Used 2008 Mazda CX-9 SUV Consumer Reviews
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Best SUV/Crossover for the money!
This is our second Mazda, having driven a 2008 CX-7 since early 2008, which was a company car. We were so impressed with it, that we decided to buy the CX-9 for it's greater seating and because of excellent consumer reviews to accompany our experience with the CX-7. We couldn't be happier with our purchase. We bought a program car with 18K miles on it for about $21K, with leather seats. Another $600 spent on a DVD player and $200 on GPS saved us about $2-3K for the factory installed versions. We couldn't be more pleased with this vehicle! The ride and comfort is better than the CX-7; it's quieter and feels very luxurious. We'll have this for a long time!
Big CUV w/ heart of a sports car
I am a Realtor and I drive a lot of miles for work, to the tune of 25K-30K a year. I got rid of an 06 BMW M5 for my Mazda for practical reasons. Ive had too many friends with the X5 that had many problems with a whole laundry list of stuff. I dont care for the way the Acuras or Toyotas look. So for me it was between the VW, Mazda CX-9 and Audi. The Mazda was in there because I have all car magazines coming to the house and I had read that the Mazda was truly something. And it looks incredible. So, I went and drove them all and the Mazda was truly all by its self. The Audi and VW had quicker 0-60 times but the handling of the Mazda made you forget about its 4300lbs. the other did not.
- Sport 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,900109 mi away
- Grand Touring 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,500159 mi away
- Sport 4dr SUVMSRP: $9,395242 mi away
Best Value without a doubt!
Looked a Lexus GX470 for months but did not want to pay high prices for DVD and navigation combo, this car gave me both and a much lower price. Perfect size car for the wife to drive too. Love all the features!
Sporty and Fun
I traded in a VW Beetle, so there isn't much comparison except from the test drives I have been on. We considered a Pathfinder, Pilot and the Highlander. The Pilot was too much like a car and not very responsive. The Highlander was too pricey for the amount of vehicle. The Pathfinder felt really bulky in comparison to the CX-9. I drive about 4 hours every weekend with my wife and great dane. We wanted a vehicle that would allow us to have room for children in the back along with our dog. The gas mileage isn't too impressive, but a vehicle this size just doesn't have that 30 mpg ability right now. The backup cam on the nav screen seems dangerous.
Best 3rd CUV on the market for the price
I chose among Highlander, Pilot and CX9. Pilot is too ugly for my taste. Highlander is too expensive with ultra-cheap 3rd row and non-splittable. CX9 is the best deal out there. I was worrying about the reliability like most potential buyers would be. No problem for me after 1 year. Mazda service in my area is also superb. Loaners for repairs (TSB, etc.) and major services. The bottom like is that CX9 drives like a BMW X5 with more than $20K saved in your bank.
Very happy with my CX-9
I have had my CX-9 touring AWD for 1 month and look forward to driving it everyday. So far my only regret is not buying the grand touring for a few more dollars. The ride is great, yet I still feel connected to the road. The factory tires are not the best for slick pavement or ice, but seem better after having them siped.
Head and Shoulders above the rest
We are absolutely thrilled with our GT CX 9 . We compared to several others-- Lexus, Acura, Toyota, Honda ect and this is by far the best value for the money! The Navigation, Bluetooth are easy to use. The interior finishes are classy and comfortable. All in all a real headturner! It is our first Mazda and definitely would purchase all over again! Best car I've ever owned---from a former Lexus, Honda and Toyota owner. I am converted to Mazda s . Fun to drive and a smooth ride!
zoom zoom with some issues
After test driving everything in the market, including Lexus, we decided on CX-9. It is amazing how well it handles... quiet, looks great, easily tows my entire family and two more friends with room in back for golf clubs. The problem is the nav... not cheap, but it's maps are 4-5 years out of date! Am told new DVD in fall 08 that we will have to pay for... ridiculous! Why didn't Mazda let us know? We would have waited. Bad experience with Mazda as I tried to get answers.
Mazda is Shirking
I love driving our Mazda CX-9. Mazda does not support the navigation system we got. It is an old disk and they will not send us a new one -- don't have one. They advertised the ability to add an iPod jack, so you could control it from the radio, when we got it. They have finally withdrawn the offer. Unfortunately, we complained because that add on is one we really wanted. I love my Mazda for driving, but the extras that make it a great car is the company. The company is lousy. Grand Touring, don't buy.
