate sufficient legroom. The leather is fine back there, though comfort level is at risk. Lifting the cargo floor at the far back reveals a 6-inch-deep storage bin. With the third-row seats in place, cargo space is only 17.2 cubic feet; it expands to 48 feet by folding the third row flat into the floor. A power liftgate adds to loading ease.
Impressive handling belies the CX-9’s 4,500-pound weight and almost 17-foot length, a credit to its stiff frame and MacPherson front strut/multilink rear suspension.
Its active torque split all-wheel-drive system did little slipping on the snowy and icy streets. The setup shifts torque from the front wheels to the rear if needed in adverse conditions. I drove the CX-9 when it was introduced in 2007; that, too, in cold, icy conditions. The new AWD is much improved in grip and responsiveness.
The optional full-color touch-screen navigation, power moonroof, Bose audio with 10 speakers and Sirius satellite radio boosted sticker price for the CX-9 to $40,030. Among standard items are 20-inch wheels, HID headlamps, keyless start, rain-sensing windshield wipers, blind-spot monitoring and rear backup camera.
Among cheaper versions of the CX-9 with all-wheel drive are Sport, with base price of $31,375, and the Touring at $33,820.
Soul Exclaim priced at $23,575
With its short wheelbase of 100 inches, the front-wheel-drive Kia Soul ! did some slipping and sliding in the snow of Christmas week.
The quirky, pug-nosed Soul is popular with buyers of 18 to 35 years and is one of Kia’s strongest sellers going into 2013.
With heated leather seats, navigation, push-button start, automatic climate control, rearview camera and 18-inch wheels, the Soul carried a sticker price of $23,575.
It was powered by the 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine (1.6-liter is standard) and 6-speed automatic transmission. Fuel mileage average was 23.4; EPA rating is 23/38. The Kia boasts a 10-year, 100-mile powertrain warranty.
The upright stance of the Soul (it is 63 inches tall) provides ample headroom. Seats are wide and comfortable, legroom is limited. Cargo space behind the rear seat is only 19 cubic feet.
Notes from e-mail
Q: Bud, I think one reason SUVs and vans and other large vehicles enjoy such robust sales is that they sit higher and are easier to enter or exit for people with arthritis, knee or back problems. Typical sedans require one to bend down to enter. I think many people would switch to a conventional sedan if the manufacturers designed the car door to stretch above the edge of the roof line, taking away from the roof of the car a few inches and adding it to the door frame. It doesn’t need to add any more glass to the windows, just make the door frame extend higher. It would sure make a difference to me. Would it detract from the style of the car? Who cares? The roofline doesn’t affect the individual’s opinion of the beauty of the car as much as the grille or sides do. – E.M.
A: Thanks, Elliott, we’ll toss this around with the readers, although I think you underestimate the value of the roofline to perceived beauty of the automobile.
Saturday Drive can also be viewed online at DenverPost.com/budwells. Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.
