Have you ever seen a whale? For something that measures up to 30 metres long – about five Rolls-Royce Phantoms back to back – the world’s largest animal is a curiously elusive creature few people from our neck of the woods are fortunate enough to come face to face with in their lifetime.
The shroud of mystery surrounding the whale was lifted one weekend in June, when many of my fellow condo dwellers in Petaling Jaya finally got up close and personal with a member of the baleen family. Or so they were convinced.
At 5,075mm long, 1,969mm wide and 1,747mm tall, the new Mazda CX-9 is a whale of a car, putting it right up alongside behemoths like the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 where dimensions are concerned. While all three are closely matched in size, it’s the unassuming Japanese entry that exudes the majesty of an oversized marine creature on the move. That trait begins with its massive, krill-filtering grille pasted on an angled front end that continues with the organic lines flowing along the sides of Mazda’s most expensive offering at the moment.
The small but watchful eyes that flank the chrome portions of the front and rear are the final touches to the CX-9’s inner mammalian allure. The finished look isn’t quite that of a predator, but you get the impression it could swallow a horse.
Even though the CX-9’s direct-injected, turbocharged 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G engine turbo whips up a healthy dose of torque – 420Nm from 2,000rpm – to mobilise its 1,858kg frame with minimal resistance, its power limit of 228bhp adds up to only 123bhp per tonne, 2bhp short of the Mazda3’s power-to-weight ratio.
The result is a large seven-seater that takes off like a compact hatch but doesn’t quite maintain the momentum through to the upper reaches of the tachometer, even if the slick-shifting 6-speed auto is game for some hard revving. Don’t get us wrong, though. The CX-9 is far from slow, but it falls a couple of rungs short of the straight-line benchmarks set by its headier and also much pricier continental rivals that benefit either from higher displacements or additional power sources such as the XC90’s electric motor.
If anything, the CX-9’s mass and girth keeps it stabilised on the highway at high speed, making this comfily sprung SUV a viable chauffeur-driven option for VIPs who don’t mind the higher ride height at the back. However, the same can’t be said when the open straights are swapped for slithering B-roads. When rallied through the corners, bodyroll is an inherent problem for the vertically endowed CX-9, with its eco-biased Falken tyres doing little to instil confidence around the bends. It certainly could benefit from Mazda’s new G-Vectoring Control (GVC) technology.
GVC might be part of the package later in the year once Malaysian specifications for the CX-9 are finalised. Our tester was a CBU unit kitted for the Australian market, not that we’re complaining. From a 294W 12-speaker Bose audio system to the liberal use of chrome leather that extends all the way up the dashboard, the CX-9’s luxury game is absolutely on point. There’s Mazda’s i-ActiveSense suite of safety features in the tech list as well to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth.
Speaking of which, our 2WD tester isn’t exactly a bargain at RM316,788, not for a brand that also sells RM80k compacts anyway. As an SUV representing a Japanese brand that competes with the likes of Honda and Toyota, the CX-9 is expensive. In reality, however, you’re looking at something built in the same vein as a BMW X5, seven functional seats and all, but priced in X3 territory. Again, that is if you want to purchase an introductory Aussie-spec unit.
4WD is available as an RM7k option, but it comes with a 66kg load that might stifle acceleration a wee bit. We’d also think twice before taking the CX-9 off-road in fear of getting the imposing and undoubtedly costly 20-inch gunmetal alloys scuffed.
All things considered, the CX-9 is a praiseworthy effort from a mainstream brand looking to make a mark in the luxury SUV segment. It may be outdone by several class veterans in terms of outright performance as well as fit and finish, but Hiroshima’s entry delivers full marks in presence and overall value to those imbued with the willpower to refrain from indulging in brand snobbery.
SPECS
Engine: 2,488cc, 4-cylinder turbo, 228bhp, 420Nm, FWD
Price: RM316,788
Economy: 8.4L/100km
Performance: NA
Weight: 1,858kg
VERDICT: 7/10
Turbo engine is effective, if not entirely power-packed. Hefty proportions and fluid styling give CX-9 the presence to match SUVs twice its price.
