10 Things You Need to Know About the 2015 Mazda CX-9

2015 Mazda CX-9 side profile ・ Photo by Benjamin Hunting

If it feels like the 2015 Mazda CX-9 looks familiar, that's because it's been lurking on Mazda lots for the past several years largely unchanged. And why not? This full-size SUV has managed to stay at the top of Mazda's sales charts despite it not having been significantly updated since it was first introduced in 2007. How has the Mazda CX-9 managed such staying power in one of the most competitive segments in the industry? A compelling combination of practicality, a surprisingly nimble driving experience, and a comfortable on-road character are most responsible for the people mover's success, despite lagging behind a few rivals in the tech department. Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2015 Mazda CX-9.

1. The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Seats Seven Passengers

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 appeals to your practical side by way of its standard seven-passenger seating arrangement. Spread across three rows, the Mazda CX-9 offers excellent accommodations for those riding in the first five positions, with ample head and legroom afforded to all thanks in part to the ability to slide the middle bench backwards and forwards. This feature also benefits those assigned to the rearmost confines of the SUV, although even then it's a good idea to assign those spots to children and younger teenagers first. Regardless of where you're sitting in the CX-9, you'll appreciate the wide door openings at all four entry points that make accessing the cabin a breeze.

2. The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Offers Enormous Amounts of Cargo Space

It's only natural that the 2015 Mazda CX-9's spacious passenger room translate into an equally useful amount of cargo space, and that's exactly what you'll find when it comes time to haul your gear around town inside this full-size model. With every seat occupied you'll be able to load 17.2 cubic feet between the third-row seatback and the hatch, which is roughly equivalent to the trunk of a large sedan. 

Fold the second and third rows forward, however, and you're looking at 101 cubic feet of storage space in total. A number that, it's worth noting, places the Mazda CX-9 near the top of the large SUV heap, bested most conspicuously by the bigger GM triplets from Chevrolet (Traverse), GMC (Acadia) and Buick (Enclave).

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

3. The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Comes With Single Engine Option

One of the indicators that the 2015 Mazda CX-9 hails from an earlier era of automotive technology can be found under its hood. The Mazda CX-9's standard - and only - engine is a 3.7-liter V-6 that produces 273 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. These are respectable numbers for its class, but the lack of direct fuel injection or turbocharging shows that the SUV hasn’t received the same level of modern, fuel efficiency-focused investment as some of its peers. In city driving the CX-9 (which is shifted via a six-speed automatic transmission) returns 16-mpg, while highway cruising bumps that number up to 22-mpg.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

4. The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Can Be Had With All-Wheel Drive

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 offers the option of all-wheel drive to go with its standard front-wheel drive configuration. Despite the presence of decent ground clearance, don’t count on the Mazda CX-9 to tackle anything resembling rough-and-tumble off-roading: the SUV's AWD system is designed to provide extra traction on slippery roads, not climb rocks or ford deep bogs. This is perfectly in keeping with the rest of its full-size sport-utility vehicle cohort, with only a few truck-based three-row models truly delivering all-terrain capability.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

5. The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Handles Surprisingly Well for Its Size

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 makes up for its lack of mud pit acumen by way of its excellent on-road handling. The Mazda CX-9 does more than play lip-service to the Japanese brand's ideal of embedding 'sports car' DNA in each of its models - it actually delivers a driving experience that's head and shoulders above most other large crossovers and SUVs. The older CX-9 platform is blessed with a hydraulic steering system that provides actual feedback to the driver, and the vehicle's suspension tuning strikes a pleasing balance between comfort and precision through the corners.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

6. The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Is Available In Three Trim Levels

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 starts out in Sport trim, which offers three zones of automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 18-inch wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, a touchscreen audio interface, a CD player, and HD radio. Moving up to the Mazda CX-9 Touring nets you heated seats (with power adjustments for forward occupants), a rearview camera, parking assistance, additional safety gear, and leather upholstery. The top-shelf CX-9 Grand Touring includes all of the above but layers on HID headlights, LED running lights, 20-inch wheels, keyless entry and ignition, and a power liftgate.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

7. The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Can Be Customized via Several Options Packages

If you're looking to add some extra flair to your 2015 Mazda CX-9, then you can step outside the normal trim lines with one of several available options packages. Once you get to the Mazda CX-9 Touring you can start to pile on the goods, including the Recreational Accessory package (roof rails, bumper guard out back, cargo net) and the Touring Technology package (power liftgate, sunroof, navigation, satellite radio, fog lights, surround sound audio). The latter is also available on the Grand Touring model, which further qualifies for group of gear that includes a DVD player, navigation, and surround sound audio (Rear Seat Entertainment package).

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

8. The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Scrapes By On Safety

An old-tech motor isn't the only evidence of the 2015 Mazda CX-9's ageing roots. There's very little active safety gear available with the full-size SUV, with only a blind spot monitoring system (paired with a rear cross-traffic alert feature) qualifying under that banner. The Mazda CX-9's crash test performance also reflects the previous decade of its development, as its four-star NHTSA rating is balanced out by a 'Poor' result in the small-overlap frontal-offset test and a 'Marginal' score in roof strength testing (both from the IIHS). The CX-9 comes standard with dual forward airbags, seat-mounted side impact airbags, and side curtain airbags that run the entire length of the passenger compartment.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

9. The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Is Due for a Major Refresh

All this talk of engines and safety gear not quite making the modern grade indicates that it's time for the 2015 Mazda CX-9 to undergo a refresh. One is definitely on the way, with the prediction being that the Mazda CX-9 will debut a new 2017 model sometime in the spring of 2016. What does that mean for those who are currently in the market for a large SUV and don't want to wait months for the latest version? It indicates that sales people will be willing to work harder to move existing inventory before the redesigned vehicle arrives, which in turn translates into a range of incentives you should definitely ask about at your local Mazda dealership.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

10. The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Posts Major Profits

Dignified as it may be, there's one more reason the 2015 Mazda CX-9 has hung around so long - it's enormously profitable for the Japanese brand. In fact, the Mazda CX-9 is neck-and-neck with the Mazda MX-5 Miata as the two biggest profit centers for the company. While the Miata attains its status due to its small stature and minimal cost of building materials, the CX-9 rakes in the dough because of its higher average transaction price (i.e. most customers buy fully-loaded models). It also helps that the investment in the SUV's development and tooling was paid off long ago, further adding to the CX-9's bottom line.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting