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2016 Mazda CX-9 First Drive

Automotive enthusiasts tend to obsess over spec sheets. How else could we know which cars and trucks are the quickest in a straight line, hold the road with the greatest tenacity, or tow the biggest trailers? More succinctly, what ammunition would we have in the seemingly endless back-and-forth of Internet forums if it weren't for specifications? Mazda's engineers think they've found a better way. The 2016 CX-9 has less horsepower than its primary competitors. The only engine available is a turbocharged four-cylinder, hooked to a six-speed automatic. Drivers won't miss the 23 horsepower (or more, as we'll soon explain) lost in the changeover from 2015 to 2016, because Mazda applied its holistic Skyactiv approach to the largest vehicle it offers. That means less weight and, ultimately, more fun. Or so they say. Are they right? Yes. And no. Most of the time, in normal on-road driving conditions, the 2016 CX-9 is the most fun you can have with three rows. But the real-world tradeoff didn't go off completely without a hitch. Reasoning that real-world performance is more important than ultimate horsepower, Mazda specified a four-cylinder for its big, three-row SUV instead of a more traditional V6. Let's get those all-important specifications out of the way: All 2016 Mazda CX-9s are fitted with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 250 horsepower and, impressively, 310 pound-feet of torque at just 2,000 rpm. Unless you decide to use 87 octane, in which case you'll be limited to 227 horsepower. Mazda doesn't think owners will actually notice the difference in power levels, so there's no Premium Fuel Recommended sticker on the back of the fuel door. Mazda utilized some clever turbo trickery to deliver a diesel-like torque curve from its gasoline-fueled engine, which makes the small-displacement powerplant feel lively at low engine speeds. The flipside is that the CX-9 runs out of breath as the needle swings across the upper reaches of the tach. While that simply wouldn't do for a sportscar like the MX-5, in the CX-9 it's not necessarily a deal breaker. One benefit to the downsized engine is that it doesn't guzzle fuel. The EPA rates the CX-9 at 22 miles per gallon in the city and 28 on the highway. Drop one mpg all around for the all-wheel-drive model. Those figures beat out all the CX-9's most natural competitors, including the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. The turbo-four Ford Explorer matches the 28-mpg highway figure, but loses by three in the city.

2017 Mazda CX-9 Prototype First Drive

If you read our coverage from last week's Los Angeles Auto Show, you'll note that we were extremely fond of the new Mazda CX-9. We like the look of the thing, inside and out, and it promises to be the best-driving entry in the three-row crossover class. We agree wholeheartedly with that claim. You see, we already drove it. Full disclosure: Our test of the camouflaged CX-9 prototype you see here was short, and while we were able to get a good handle on the CX-9's basic driving dynamics, it'll take more than a 30-mile session around the outskirts of LA to uncover the finer details. What's more, these vehicles are not production ready. In fact, according to our handlers at Mazda, the CUV we tested was actually at the stage before pre-production – so basically, a pre-pre-production car. That said, all the details about the engine, transmission, suspension, and steering are "largely final." As you can see in the gallery, the cars we tested were heavily camouflaged both inside and out. As for styling, we love it – see the undisguised pictures from the LA show for more views. And as for inside, we can say leather seats of our Grand Touring model were comfortable and supportive, and the smallish steering wheel felt natural in the hand. Even in pre-pre-production state, the CX-9 was impressively quiet. An extra 53 pounds of under-floor sound deadening, thicker windows, and active noise cancellation all contribute to what Mazda claims will be "among the quietest vehicles in its class." It's worth noting that the good sounds, like the throaty, whooshy noises of the turbocharged engine, found their way into the cabin just fine. The 2.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine – Mazda's first force-induced Skyactiv engine – is an excellent piece. The 2.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine – Mazda's first force-induced Skyactiv engine – is an excellent piece. It uses a variable geometry turbocharger, which the company calls a Dynamic Pressure Turbo. Here's how Mazda explains it: Imagine a normal garden hose. Put your thumb over the nozzle, and the force of the water increases dramatically. That's the DPT at low rpms. It features three small exhaust ports to direct exhaust gases into the turbo, making for 17.4 quick-spooling PSI at low rpms. As the revs climb, a flow control valve opens up, redirecting the gases to a trio of larger ports – removing your thumb from the hose, if you will – and keeping the boost up.

Mazda RX-7 could return in 2020

We like writing about the next Mazda RX-7 because it's like writing about the Chupacabra, Slenderman, or the Florida Skunkape, all of which are imaginary creatures seen by someone who knew someone who had an uncle whose dead great-grandfather's sister took a picture of it, invariably at night, while she was drunk, with her 1933 Kodak Brownie. Autocar is the latest with an RX-7 revival, saying it could come as soon as 2020 to celebrate Mazda's 100th anniversary. Before we get to that, let's take a brief look at RX-7 rumors. In 2009 there was speculation we'd get a concept RX-7 at the Tokyo Motor Show. That same year it was predicted the RX-8 would die to make room for a new RX-7 in 2012. In 2010 Mazda was developing a 300-horsepower rotary for the RX-7 that could run on gasoline or diesel and had better fuel economy and less oil consumption. Then Autocar said we could get the new RX-7 by 2013, a rumor that turned into a new RX-9 based on the Mazda MX-5 Miata platform. In 2012 the potential arrival date had become 2017. In 2013 the company CEO Masamichi Kogai said the equivalent of "Not gonna happen," and he said it again last year, just 90 days ago. It should be clear by now that this car is Mazda's version of the Lotus Esprit. Whew. Now that we're clear on all that, what does Autocar say? That a follow-up to the extinct RX-8 is coming that will sit on the new MX-5 Miata platform, and Mazda's vice president of European R&D said there are still 30 engineers working on rotary engines in partnership with universities. The successor will be front-engined and rear-wheel drive, have either two seats or 2+2 seating, and could be called RX-6, RX-7, or RX-9. That sounds like three distinct statements, only one of which is definitely true, that could possibly just maybe add up to a new RX-7, but could even more likely add up to a rotary-engined concept car that never sees production. We've only got five more years to wait, and since we've been begging at the RX-7 doors this long... Related Video: News Source: Autocar Rumormill Mazda Coupe Performance rotary rotary engine mazda rx-7