Nice
I like the vehicle but I'm not in love with it. I prefer my old Murano when it comes to handling; the CX-9 looks nicer though. The gas mileage on it is terrible. I live at the pump. I give it 7 stars.
A vehicle you will not regret buying
This is an awesome vehicle traded in my ML320 for it and never regretted. Best of all it uses regular gasoline. The handling is top notch. Test drove Acura MDX before I decided to buy the CX-9. The CX-9 handles just as well and costs way less loaded.
Great Vehicle
This is our first Mazda. It is a new 2008 and has slightly less than 1000 miles. So far, we are very pleased with the performance. We are getting about 17.2 mpg with City/highway driving. The third seat is great for the grandchildren. As you would anticipate for a big car, the acceleration is a bit sluggish and the fuel mileage is nothing to brag about. The CX-9 qualifies as a luxury vehicle.
New CX-9 GT Owner
We have owned this 2008 car--a loaded AWD GT for a month and a half but have only driven 1,000 miles so far. We LOVE this car--rides better than our 2004 Audi Allroad but there are a few missing elements that should be available on a car at this price. The interior is very nice in beige. Adjustable Xenon headlights are good.
I'm in love
Test drove a Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Volvo XC90. Wife nixed the space-ship looking Nissan Murano on looks alone. I wanted a third row for times when we cart around our kids' friends, and all the luxury amenities. But didn't want to drive a boat; spend more than $35K; or end up driving a boxy, boring SUV like everybody else. The second I saw the Mazda in-person I was sold. Exterior is honestly a work of art. Test drove both the Touring and Grand Touring. Bought the Grand Touring. Much better ride and so many little worthwhile enhancements. Zoom zoom.
All I ever wanted
I'm loving it ! I had an CX-7 and the turbo was too much for me to handle (turbo lag was omnipresent). I was dreaming about CX-9 since I bought CX- 7 but my wife was not so sure we can handle 40K. Then, I missed more all the options that my Grand Touring Buick LeSabre 2000 was having : rain sensing wipers, day lights, compass in the rearview mirror, trip computer and so on. Missed so much the Buick...and I ended up trading in CX-7 for CX-9. In the first day, I drove in Greater Chicagoland area, 200 miles of fun and joy. I was so happy that I could not believe it. Thank You Mazda, for being number one in my heart. Still...put the towing package for GT. Please.
Good SUV, but
Pretty good CUV. Rides smooth on flat roads, but engine rattles on uphill and makes high rev noise inside the cabin. Lot of wind noise. Looks are ultimate, unmatched. Interior comfort if also good.Too early to tell anything about reliability or performance. fogs inside a lot even under mild humid condition. Lot of people compare this car with MDX, but it definitely cannot match the MDX engine smoothness(Absolutely no noise in MDX), but at least my car makes a lot of engine noise. I don't have a lead foot. Suspensions are very good.
Best choice of 3-row CUV in the market
Cons: so-so fuel economy (16-17 mixed driving with AWD), few customizing accessories Pros: everything else
WoW
I was a fan from the moment I got in and stepped on the gas! Very well done for the price.
Impressed.
Was completely impressed with the Cx9. After searching for six months, we narrowed it down to the Volvo XC90 and the CX9. We chose the CX9 because of the available technology, comfort and style.
Great Vehicle
Realizing of course that no vehicle is perfect, I love this vehicle. Previously drove a Mercury Mountaineer and hated it. It drove like a truck and felt very cold. The CX-9 GT is so refined and fun to drive. Smooth, quiet ride, plenty of room, and a very nice feel.
Fun to drive
Have owned our CX-9 for 4 months. Previously had a Honda Pilot which we liked. The CX-9 is just fun to drive. Great handling. Lots of room, great features. First Mazda we have owned and we really like it.
Zoom-Zoom?
Bought this vehicle brand new from the dealership. The sales rep was extremely knowledgable about this vehicle. I added a remote starter, all weather mats, Lojack and rear cargo mat. The cargo cover cannot be installed due to remote closing gate. Mazda has done a superb job of putting this vehicle together, extensive list of accessories and safety features are standard in this particular model.The car is riding very well (only 200 miles so far!), sound system is unbelievable. The steering response for a crossover suv is excellent. The engine noise and the cabin noise is barely noticeable. Acceleration with the 273 hp engine is more then adequate. So far no complaints.
How do they do it?
