I should preface my comments by declaring that I'm just watching the crossover market at the current time, preparing myself for the hopefully distant future need for a new vehicle. My main problem with vehicle aging is rust (barring any inherent mechanical faults), since I live in northern Canada and drive relatively low mileage. I currently own a 1996 Nissan Quest minivan (short wheelbase) and am looking for my next vehicle having a crisp driving vehicle , all wheel drive security and good ground clearance for winter driving and rough potholed roads and 3500 lb towing capacity. These criteria along with a desire to having good, but non-trucky looking sheet metal have brought me to the mid-size crossover market, specifically the CX-9.
I should also declare that I am not happy to lose the minivan's easy rear access provided by sliding side doors, tremendous flexibility as both a people carrier (people capacity is not an issue) and cargo hauling capacity. As such I'm looking for a crossover vehicle that stands out of the crowd. The CX-9 seemed to touch on nearly all my criteria and I am looking forward to my first test drive.
I have long awaited what Consumer Reports has to say about the CX-9. I like reading consumer reviews because they often highlight and prepare me for important issues that I might not think about on a test drive if left to my own devices. Unfortunately I was quite disappointed with the Consumer Reports review, it was not the standout review I was hoping for. Apparently what pulled it down in ratings was sub-par braking performance in it's class. In fact the entire vehicle review was rather run-of-the-mill, not that this is such a bad thing in this age of refined and capable crossover vehicles. The only feature that stood out was the transmission, but even that didn't result in higher performance ratings.
In spite of marketing implications, the vehicle design doesn't seem to translate into real world zoom-zoom performance. Not that I'm looking for sports car performance in a crossover, but I'm having a hard time not being disappointed by same class ratings of sub-par braking, modestly sub-par avoidance maneuver, run-of -the mill emergency handling and acceleration.
If fate leads me to purchase a new vehicle, I'd still opt for the CX-9 because the overall design is on the right track for my needs. I hope, however, that Mazda put a little more effort into engineering real world performance in the coming years. It would give the CX-9 the difference it needs to really stand out in it's class. I realize, however, that for any business everything comes down to making a profit. This vehicle is still the best value for me in mid-size CUV class at the current time.
I should also declare that I am not happy to lose the minivan's easy rear access provided by sliding side doors, tremendous flexibility as both a people carrier (people capacity is not an issue) and cargo hauling capacity. As such I'm looking for a crossover vehicle that stands out of the crowd. The CX-9 seemed to touch on nearly all my criteria and I am looking forward to my first test drive.
I have long awaited what Consumer Reports has to say about the CX-9. I like reading consumer reviews because they often highlight and prepare me for important issues that I might not think about on a test drive if left to my own devices. Unfortunately I was quite disappointed with the Consumer Reports review, it was not the standout review I was hoping for. Apparently what pulled it down in ratings was sub-par braking performance in it's class. In fact the entire vehicle review was rather run-of-the-mill, not that this is such a bad thing in this age of refined and capable crossover vehicles. The only feature that stood out was the transmission, but even that didn't result in higher performance ratings.
In spite of marketing implications, the vehicle design doesn't seem to translate into real world zoom-zoom performance. Not that I'm looking for sports car performance in a crossover, but I'm having a hard time not being disappointed by same class ratings of sub-par braking, modestly sub-par avoidance maneuver, run-of -the mill emergency handling and acceleration.
If fate leads me to purchase a new vehicle, I'd still opt for the CX-9 because the overall design is on the right track for my needs. I hope, however, that Mazda put a little more effort into engineering real world performance in the coming years. It would give the CX-9 the difference it needs to really stand out in it's class. I realize, however, that for any business everything comes down to making a profit. This vehicle is still the best value for me in mid-size CUV class at the current time.