CX-9 has perks, pep to satisfy midsize SUV shoppers

 Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- I've enjoyed past test drives in the Mazda CX-9, and my most recent outing in the 2021 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD sport-ute was no different.

Mazda calls the three-row midsize SUV a vehicle designed "to meet the practical needs of a family while still appealing to (an) owner's sense of style and driving enjoyment."

Yeah, I think that pretty much says it.

Attractively styled, generously equipped and quietly comfortable from the driver's seat, the CX-9 pleases on the short runs and the long hauls.

And there's more ... including an extensive list of high-tech safety features, a max five-star federal crash test overall rating and fair gas mileage at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

A top-center-dash display is a generous 10.25 inches across, but I still had trouble negotiating the infotainment package. It felt like there were a couple of extra steps in each process, and I often found myself back at square one to start over.

While it's a three-row SUV, getting into the back row and stretching out is going to be a challenge for some adults, particularly husky ones.

The 2.5-liter turbocharged-4 engine comes off as a more-than-capable power plant, with 227 horesepower at your command ... or 250 horses on primo octane gas, according to Mazda. Numbers aside, I was impressed with the turbo-4's enthusiastic performance.  Several times the CX-9 quickly powered me out of harm's way on the highway, and I found myself surprised that it was delivering this level of pop.  Surprised, and grateful, as I hate to be swallowed up by an 18-wheeler at the end of a freeway entrance ramp.

The tester had a somewhat hefty sticker price of $48,100, but the Signature model is a top-tier offering among the trim levels.

Looking for a practical-size SUV for the long-term?  This CX-9 deserves your attention.

And I'm betting that Mazda sales personnel will warmly welcome you to the lot, and perhaps be willing to make a buyer-beneficiary deal.

Why?

The CX-9 competes in a SUV segment that includes such heavies as the Kia Telluride, Subaru Ascent, Hyundai Palisade, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer.

Tough crowd.  But the current-generation CX-9 measures up nicely in the segment.