After driving 9 other 7 passenger SUV/CUVs to replace our jeep after the birth of our twins, the CX9 easily came out on top. It is remarkable how they make a vehicle of this size drive as small as it does. Mazda really thought this one through before putting it out there, unlike most others that put the third row in as an after-thought.
Just a few missing parts
I have had less than sixty days but I am really luv'n this car. I flew to Chicago from NC to get it and drove it the 13 hours back the next day and was really impressed. There are a few things I would change like having auto door locks and trip computer. Yes the gas mileage stinks but not much worse than others I have driven. Real world is always different than EPA anyway. I have test driven every thing available in the segment and this is the best thing going.I drove the Flex, Highlander, Pilot and the GM trips as well as Audi, BMW and some others.
Best of the Best
I considered Audi Q7, Acura MDX, 2008 Toyota Highlander, GMC Acadia, etc., but no one can come close to this vehicle in terms of performance, quality and price. This car is 100% built in Japan and proves to be the best of the best available today. This car is a true head turner. After my research for three months I bought a 2008 black on black CX9 GT AWD with Bose and moonroof. Drive it once and you will realize what you have been missing.
Great SUV for familes
The Mazda CX-9 is a much better vehicle than the 2007 Honda Pilot I traded in. There is less road noise, better steering, better stereo, more power and torque. It seems like it should have cost more for all of the features, how it handles and drives compared to the Pilot. The six-speed automatic does not downshift all the time like the Honda's five speed did and shifts perfectly unlike the GM six speeds in their new SUVs which I also looked at. Rear seat is easy to get into and seats are much better than the Pilot.
Finally found it
I've been considering an SUV for quite some time but having driven sports cars and sports sedans all my life I wasn't quite happy with anything out there. When I finally got serious about looking last year I considered just about everything on the market from the Isuzu to the Lexus. I was surprised to find Mazda had an entry large enough for my needs and pleased to find the array of options and accessories to match up with almost any of the others. After a month and a half and 2500 miles, I'm happier with my choice than when I first got it. I would recommend anyone looking for a mid to large size SUV look into this car.
"Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! What a feeling!"
Compared this car with the 08 Highlander. We decided on the 08 Mazda CX-9 because of the standard safety features, great quality interior and the very sturdy feel when driving. Plenty of room with standard 7 passenger seating, standard 2nd row air vents, as opposed to the Highlander's optional 7 passenger seating and optional 2nd row air vents. The Bose sound system is a plus! Great exterior design. My children loves the roomy space and the DVD Entertainment. We have discovered the "zoom, zoom, zoom" way of driving and what a feeling, indeed! We recommend this vehicle to anyone shopping for the best of the best! Safety, quality, comfort the zoom, zoom way! The price is just right
"good value" " atractive design"
Cx9 best value for the cost..very good in snow here in Colorado... very responsive handling. Driver position very comfortable. Xenon head lights useful on mountain roads at night. Third row seat and storage area a big benefit along with sun-roof and side warning system. Excellent sound system and navigation... best value for the price in this category.
The CX-9 is a Great Ride
Bought my CX-9 this week. Did extensive search looking at the Acura MDX, Toyota Highlander, Volvo XC90, Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Toyota Sienna. Reasons I picked the CX-9: 1) Good access to third row. Second row seats can slide forward, so you can access the third row without having to move a car seat. 2) Comparable to 2008 Accura MDX in features but costs a lot less, MDX more difficult to get to the third row and dash is very cluttered with different knobs. 3) Comparable to the 2008 Highlander but a better ride. Highlander still has a trucky feel. 4) Decided against the minivans because the new cross-over SUVs offer comparable features and space, without the minivan ride.
Mazda surprises us
Bought this new a year ago. Driven it to California and back (Dallas). Really enjoy the drive, interior room, fuel mileage, nav system, and performance. Engine performs nicely. Rear entertainment system is nice: kids really like it. Powered rear door/hatch is really handy. A/C is powerful. 3rd row seats are split, and easy to bring up and put down. This is our first Mazda and we're really impressed with this vehicle. I've hit speeds up to 85mph and the CX9 handled well.
Great Suv!
I picked up a new top of the line 2008 Mazda CX9 Grand Touring for my wife in January of 2009.This car is amazing comparing to other SUVs like the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and the Lincoln MKX the CX-9 was the best choice for the money.The CX-9 is Sporty, stylish and roomy loads of cargo space, easy access to spacious third row, even for an average-sized adult, The two- passenger third-row seat is one of the roomiest you'll find. And the second row seats are very comfortable for adults. The CX-9 an attractive dash design and an adequate number of technoland an adequate number of technology and entertainment features too many to mentioned. got an excellent deal! Couldn't be happier
Mazda CX-9
Car drives fast, smooth with a calm fun to it.
