2008 Mazda CX-9 Bottom Line

By  Rex Roy, Editor

TheCarConnection.com's editors read the latest reviews on the new 2008 Mazda CX-9 to write this comprehensive review. Experts from TheCarConnection.com also drove the Mazda CX-9 to offer you a definitive opinion on this sporty, seven-passenger crossover. This review also compares the 2008 Mazda CX-9 with other vehicles in its class to give you the best advice even when other reviews present conflicting opinions.

The term "crossover" is misleading. In the strictest automotive sense, crossover vehicles like the 2008 Mazda CX-9 are supposed to be car-based vehicles that look and perform something like SUVs. However, when you begin to look for the "car" hiding under many of today's crossovers, they're nowhere to be seen. If you look far enough back in the CX-9/Mazda family tree, you will find roots in the sporty Mazda6 sedan. And those roots tap fertile soil.

This seven-passenger crossover was introduced in 2007, and today offers an alternative to "the minivan" that totally avoids the dull and boring stigma associated with mommy mobiles. Simultaneously, the 2008 CX-9's styling avoids going in the false "I'm tough" direction of many SUVs. For the Mazda CX-9, 2008 brings only minor changes such as more power thanks to the enlarged V-6 engine that has grown in displacement from 3.5 liters to 3.7 liters. Horsepower is up to 273, helping the CX-9 maintain its sporty edge. Unlike many high-horsepower V-6 engines out there, the Mazda's does not require premium fuel to hit its claimed power. A six-speed automatic is standard.

The front seats are comfortable, and the back is too, but the 2008 Mazda CX-9 is not the biggest of the big crossovers--it's a touch smaller than a Buick Enclave, for example. But it is one of the prettiest, and its deft steering and handling give it a carlike feel.

Beyond the 2008 Mazda CX-9, the range of available crossovers staggers the mind. If size matters most to you, then consider any of the large crossovers from General Motors--they're the biggest. But don't do so before driving the Mazda CX-9, which may reveal that size doesn't matter that much. Style and price range remain big variables, so take the time to see and drive the Mazda in person. Only then decide whether the CX-9's low $30,000 price is spot-on for you. After a test drive, you may decide the 2008 Mazda CX-9 is really a less expensive alternative to an Acura MDX or BMW X5.