2013 Mazda CX-9 unveiled: global debut in Australia | CarAdvice

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2013 Mazda CX-9 unveiled: global debut in Australia

MAZDA CX-9
By Jez Spinks |
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A new-look Mazda CX-9 has been revealed, with the Japanese brand announcing the redesigned seven-seater SUV will make its global debut at the 2012 Sydney motor show.

The styling of the big SUV has been brought into line with the rest of the Mazda family and isn’t a new-generation model like the smaller Mazda CX-5 released earlier in 2012. Design changes are focused on the front and rear ends, with the headlights and grille familiar from the CX-5.

The revised Mazda CX-9 remains on the same platform as the original launched in 2007 and shared with the Ford Edge. It also carries over the same 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine that produces 204kW of power and 366Nm of torque, mated to the same six-speed auto.

There are no SkyActiv technologies featured on the revised Mazda CX-9, such as the lighter-weight chassis or i-Eloop brake energy regeneration system found on all-new models such as the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6 that are aimed at improving fuel efficiency.

The result is no change in consumption for the CX-9, which is currently 11.0L/100km for the front-wheel-drive version and 11.3L/100km for the model equipped with all-wheel drive.

“The CX-9 is our flagship and while not a volume seller it does very well for our brand,” says Mazda Australia spokesman Steve Maciver. “It’s well regarded for its driving dynamics. We have said that SkyActiv technologies will be adopted across the entire Mazda range but there’s no announcement for this [CX-9] yet.”

The update also brings some upgrades to the CX-9′s infotainment system and there are additional active safety features including lane departure warning, forward obstruction warning and high beam control.

Mazda says it has sold more than 210,000 CX-9s in 74 countries since the SUV first hit the road in 2007.


 

  • Evilmouse

    Looks much more ugly than the CX-5 so it’s a good thing it isn’t aimed to be a large volume seller

    • Sumpguard

      CX-5 is boring and this is aweful. What’s going on Mazda?

      • Oh-oh_i’ll-cop-it-now

        You too have lost the plot, as if Mazda globally design cars at present to fail.  CX-5 sales for their class at the top maybe?  CX-9 not a large seller…yeah that’s why they make cars like that, to just be rare.  Pffft…

      • Sydlocal

        The general buying public must lead a very boring life considering the CX5 has been the biggest selling SUV in Australia across all classes since around May…
        (Please note, I am not correlating sales to how good a car is as we all know that just because a certain car is a best seller, it doesn’t mean it is the best car. In fact that ‘most sold, best car’ line of thinking is the exception rather than the rule and only a fool would think that way!)

        • Sumpguard

              I think you just summed up the general buying publicly perfectly whether it was intentional or not.

              You can’t base people’s choice in vehicles on styling. How would that explain corolla and camry sales?

          • Sydlocal

             Yes, it was intentional! :-)

          • Stumpy

            You are correct to a certain degree. Looks aren’t everything, many Hyundai’s, Toyota’s, older KIa’s, most current Honda’s and some BMW’s and others are pretty crook to look at, but that doesn’t appear to affect their sales too much. I mean everytime I see an i45, iX35, new Civic sedan or Camry I cringe and reach for the sunglasses.

            The CX5 is a little heavy at the front and the rear reminds me of an iX35, which isn’t a good thing. But the CX5 is a bloody good thing to drive. I test drove a couple recently and the petrol was very smooth but a little gutless and the diesel has a lot more grunt but is too expensive for what you get and the payback is too long. Certainly both were much better on the road than the iX35s and Sportages I drove a while ago, both in petrol and diesel. At least Mazda know how to get the ride and steering tuned in car, something that is still lacking in most Korean cars.

            I think the CX9 looks OK from the front, but you have to assume that there isn’t much different at the back if they’re not releasing pictures. I might have to arrange a trip to Sydney to check it and the other new releases at the motor show.

          • Zaccy16

            Exactly! for people who like driving the cx5 is the best compact suv

  • Guest2

    It’s over done! Ugly!!

  • DJ

    I think it looks great! fluid shape and definitely brings it into line with what the new Mazda6 sedan is going to look like! happy with the way Mazda is progressing with their design philosophy

    • Zaccy16

      Yeah i think it looks great too! 

  • Whatthe…

    Glug Glug – These suck fuel in real world urban driving. Both people I know sold them due to their (the cars!)  drinking problem. Remember Ford Australia rejected this engine as the old 4.0 is torquier and less thirsty.

    NEEDS A DIESEL!!

    • Zaccy16

      It definatly needs a diesel but the current petrol engine is still a punchy powerplant. The ride steering and handling of these are top notch and the interior is easily best in class already! i would by one with a diesel!

    • Sydlocal

       It would probably have one if it wasn’t designed primarily for and geared towards the US market. In fact Australia is part of a small handful of countries outside the US who actually get this car.

  • aza

    Hope if they’ve caught up to the rest of the world and added Bluetooth as standard.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=737660467 Kit Ho

    Looks like they just chucked the new Mazda DNA front end on the current model. Shape is very similar.

  • tiddy

    For me…it’s nothing out of the ordinary

  • coolbeans

    They should’ve changed the headlight shape, doesn’t fit with the new grille.

  • F1

    Looks nice

    The front facia is nice, the side profile is slightly slabby.. But it’s nice refresh overall.

  • Sydlocal

    I wonder why they aren’t showing the back? It is really THAT bad??!!

  • gfys

    In that grey it looks like a sad whale

  • Schn

    The design is okay. It just looks like the decided to stick some ‘Kodo’ styled lights onto an old body though. They don’t seem to work together very well… 

    • Legnab

      WEIRD looks like a fish front , however the CX5 is selling its head off so people might like it .

  • Ugv

    The 3.7L V6 is a very peppy unit 

  • F1orce

    It has a nice face, but it seems as though Mazda didn’t bother with updating the profiles & rear. 

    • Sydlocal

       That is why it is called a mid-life update F1orce. Name another manufacturer who bothers to change the main profile (A,B,C,D pillars etc) of a car during a mid-life update/refresh? It is still more than the likes of BMW for example who do things like change the headlight/tail light shapes slightly, offer different looking wheels and making the kidney grill 2mm larger in diameter! As far as mid-life updates go, this is one of the bigger ones in terms of changes to the overall look of the car. However I don’t think the ‘Kodo’ front goes very well with the ‘Nagare’ ‘mid-section’. I still wonder why they aren’t showing the rear. Maybe they did a BT-50 to it?! ;-)

  • Shak

    Another Global debut for AIMS. Goes to show we are more important than some people would have us think. 

  • http://www.ozmazda.com/ Dave

    Nice fresh up Mazda….if I was in the market for a large SUV it would be my first choice….I have to agree a turbo diesel would be a great choice….maybe the one out of the BT50….but then the 3.7ltr V6 has plenty of punch that moves this big family wagon along well with a load.

  • Basil Exposition

    A less attractive fuel guzzler… Why Mazda?

  • http://twitter.com/jackkl Jack

    I am a Mazda fanboy… but a little disappointed with this. The headlights look lost; whereas the CX-5 and 6 have an angry scowl – this CX-9 has a lethargic daze look to it.

    But then again, I didn’t like the Nagare CX-9 at first either – now I love it :-)

  • Gnbridge2000

    a full size spare would be nice.  get with the program mazda

  • TV

    1) Should have a full size spare.
    2) Does anyone know about the accessories cover? Does it come with it? or it a buy in option?

  • TV

    1) Should have a full size spare.
    2) Does anyone know about the accessories cover? Does it come with it? or it a buy in option?

  • Northi

    I love it, will be getting one I think :-)