I wanted to list a few more observations. I am approaching 800 miles driving. At this point, i did go ahead and install Xpel Ultimate, which is a paint protection kit. I am so glad i did, as i had my first rock hit the front, and it did an excellent job of protecting the paint.
Testing the Temperatures in the A/C
I own a 2016 Mazda6 (we bought this 14 months ago and it's a 16, go figure), and decided to compare the A/C unit temperatures of both vehicles with my thermal temperature gun and here is what i found. I left each car on highest setting running for 10 minutes, and then shut off the vehicle and took the reading. i couldn't get a steady reading with the gun pointing at the blowing air.
The mazda 6 produced a temperature of about 55 degrees on average.
The mazda CX9 was able to produce a temperature of about 61 degrees on average.
Obviously this is not meant to be a statement of fact, and mostly curiosity, but those who are saying temps seem to take longer to come down in teh CX9 might have a case here. One thing i did notice. When disabling the rear temp control, the air was cooler coming from the A/C vents.
Fuel Mileage
I am on my 3rd tank of fuel, first two were filled with 87 Octane (dealer filled this).. 3rd I decided to fill with 93 Octane to see if there's a difference.
Tank 1: Average 21.6 Mpgs, (mostly highway miles).
Tank 2: Average 20.4 mpgs, (wife had the car for 2 days, but i was getting 22 before she took it).
Tank 3: Averaging 22.8 mpgs, (Only 100 miles into it).
So my take is obviously driving habits contribute heavily, but i don't think there's any huge difference with the fuel type. I certainly do not feel a power difference in type of fuel as i drive mostly between 2 and 4k RPMS. Rarely do i get over that.
Comfort
I see lots of complaints on seat comfort. I can honestly say this is the most comfortable seating i have ever had in a vehicle; and i have owned premium brands like Acura. The leather is noticeably top notch, and the seat position even with only 8 way power adjustable is good enough. This would really depend on your height and weight, but average people (like myself: 5'10", 180lbs) should have absolutely no issues with this vehicle. Rather than complain about the lack of adjustments, go to a dealership and see if you can find a seating position that meets your needs.. If you can't don't buy it. But i certainly wouldn't rule it out just because of the lack of adjustments without trying.
Surprises and Quirks
1. The first thing that i wasn't aware of after purchasing this was the auto high beam feature. I love it, and it works excellent. I never had a vehicle with this but it truly is one of those not noticed, but extremely cool features.
2. Also, i love the heads up display. At first, it was distracting especially getting used to it. But after a few hundred miles, i barely notice it and i certainly never look down to the analog speedometer gauge.
3. The information screen next to the speedometer was well done, especially comparing it to our Mazda6. For each trip, it keeps track of your average mpg, it has the safety feature display, and it even has a compass. I really like the information you get with the different options. A few of them are pointless, like the service due screen. But overall, it's another thing i didn't spend much time with at the dealer.
1. The first quirk i notice: there's really no coin tray. In the center console, i was hoping for some sort of place to keep my loose change, but this doesn't have any. Seems like a small miss.
2. Mazda is weird how it manages power. For example, if you shut the car off, you can't do anything like wind up windows or close the sunroof. In my Ford Edge, after you shut the car off, it would keep an auxiliary power, to do those few things until you opened the door.. So to get past that, you either have to restart the car, or push the start button twice. I know this because the first night i had the vehicle, i left my sunroof open. I completely lucked out that it didn't rain, especially since i don't normally park in a garage. That was a disaster avoided.
3. The sound system is very good, when you get it adjusted right. but i find constantly depending on what i am listening to or what the source is, i have to play with it quite a bit to get it right. It's not a big deal, but something i noticed.
Overall
I love this car. It is the best new car i have purchased, and when you factor in the cost, it's probably the best bang for your buck. It's fun to drive, it has plenty of power, and i have had many people compliment me on how it looks. For a vehicle designed for families, it really gives the class a not so boring choice.
