2010 Mazda CX-9 User Reviews

Pros

Value, power, handling, features,

Cons

gas mileage, rear vision

Purchased As New

Really an excellent crossover. Reliable (only oil changes in first 28,000 miles). Extremely comfortable on the highway. This car is really more of a big sedan with station wagon space than a SUV. Not truck like at all. Extremely competent handling especially for such a large vehicle. Lots of bells and whistles. Especially like the blind spot detector and nav unit. Middle second row seat not comfortable for adult. 3rd row best for kids/teens. Did I mention how reliable this car has been...Never in the shop from the time I took delivery. zero defects and only routine service after 18 months and 28,000 miles....read morehide

Pros

Very nice interior /exterior features

Cons

Fuel, Suspension (must ease up quite a bit around bumps)

Purchased As New

Overall a very nice vehicle but can generally feel road bumps or vibration; while it is not very fuel efficient, it's not horrible on fuel but could use some improvement.

Pros

Everything

Cons

More color choices

Purchased As New

Last year I bought my wife a 2010 CX-9 Sport she loved it but like so many of us over time she regretted not upgrading certain options. This past week I traded it in for a 2011 grand touring edtion and like before we went around trying out the new SUV's from the other auto makers have offered this year and still nothing can touch a CX-9....read morehide

Pros

Sporty handling, car like feel

Cons

gas mileage

Purchased As New

I bought a CX-9 two months ago and love it. Seating for 7 ( although 2 need to be relatively small. I have had it through 18 inches of snow with minimal problems, Icy roads, and freezing rain. The Mazda is always sure footed when you need it, or you can hang it out like a rear driver. Handles like an X5 without the high price tag....read morehide

Pros

Feels like driving a car, not a land yacht

Cons

Good handling requires sacrifice in smooth rides over bumbs

Purchased As New

One thing I hate about car reviews is that they base things on MSRP instead of true market value. I just bought a new 2010 FWD Grand Touring with every option, leather, bluetooth, backup camera, power tailgate, Bose audio, moonroof, etc (except navigation) for only $29500, so MSRP and invoice pricing are really irrelevant. Comparably equipped Highlanders, Traverses, Pilots, etc were all at least $5k more expensive and the Acura/Caddy the "expert" suggests are ludicrously out of this price range. The only knock on this car is that mileage is 2 MPG less than other cars in its class, which adds up to a couple hundred bucks a year. Given the low pricing it's still a better deal. Mazda has some annoying option packages (you have to get a moonroof to get premium audio), but so does every other brand these days. The bottom line is I did all the possible research I could and got bottom line prices for all this vehicle's competition and the CX-9 was an easy choice due to price, which was great, because I liked its style better to begin with. The comparable Highlander while costing $8k more was downright generic/cheap feeling/looking by comparison. I really liked the Acadia/Traverses but their price with options was 20% higher, and like most GM products, had little too much cheap plain hard plastic for a car that expensive. The CX-9 has some cheap hard plastic too, but less, and it's hidden in the nice styling a lot better. As a new dad, I also like the fact that it has a 5-star front and rear crash rating and recieved the IIHS's highest ratings. I can pack a carseat, stroller, Labrador Retriever, my family , and enough luggage for a week and still have room left over. Even with all that it still handles like sedan and has a remarkably small turning radius for a car that cavernous. If you're more of a truck/SUV guy who wants to tow your boat off-roading up a mountain in a blizzard you should probably go with the Traverse/Acadia/Enclave or a true SUV. If you are like me and are looking for a family car that doesn't make you feel dead inside for a great price to occasionally drive on some rough gravel and a little snow but on regular roads 95% of the time, you're crazy to buy anything else....read morehide

Pros

love bluetooth

Cons

gas mileage is bad

Purchased As New

I wish i would of got the buick it looks better. I think it runs like a 4cyl

Pros

Performance, looks, utility, interior fit/finish

Cons

Fuel economy

Purchased As New

Well, after 5-6 weeks of considering a second family vehicle (my wife has a 2010 Buick Enclave AWD CX-1), it came down to the Honda Pilot and the CX-9. While the two vehicles play to slightly different audiences (the Pilot has a slight edge in room, # of passengers, and slight advantage in off-road capability), they are the only two worthy competitors, in my estimation, for my cost range: $25,000-$30,000. Didn't want another GM similar vehicle (Chevy Traverse, GMC Arcadia), as we already have one and wanted something different (by the way, I really love the Enclave - most quiet car I've ever ridden in).