Better than any Minivan!
I just got this about two weeks ago, still w/ only 560 fun miles on it. I compared to an Audi Q7 3.2 which was out of my budget. The Mazda was better in rear passenger room and ergonomics for 2nd and 3rd row passengers. Power was also better because the Mazda was lighter, mine was a FWD CX-9. A lot of technical features for the money. Nice sporty alternative for a 7 passenger vehicle than buying a minivan.
Best decision
I have been looking at buying an SUV off and on for five years, but I was waiting to see one that would have everything I wanted and be a great deal at the same time! The reviews on this website helped me tremendously. I also looked at the VW Toureg, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Lexus RX, and found the perfect one with this. The third row folds flat really easily with the headrests on. Has every luxury and comfort items the others have, plus some.
Zoom, Zoom ??
Just bought the vehicle and immediately took it on a LONG trip. A pretty comfortable ride, with lots of room. Some very nice features, and received lots of compliments on the exterior design. Overall we are pleased. Not all is perfect in Zoom Zoom land however. With a load it takes its sweet time passing cars at freeway speeds. Husband sez something about low-end torque...or lack thereof. Mileage about as expected...maybe 22 on open road. Surprisingly not much worse in town. Having to pay extra for satellite radio installation in a vehicle of this price range is disappointing. Radar in rear bumper that detects passing vehicles, (and sometimes nearby guard rails) is a great safety feature.
Love this car
Edmunds review is spot-on. I bought the GT AWD with Assistance Package (nav+), the rear entertainment system, and towing package. Interior storage up front and cup holders are a little lacking, the rear doors open wide (pro/con), and the wheels communicate a lot of road imperfections. That said, I love my cx-9. Fun to drive; interior feels very upscale; looks great inside and out. From the outside, you'd never guess the interior space -- seats slide and layout is great. It is huge inside, other than height (though there is plenty of headroom). Got the towing package to use a cargo carrier for keeping trash barrels outside on trips to the dump (this vehicle replaces my pickup).
All it's cracked up to be!
I did a lot of research before purchasing the 08 CX9. Looked at Acura, Lexus, Volvo and Cadi. The X9 is by far the best. I can't believe there a not more of these on the road. I have never owned a Mazda before but if this continues to meet my standards I will buy another. Handling excellent! Style Awesome! Get up and go, yes! I get a lot of looks with this car. I bought it for my wife but I want to drive it too. I traded in a Cadi SRX and this is much better. Great car, you won't be disappointed!
Best Sporty 3-row CUV
I compared Highlander before CX9. The 3rd row of Highlander is a joke. CX9 is the best deal in a feature-packed package with sporty handling. In short, CX9 drives like a BMW X5 at 1/2 price with more room.
True Crossover
Much better looking than in the pictures. I got Sand on Black. Current car couldn't get three child seats across the back. Moreover, with 7 month old, wanted option to have adult in second row to administer bottle. Wife didn't want SUV, I didn't want minivan - perfect compromise. Whilst not quite BMW interior, its probably up there with Passat top of the line, with Passat pricing. Parked next to Q7 in city garage, could barely distinguish the two side-by-side.
Completely Satisfied
Bought this to replace our '01 Honda CRV. Researched many third row SUVS. Came down to a Yukon or the CX9. My wife liked the CX9 because the ride was so much smoother. Couldn't agree more for once! The CX9 is a great SUV, roomy and well designed interior and sleek exterior. First time Mazda buyer and will definitely consider Mazda the next time.
New but have a good feelin about it...
We are still under 1k miles so I haven't let loose on it however, I can tell it is going to be fun once I do. 30-70 mph acceleration is fantastic. We shopped for months for the perfect car and we feel we got it with the CX-9. Did we need the back up cam and navigation system? Not really, but we really wanted the Blue and it was the only one available. There is plenty of room for us and our new baby. The only downside for me is that the seats are a bit narrow in the front, however, I am 6'4" 290 lbs. This is the first vehicle I don't have to put the seat ALL the way back!
Overall Great Car
Owner for 2 years. Overall very satisfied with this vehicle. Great acceleration and smooth ride. After driving it 1000 miles in 1.5 days, I was surprised that my back didn't hurt. I am very pleased with this car's performance, but can't say the same for the dealership's service. Love the Bluetooth and Nav system. Average hwy mileage at 75mph is 25. In town mileage could be better. Loads of cargo room. Down fall is that no daytime running lights and if you turn headlights on during the day, I can't see the speedometer very well even with my prescription sunglasses.
