2007 Mazda CX-9 Exterior Review [ 2008 ]
Mazda CX-9 Exterior Review
Exterior - 8.7 (Very Good)
Reviewers are very pleased with the 2007 Mazda CX-9's exterior styling, which has a car-like look that makes it appear smaller than it is. The Washington Post says "Some people thought it was a slick minivan, while others saw it as a slick SUV. But nearly everyone who had anything to say about its appearance gave the CX-9 high marks for styling."
Cars.com feels "Mazda took the right approach with the new seven-seat CX-9 crossover by giving it a sporty look that both reaffirms Mazda's brand image and is likely to appeal to more buyers than conventional SUVs do." At almost 200 inches long, the CX-9 is the largest Mazda offering, but several reviewers note it hides its heft well. "What is perhaps most surprising about the CX-9 is that it doesn't look big from the outside, although it is about a foot longer than the Nissan Murano and Toyota Highlander, which are not small vehicles," says New Car Test Drive.
The Detroit Free Press praises the CX-9 for being "among the most attractive vehicles in its class, with Mazda's distinctive grille and wheel arches and a sharply raked windshield." The Detroit News likes the "sporty look," but also notes "its steeply-angled windshield and mean face, which is dominated by the wide bumper and narrow headlights, make it look more sinister than friendly." The Kansas City Star says the CX-9 has "striking looks," and About.com calls it "undeniably handsome." 4x4 Review has the ultimate praise, commenting "Without sacrificing versatility or efficiency, the CX-9 strives for the sophisticated appearance of a vehicle costing two to three times as much."
One of the only complaints about the CX-9's appearance comes from the Detroit Free Press, which finds the large 20-inch tires that come on the Grand Touring model off-putting: "People frequently overlook the importance of tires, but putting the wrong set on a car is as bad as wearing two left shoes. That's why automakers test and approve specific tires, and why the difference between the CX-9's base 18-inch tires and the uplevel 20-inch tires is so surprising. In fact, anybody considering the CX-9--an attractive, if pricey, new seven-seat SUV--should test drive models with both tire sizes before buying."
Exterior Trims
Sport base model
The base CX-9's exterior features include 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, P245/60 R18 tires, body-color door handles, body-color front and rear bumpers, a body-color roof spoiler, dual exhaust outlets with bright finish, a body-color liftgate garnish, halogen headlights, body-color side view mirrors, an intermittent rear window wiper/washer, and a rear step bumper.
Touring
The Touring adds driver and passenger heated side view mirrors.
Grand Touring
The highest trim level adds 20-inch aluminum-alloy bright finish wheels, upgraded P245/50 R20 tires, bright door handles, a bright liftgate garnish, fog lights, auto on/off Xenon High-Intensity headlights with manual height adjustment, and body-color side view mirrors with side marker lights.
