G
Guest2017
I must say it is rather nice that we are able to pick-up these brand new CX-9s at such 'bargain prices' across the board in most cases. However, rest assured that these prices won't last forever. Mazda, in its infinite wisdom, want's and indeed needs to get the CX-9 up to a higher street level profile in the US. The best way to accomplish that task is by making it 'affordable' to more buyers.
My gut feeling tells me two things. One - we have only just begun to see where Mazda is going to ultimately take the CX-9. I think this vehicle is about to get much nicer looking and more endowed with both Performance Upgrades and an even higher level of Creature Comforts. Those increases will ultimately translate into higher prices on the showroom floor in future CX-9 renditions. Priming the pump right now, is most likely what Mazda is doing with current CX-9 pricing.
I've compared the Signature to many different SUVs, but in particular the Volvo XC-90, Audi Q7, Audi Q5 and Accura MDX. Without question, the XC-90 and Q7 are simply better SUVs - but the question is how much better. The answer turned out to be 15% to 20% better materials, technology and engineering. Yet, the CX-9 Signature costs around 50% as much. That kind of math makes it really difficult for some people to justify the XC-90 or Q7, if they are on a budget - because they can get 80% to 85% of a XC-90 or Q7 by buying the CX-9 Signature.
When it comes to the smaller Audi Q5 and Accura MDX, I honestly see the Signature at Par with both. In fact, in the case of the Q5 that I test drove (both 2017 and 2018), I was shocked at the fact that the Audi interior simply felt slightly less comfortable than the Signature. There was also something about the overall geometry of the CX-9 Signature Interior that seemed or felt better in design than the geometry of the Audi Q5. In fact, I felt the Accura MDX Advanced Interior Design to be a hair's cut above that of the Audi Q5.
With Mazda just beginning to dump all this goodness into the new CX-9, plus the upgrades that I suspect will continue to be dripped into the platform over the next few years - look for prices to creep higher along with those improvements. When you are making something as nice as an Audi Q5 and flat out better than the Accura MDX Advanced and in some places at Par with a Volvo XC-90 or Audi Q7, you can't keep doing that at bargain basement prices forever - unless that's Mazda overall strategy and they are seriously committed to that strategy.
Look for a solid $50K CX-9 Signature in the not so distant future and one that will be even better than the current 2018. A 2.5 liter V6 Turbo with additional component roll-out on more iSKYACTIV Vehicle Dynamics features, maybe? G-Vectoring was the first real component roll-out into the new CX-9 form the existing iSKYACTIV Vehicle Dynamics category. This means they are not done improving the handling quality of the CX-9! Its gonna get even better - if that is even possible.
My gut feeling tells me two things. One - we have only just begun to see where Mazda is going to ultimately take the CX-9. I think this vehicle is about to get much nicer looking and more endowed with both Performance Upgrades and an even higher level of Creature Comforts. Those increases will ultimately translate into higher prices on the showroom floor in future CX-9 renditions. Priming the pump right now, is most likely what Mazda is doing with current CX-9 pricing.
I've compared the Signature to many different SUVs, but in particular the Volvo XC-90, Audi Q7, Audi Q5 and Accura MDX. Without question, the XC-90 and Q7 are simply better SUVs - but the question is how much better. The answer turned out to be 15% to 20% better materials, technology and engineering. Yet, the CX-9 Signature costs around 50% as much. That kind of math makes it really difficult for some people to justify the XC-90 or Q7, if they are on a budget - because they can get 80% to 85% of a XC-90 or Q7 by buying the CX-9 Signature.
When it comes to the smaller Audi Q5 and Accura MDX, I honestly see the Signature at Par with both. In fact, in the case of the Q5 that I test drove (both 2017 and 2018), I was shocked at the fact that the Audi interior simply felt slightly less comfortable than the Signature. There was also something about the overall geometry of the CX-9 Signature Interior that seemed or felt better in design than the geometry of the Audi Q5. In fact, I felt the Accura MDX Advanced Interior Design to be a hair's cut above that of the Audi Q5.
With Mazda just beginning to dump all this goodness into the new CX-9, plus the upgrades that I suspect will continue to be dripped into the platform over the next few years - look for prices to creep higher along with those improvements. When you are making something as nice as an Audi Q5 and flat out better than the Accura MDX Advanced and in some places at Par with a Volvo XC-90 or Audi Q7, you can't keep doing that at bargain basement prices forever - unless that's Mazda overall strategy and they are seriously committed to that strategy.
Look for a solid $50K CX-9 Signature in the not so distant future and one that will be even better than the current 2018. A 2.5 liter V6 Turbo with additional component roll-out on more iSKYACTIV Vehicle Dynamics features, maybe? G-Vectoring was the first real component roll-out into the new CX-9 form the existing iSKYACTIV Vehicle Dynamics category. This means they are not done improving the handling quality of the CX-9! Its gonna get even better - if that is even possible.