So, I picked up a 2010 CX9 Touring AWD, stormy blue mica (my opinion - the absolute best color), with black leather, and not other options except wheel locks. While I would have enjoyed the Grand Touring (GT) model, I was trying to keep within my initial budget - to keep it to $450/month (same payment as my trade in - a 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT - fully loaded....as you can see, not condusive to hauling a family - hey, lived out a dream of owning a convertible!!). Anyway, the only things I would have enjoyed on the CX9 GT model is the 20 inch rims (slightly better looking), and the memory seat function). But I am very happy with the Touring model - the leather and heated power seats are great, and the non-Bose factory stereo is pretty darn good - esp with hands-free bluetooth and my iphone, though I think I'm going to add an under the seat powered sub-woofer to give the music a little low end power (only thing that is missing from it and only at highway speeds).


So, performance wise - you will find nothing better in a crossover under $40,000. Perhaps the BMW, Audi, Acura and Lexus may be great, but I wasn't willing to spend double what I bought my CX9 for ($4200 off MSRP)....and when I only use the vehicle to take me to/from the train in the morning and weekend trips with one or more kids (or whole family). Nice solid feel to it. Accelaration and brakes are great, and it is as quiet as a kitten, even under hard acceleration.


Quality. Only had it a week - but no rattles (yet, fingers crossed) and the fit and finish of the interior, as well as the exterior, are really good (as good as anything from the luxury brands, in my opinion). Most of the cabin materials are really nice, though there is some hard plastic used here and there, however, it is nicely grained to appear like "soft-plastic" (not like the 2011 Honda Pilot - where the majority of the interior pastic is hard plastic that easily scratches).


The bluetooth is awesome - did I mention that already??!!


I plan to eventually add the roofrack/rails, mudflaps, perhaps the rear bumper step guard, and maybe, just maybe, if I keep it long, new wheels and tires - but not for at least 3-4 years!


The only CON is fuel economy which is slightly less (1-2 mpg) from direct competitors (Pilot, Highlander, Enclave/Arcadia/Traverse), but better than luxury brands (BMW, Land Rover). But, moving 4600 lbs. (w/o passengers) with 273 HP, what can you really expect!


Anyway - in my opinion, you really can't go wrong with the CX9 - one of the best values out there....read morehide

Pros

looks great, well-equipped, roomy, smooth ride

Cons

gas mileage, lack of automatic headlights and wipers, no memory for seat adjustment

Purchased As New

Just bought the 2010 CX-9 Touring and added the moonroof, electric tailgate, Bose stereo and back-up camera. Got a fantastic deal, as they were offering a lot of incentives to clear the 2010 models. I've owned several SUV's and this is, by far, the best. Although the gas mileage is pretty lousy (averaging 11 mph around town),the ride certainly makes up for it. Easy to drive and extremely roomy, I'm able to transport 7 people comfortably, along with all of their stuff! The interior styling is beautiful and I love the bluetooth. After shopping and comparing prices of other comparably equipped SUV's, this one beat the others by an average of $4,000-$5,000. Great vehicle for the money!...read morehide

Pros

roomy and comfortable

Cons

gas mileage, and minor fit and finish items

Purchased As New

nice cross over SUV, I've owned from new since June 2010 and so far seems like a great vehicle. I had a V8 Toyota 4Runner before and although the CX9 is not an off road vehicle so far it has been a very comfortable vehicle. Highly recommend the extra options included in the Grand Touring model, Satellite radio and NAV system are good options although typical of NAV systems the menu structure takes a little to get use to....read morehide

Pros

Nice interior, decent gas mileage, plenty of room, Blind spot monitor

Cons

Horrible tires, rust spots after only 2.5 years, bad paint

Purchased As New

Overall I find my 2008 CX-9 to be okay. But I'm glad its a lease. I've had the car for 2.5 years and have already had to replace the stock tires after 37,000 miles. The paint was not too spectacular, I've found many blemishes. Now I'm finding multiple rust areas on the back hatch. But since it's past 36,000 miles, Mazda doesn't care.
The interior is very spacious and plenty of room for the kids as well as trunk space with the 3rd row down. 3rd row seats are pretty tight, even for the kids, don't expect Grandma to be climbing back there. DVD player is good. GPS is not all that great. Lock out feature when in motion is a pain, especially when there is a passenger that wants to change destinations. Doesn't recognize some roads that have been in use for close to one hundred years! CD player is a bit awkward and has an odd shuffle feature. Sirius not available with DVD system in 2008 for some odd reason, even though there is a button on the dash for it. Had to install an aftermarket setup through the AUX jack. The best feature has been the Blind Spot Monitoring system. Great feature for changing lanes in a big vehicle....read morehide