Seven seats, and not the kind that fold up as an apology. The 2017 Mazda CX-9 GT was built around the idea that a large family SUV should still feel like something you chose rather than something you settled for.
The 2.5-litre turbo is the clever part. Mazda tuned it for torque low in the rev range, so a full car with seven people aboard moves off without fuss and holds a highway cruise without ever sounding strained. It is a big SUV that never feels like it is working hard.
The third row is genuinely usable - adults will sit back there for a trip to the airport without complaint, and kids will live in it happily. Fold it flat and the boot turns cavernous; leave it up and there is still room behind for the school bags.
Where the CX-9 really separates itself is the cabin. In GT trim it borrows more from a European luxury car than a family bus: soft-touch surfaces, a proper sense of quiet at speed, and a dashboard laid out for the driver rather than for a features list.
On the road it is composed and surprisingly light on its feet for something this size. The steering is accurate, the ride takes the sting out of Melbourne's patched-up back streets, and long trips pass with far less noise and effort than the odometer would suggest.
Finished in grey with 87,000 km behind it, this is a lot of family SUV for the money - the sort of car that quietly absorbs school runs, road trips and airport pickups for years without asking much in return.
Seven seats means you are now officially the one who drives everyone to the airport. Consider the third row a small price for a lifetime of favours owed.
All prices displayed exclude government charges. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, MM Carz recommends you confirm with one of our consultants to confirm specific specifications/features about the car. Please also note our vehicles may not always be on display, as they may be in for detailing - please contact us in advance to confirm availability before visiting our showroom.
