Quick update and review of the Tuxmat floor mat option.
Overall: 9.5/10. And my only minor qualm with them might actually correct itself over time. I believe these are the best mat out there of those available that fit my needs.
Background: I drive a Jeep (the CX-9 is my wife's) and in that vehicle I have the OEM rubber floor mats, which are very similar to the Mazda OEM (US), in that they are rubber and do not fully cover the entire carpeted area. They just cover a subset footprint leaving carpeting along the sides exposed. As the one in the household who cleans the vehicles, and with a wife who's hair sheds like a retriever, I really hate vacuuming hair out of carpeting. We also visit the beach a lot and sand can be a nuisance to vacuum up as well. Of the mats available for the CX-9, the Tuxmat was the one that seemed to have the best coverage and came with stellar reviews across the internet.
First Impression: Very well-made, and thoughtfully designed. These are carpeted on the bottom, and have a PVC almost pleather-like top surface. The top surface will be extremely easy to vacuum anything loose and just as easy to wipe anything that doesn't come up with the vacuum. This would not be the case with a traditional rubber (OEM-like) mat. They will require hosing down periodically to get them clean. The design and how the mats integrate into the vehicle is really what sets these apart. First, for the driver and passenger mats that typically use the OEM snap connector, Tuxmat has designed these to fit over the OEM connector. This creates a fully waterproof (or at least much more water resistant) solution. The method by which Tuxmat allows you to secure the driver mat is really simple and because of that seems very smart. Second, the included clips to secure the mat to various paneling along the rim of each mat ensures a very tight fit against panels and will aid in preventing dirt/anything getting underneath the mat. I have not seen a design like this before and I am convinced it's the best solution out there.
Install: The mats went in very easily. I took full advantage of the included panel clips, which were most helpful for the driver and front passenger mats as these will be the most-used seats. I had plenty of leftover clips as well, so enough are included to do it right. The front mats have extremely good coverage for the entire area, even extending up and over the back part of the floor where the seat is. The 2nd row mat is a one-piece design and again, has really good coverage. The 3rd row mat tucked into where the seat leather meets the carpet, which makes for a very clean install.
Impressions: Not much to add to the above. Great design, easy to install, excellent coverage, very easy to clean, and seem like they will hold up very well.
Minor gripes: The second row arms that extend the length of the bench seat along the side are not flush against the step panel. This might be because they are new (and because it is colder out) and have not settled. Maybe over the summer I can get them to become more seamless like the front mats. I could probably add some velcro (like the Mazda OEM cargo mat) to help with this. Another solution would be a panel clip that instead of being flat, curves up with a short 90 degree bend allowing it to more firmly hold with the panel. This is not a heavily trafficked area of the vehicle, so it's no big deal, but something I wanted to point out.
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