A big wagon (and that's a good thing)
This is a replacement to a totaled Toyota Sienna. *For the segment*, it is probably the best interior space for the exterior dimensions. We looked at a Saturn Outlook, Honda Pilot and Buick Enclave, but the GM's few extra inches in all dimensions made them a chore in parking lots. The Honda sacrificed too much in 3 row. The Mazda was just right. The lack of interior storage is frustrating, with all the room in the center stack wasted under a compartment that barely fits a couple of wallets. A Mazda5 has more interior storage than the CX-9. The handling is excellent, the driver seats far from the front axle and somehow it feels like a substantial sedan on the road.
Great Car
We bought this car to replace a Honda Accord which we were sorry to see go but needed AWD. To cut a long story short we tried a number of cars we tried a number of 'smaller' crossovers including a CX-7, and then my wife sat in a CX-9 they had on the lot. 1 hour later we owned it. It was just head and shoulders over anything else we had looked at in terms of quality, performance and out and out 'coolness'. Interior is stunning, well thought out and comfortable. Leg room is generous as is room for cargo. Car is easy to drive and feels a lot smaller than it really is. While it won't break any records on the 1/4 mile it is plenty powerful enough for most situations.
A hidden gem
Like others, I looked at the Toyota Highlander, Acura MDX, Lexus GX470, Saturn Outlook, and Subaru Tribeca before selecting the CX-9. The exterior styling is fantastic with the stylish lines and those 20" rims. The interior is well laid out and feels like it was designed by people that actually cared about what it would be like to ride in every day. Controls are intuitive which is a nice change from our BMW X5 and Infiniti FX. The Bose stereo also beats the Harmon-Kardon in the bimmer by miles!! The bluetooth took 3 minutes to setup and worked with both mine and my wife's phones. Smooth to drive, plenty of pep, and comfortable.
Excellent value and fun to drive!!!
I looked at the Audi Q7, Subaru Tribeca, Acura MDX, Honda Pilot, & CX9. The CX9 offered the most value and room compared to the others. My wife loved the look. I liked the Bluetooth phone features, navigation system, memory seats, keyless entry & start system, and the list goes on. This is my first Mazda. After doing my research, the CX9 offered an all around excellent package. It has the space for my family of 5 and is fun to drive; unlike my previous car (Toyota Sienna). If you want a roomy, fun to drive, and aggressively designed SUV the Mazda CX9 is worth a test drive.
Love the car but some tidbits...
Well, after one week and 1000 miles including a 10.5 hour drive from San Diego we really like this car but there are some unique nuances. Car is extremely fun to drive and definitely has a good presence on the road. We have the all wheel drive version and driving in snowy conditions in Tahoe was not a problem at all, very stable. Car is very comfortable, good electronics, and overall seems a decent value within the category. Nuances are though that the car does not have a fuel range computer (and we have a grand touring with virtually every feature) and does not have a compass or trip computer. Finally the iPod attachment does not work with Sat radio and Navigation - big issue
Awesome SUV
We looked at Pilot, Highlander, Volvo C-90, Lexus and others. CX-9 Grand Touring, in my opinion, blew them away. Only have 200 miles on it, so there is still much to learn. It was immediately comfortable and familiar to drive. Very car-like, "zoom-zoom philosophy" is very evident. It is easy and fun to drive, and size is not apparent until it is time to park it, or wash it! Dashboard at night, for gadget-freaks, is like piloting the space shuttle. Nav is to a large degree voice activated, some dealers didn't seem to understand that. I currently own a 6 sp Acura CL- S and find every excuse I can to borrow my wife's CX-9. Do yourself a favor - test drive it!!
Great Choice!
In deciding on a second car, I did a lot of research over a 6 month period. To be honest, Mazda never even entered the discussion initially until two months ago! Truth be told, in test driving the Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX 330, Honda Pilot and GMC Acadia, the CX-9 had them all beat. The ride was incredible. Power when I needed it and agility when necessary are the atrributes that made the CX-9 stand above the rest in this category. While the review is true about the stiffness with the 20" wheels, it's not as bad as the review potentially paints it. Interior and Exterior stylings are very, very nice! - This car makes people do double takes! (Especially the Grand Touring model!)