This would be a good move as many people still write off vehicles that don't have 6-cylinders. With Mazda, that mostly means the CX-9. I have read countless comments online from people saying they would've bought or considered the CX-9 with a V6 (or I6 in this case). Without driving the CX-9, they assume the turbo 4 is inadequate without realizing it is the most responsive vehicle in class at normal speeds. Or it's about long term reliability which is understandable. A lot of people just don't want a turbo thinking it's not going to last. Mazda has likely seen this attitude play out as well as experiencing lower sales numbers and figure they need to offer the bigger engines.
Interesting comment, and bang on the money.
I fit in nicely with those people that still want a V6 in a large vehicle.
If I was looking for a 3 row SUV, I'd want that V6.
Interesting thing happened to me a few days ago.
I've always been curious about how fast the CX-9 is, and I found out the other day, without actually driving one.
I was pulling through an intersection just as the light turned green, and it was one of those situations where two lanes merge into one after the intersection.
I was in the proper lane, and a CX-9 was half a length behind me in the lane that was ending.
He decided he wanted to get ahead of me at the merge point, and I could sense what he was going to do.
Screw that.
He hoofed it, and so did I.
We pretty much matched acceleration, and neither one of us gained or fell back more than half a car length.
He finally realized he wasn't going to pull even with me, let alone pass me, so he pulled up at the last second and had to get in behind me.
What's interesting about this is, I was driving my 2002 Nissan Pathfinder.
It's a 3.5 V6, with a ton of miles on it, and I had it loaded full of tools and supplies (I renovate houses). It's heavy.
It was rated at 240HP when new, and although it runs well, I'm sure a few horses have escaped the barn after 17 years....lol.
If this is all the CX-9 has to give, I'd want that six under the hood.