Lots of carmakers try to redefine popular vehicle segments without alienating customers, but Mazda may have actually pulled that difficult feat off with the 2016 Mazda CX-9. This completely redesigned family crossover incorporates the styling, engineering, and technology elements that have worked so well on other recent Mazda models into an eminently practical package. The Mazda CX-9 tries to be sportier, more efficient, and more stylish than any previous three-row crossover, so the competition had better beware.

As Car and Driver's Tony Quiroga says, "Incorporating zoom-zoom charisma into a three-row crossover is no easy feat, but Mazda’s engineers pull it off with the CX-9."

Over the past few years, Mazda has garnered plenty of praise for its cleverly engineered SKYACTIV® four-cylinder engines, and now one of those engines will power the Mazda CX-9. Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, its all-new 2.5-liter turbocharged unit will produce 250 horsepower on 93-octane fuel (227 horsepower on 87-octane) and 310 pound-feet of torque.

A four-cylinder engine may not seem burly enough to move such a big vehicle, but this is no ordinary four-cylinder. Virtually every part is maximized for optimum performance and efficiency, from the exhaust-gas recirculation system to the variable Dynamic Pressure Turbo. The 2.5-liter engine also runs a fairly high 10.5:1 compression ratio, and Mazda says the new engine is more flexible than the larger one used in the outgoing Mazda CX-9. 

Mazda wanted the Mazda CX-9 to be as entertaining to drive as a three-row crossover could be. So it applied the same SKYACTIV® engineering philosophy to the chassis, cutting 198 pounds from front-wheel drive models, and 287 pounds from all-wheel drive models. And that’s with the 53 pounds of sound-deadening material added back to make the cabin quieter. The chassis is also more rigid than before, which should make for better handling.

It's been 10 years since the last generation of the crossover, but as Autoweek's Ben Stewart says, "After spending some time winding our way from San Francisco to Bodega Bay in the second generation CX-9, we can say this new one was worth waiting for."

The 2016 Mazda CX-9 redefines what a large family crossover can be, and goes beyond expectations to deliver one compelling driving experience. Be sure to contact us online or visit Cutter Automotive Galleries at 805 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96813 to be among the first to test-drive the all-new Mazda CX-9.

Image Credit: Mazda