Mazda CX-9 Touring AWD 2016 review | road test video

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• published: 31 Aug 2016
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Mazda CX-9 Touring AWD 2016 review | road test video Richard Berry road tests and reviews the Mazda CX-9 Touring AWD with specs, fuel consumption and verdict. Read Richard's full review here: http://carsgui.de/2bB2LVK See more at the CarsGuide.com.au CX-9 hub: http://carsgui.de/29my6Hg Check out other 7-seat SUVs here: http://carsgui.de/29EZ9D4 - - - - - - - - - - The family car is a personnel carrier. It's a lunch box on wheels, a bedroom, an office, a school bus, a removal van. And that is the new Mazda CX-9. So is it everything a suburban warrior needs? How does it score with the getting kids in and out test, the boom gate ticket test, the you stole my spot parking test, the giant man in the back test, and the wipe clean test? And what is the one thing I wished it had? And I'm not talking about a glass screen that comes up? This second generation CX-9 arrived in the middle of 2016. Completely redesigned, it is stunning. That enormous grille and broad nose, the don't mess with me headlights, the supercar-style air intakes. Side on, it looks enormous. More than five metres long, yet still sleek with a bottom that looks frankly beautiful. So what makes this a Touring? These LED fog lights, the spec below it the Sport doesn't get them same with the automatic headlights, rain sensing wiper. What the Touring spec doesn't get that I wish it did it proximity unlocking which I'd happily trade auto headlights and wipers for – you can't option it either, you've got to step up to the GT spec. Inside the Touring gets that 8 inch screen, it's a seven inch in the spec below this. You also get leather seats, the front ones are six way power adjustable and they're heated too. So it also get everything in the Sport spec too – and that includes 18 inch alloy wheels, led headlights, three zone climate control, sat nav, Blinds spot, push button start, parking sensors, rear cross traffic, reversing camera, smart city brake. The CX-9's interior feels so high quality, from the dash materials to the door trims, the steering wheel, it feels like it's been put together so well. In the back the Touring get this fold down armrest with cup holders, a little storage space and two usb ports. There's two cupholders on each side too. Now with those seats up it doesn't give you a heap of boot space, and getting our carsguide pram in proved tricky. But fold the rear seats down and there's gallons of room for the pram. So the getting the kids in and out test. Now these doors are massive, they open wide and that's great for access, especially in the third row. But this coupe style roof line does get in the way a bit if you're putting little ones and taking them out. Ah, the boom gate ticket test, even with arms like an actual boom gate it can be difficult to reach the ticket machine from any car – but the CX-9's ride height puts you right on the same level. Now the car park test. We can't lie – navigating the up and down its narrow ramps gave away the HMAS CX-9 Touring size, this definitely isn't an MX-5. What's it like to drive? Yeah, I would love to get of of Mercedes-Benz' engineers into this and just wathch their face. The ride in this is unbelievable for – it feels like air suspension. The steering is so light and accurate and the SUV itself doesn't feel as big as it looks, when you're at the helm. It's just such an easy car to drive. The previous generation CX-9's big thirsty V6 has been swapped for a turbo petrol four cylinder which has even more torque. Some things are a bit too easy the accelerator pedal itself feel light actually like the rest my foot on the pedal and push down when I want to but this car I'm driving just the weight of my foot if pressing it down. But the pdeal position is excellent. Visibility is ok, those A-pillars do get in the way a bit, but it's not a major issue. It's so quiet in here, Mazda has put thicker glass in, and better insulation under the floor. The gaps in the door have all been sealed better too. This is the all-wheel drive and it costs $4000 more than the two wheel drive. Now all-wheel drive is great for dirt roads but it's also an excellent safety feature on bitumen. It's not vital though – use the $4K to go on holiday. The benchmark for the suburban personnel carrier has been raised by the CX-9. That ride, those looks, the refinement and build quality, the space inside. And the Touring spec is in that zone where you get a stack of features at a really good price. CarsGuide.com.au - Buy cars. Sell cars. Simple. Check us out: www.carsguide.com.au Subscribe to our channel: http://carsgui.de/2aMzFTT Follow us on Twitter: http://carsgui.de/2ah6eta Like us on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/17kv9Ui See us on Instagram: http://carsgui.de/2aQ0M1H We're on Google+: http://carsgui.de/2atBwbF