When looking to buy last year, the top 2 options were the cx-9 and sorento. Clearly the sorento is a nice vehicle, but we went with the cx-9 for a few reasons.
- I much prefer the 2.5 T responsiveness and torque for everyday driving than the “lazy” v6 of the sorento. I like power right off idle rather than near redline. I know some opinions differ. As far as the 2.5T being unrefined, yes and no. It is harsh on cold start, but becomes smooth after a few minutes. Clearly different, which seems a little odd as I’ve never noticed such a difference in other cars I’ve owned.
- maybe it’s due to my driving style(fairly spirited) but the sorento transmission was jerky and didn’t know where it wanted to be. I noticed this on 2 test drives, as did my wife(biggest con for her). I find the mazda transmission excellent, much smoother.
- exterior and interior styling I preferred the mazda. Purely subjective.
- I found the mazda to actually be a little more spacious, especially behind the 3rd row. As long as you are not stacking cargo to the roof, the cargo “area” is quite generous. The high load floor and sloping roof impinge on cargo “volume”. From my experience cargo area is of more practical concern than volume. I don’t routinely carry big boxes.
-while the sorento handled well, the Mazda’s steering feel and overall handling instilled a sense of fun and confidence simply not present in the sorento. I realize many will not notice or care about this.
- the heads up display is seriously underrated. I find it extremely useful, and nigh indispensable. I would find it very difficult to buy a car without one now. It is that good.
- the sorento did have the nicest headrests I’ve ever felt. Might be a concern with falling asleep driving....
Frankly people complaining about the size/ practicality of the cx-9, yet not hearing the same concerns with the very similarity sized sorento, highlander(even worse 3rd row), GMC Acadia, Santa Fe xl. You really have to be nitpicking to notice a difference in practicality with the above. Sure it’s not quite a pilot, explorer, traverse or atlas, but if the cx-9 doesn’t have enough space, you likely need to be looking at a minivan anyway.
If you shop your cars based on spec sheets and features, sure buy a Santa Fe etc. There is a reason the cx9 wins so many comparison tests- better specs and numbers doesn’t mean bettter vehicle.
