2007 / 2008 Mazda CX-9 - CarzUnlimited.com

Vehicle Overview
After marking time for the last few years with just the Tribute sport utility vehicle in its lineup, Mazda has two new crossover SUVs on tap for 2007: the five-seat CX-7 and the seven-seat CX-9. Available in Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trim levels, the CX-9 has a number of standard safety features and hits dealerships in early 2007. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Exterior
The CX-9 manages to avoid the chunkiness of many SUVs in part because of its angular nose and car-like honeycomb grille. The SUV's beltline rises as it heads rearward, and the sides are free of cladding. Sport and Touring models have 18-inch wheels while the Grand Touring version wears 20-inch wheels. Available features include a power liftgate, high-intensity-discharge headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers and turn-signal repeaters in the side mirror housings. CX-9s have a four-wheel independent suspension and front and rear stabilizer bars.

Interior
Three rows of seats allow the CX-9 to seat up to seven people. The 60/40-split second-row seat has room for three, and its backrest can recline or fold flat. The seat can also slide fore and aft to optimize legroom and cargo space. There's 17.2 cubic feet of cargo room behind the 50/50-split third-row seat, which can also fold flat. Standard features include air conditioning, keyless entry, power windows and cruise control.

Under the Hood
A Ford-sourced 3.5-liter V-6 that makes a preliminary 250 horsepower and 240 pounds-feet of torque is the only engine offered in the CX-9. The V-6 drives a six-speed automatic transmission that has a clutchless-manual mode. Front- or all-wheel-drive versions are offered.

Safety
All-disc antilock brakes, side-impact airbags, three-row side curtain-type airbags and an electronic stability system with Roll Stability Control rollover mitigation technology are standard.

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (BFNT) reports its all-season Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 luxury touring tires will be OE on the 2007 Mazda CX-9 sport utility vehicle.

The SUV will be available in three models -– Sport, Touring and Grand Touring –- and will be fitted exclusively with Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 tires in sizes P245/60R18 104H and P245/50R20 102V.

“The Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 tire was designed for SUVs but delivers the ride and handling qualities of a passenger car tire,” said Michael Martini, president, original equipment consumer tire, BFNT. “It is a perfect match to the Mazda CX-9, which offers the seating and cargo space of an SUV, but drives like a sedan.”

The new Mazda CX-9 will be available in dealer showrooms in early 2007.

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