Mazda CX-9 1st Generation 2007-2015 (TB) Review

The Mazda CX-9 first generation was built during the Japanese brand's marriage to Ford. As such, it shared many components with the US carmaker. Early models used a Ford-sourced 3.5-liter V6, but in 2008 the CX-9 started using the 3.7-liter Duratec V6.

Mazda kept the CX-9 on sale for a full eight years, and during that time it received two facelifts.

In 2010 Mazda made some minor tweaks to the front, injecting some of the newer design DNA into its older large SUV. You'll notice the restyled lower bumper and lower air dam with a chrome strip still running horizontally through the middle of it¹. On either side of it, new leaf-shaped fog-light slots also sport chrome surrounds². The upper grille's chrome "eyebrow" is better integrated into the Mazda logo and it gains a chrome surround as well³. Many styling cues are borrowed from the Mazda 6.

The 2013 facelift is far more substantial. Mazda drew inspiration from the design of the popular CX-5; The lights were tweaked to have a lower curve that dips down into the bumper more, as opposed to the straight-underlined previous items¹. The upper grille is far larger and gets a new interpretation of the "smiling" lower chrome strip; this item now extends into the headlights on either side². The lower grille is far smaller and is no longer surrounded by the body-color bumper but blended into the lower body kit³, while the fog-light slots are much simpler and now contain round fog lights⁴.

Mazda kept the rear almost the same for the 2010 facelift, and you have to look closely to spot the subtle design differences. The chrome garnish above the rear number plate is now significantly thinner¹. The light clusters are all-new², retaining their previous outline, but with the clear and red parts swapped around; the backup lights and indicators now sit in the top half of the cluster and no longer the bottom as on the previous car.

The 2013 facelift's rear lights are all-new¹ and also echo those of the CX-5, with a round brake-light element and a far more modern appearance. The all-new lower bumper² with its round dual tailpipes³ blessed the CX-9 with a far sportier rear end.

The side profile essentially remained the same for 2010, but you can clearly see the new front bumper and revised taillights and Mazda added new alloy wheel designs to keep it looking fresh. It's much the same for 2013 and although the new front and rear ends are once again noticeable, along with new wheels, nothing much else changes.

The CX-9's interior layout remained the same throughout its lifespan. At the top of the center console, it has a small digital display providing the time, climate control information, and basic trip computer information. Below that it has dual vents, then an infotainment screen, followed by the climate control buttons and dials. Other minor tweaks were made over the years.

In 2010, Mazda gave the CX-9 a new steering wheel¹, straight from newer Mazda models, and added revised controls - now with a display - to the rear-seat ventilation vents. Better materials also mean these models have improved quality levels. The infotainment system was updated with every facelift². Unfortunately, the CX-9 never received an update that unlocked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Mazda CX-9 is powered by a Ford-sourced 3.5-liter V6 Cyclone engine for a single model year, as were other Mazdas at the time. It produces 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda replaced this engine with a 3.7-liter V6 in 2008, which is the only other engine available in the 1st-generation Mazda CX-9. There are no turbocharged or hybrid models. Just one engine (in two different sizes) and three trim levels, which remained the same throughout the car's lifecycle. The 3.7-liter is essentially the same 3.5-liter V6, but bored-out to produce 273 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. Mazda kept the six-speed automatic and standard FWD system. AWD was available as an optional extra across the range.

As far as AWD systems go, the CX-9's is fairly rudimentary. The car is FWD under normal conditions, and it only engages the rear wheels when the front wheels start slipping. There is no torque vectoring or any of the other modern electronic features, and the car is all the better for it. If you simply want some additional grip in poor weather conditions, it works a charm. The tow rating is on the low side. Even with the large engine and body, the Mazda is only rated at 3,500 lbs.

The CX-9 comes from a time when the world cared little about fuel consumption and emissions. Its engine and gearbox combo date nearly two decades back, when people still used to point and laugh at the Toyota Prius. (We still do, but only because it's ugly). A 200-inch three-row crossover weighing roughly 4,300 pounds without passengers was never going to be frugal. As you can see in the table below, the CX-9 loves to sit back and enjoy a glass of the finest gasoline. One might even say it has a problem. Most of the models do better out in the real world, but not by much. The best you can hope for is 360 miles on a 20-gallon (20.1-gallon for the 3.7) tank.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

The CX-9 predates the modern driver-assistance systems that we regard as commonplace today. The original 2007 CX-9 is fitted with ABS brakes, stability control (incorporating roll stability control), six airbags, and tire-pressure monitoring. For 2008, blind-spot alert became standard on the flagship Grand Touring. The 2009 Grand Touring additionally has an auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror and a garage-door opener. The 2010 CX-9 has real-time traffic added to its navigation system and a multi-information display added to its rear-view camera, but only if these options are fitted.

The 2011 CX-9 has speed-sensing auto-locking doors. For 2013, Mazda added blind-spot monitoring, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera as standard to the Touring and Grand Touring trims and the 2014 models of these same trims also have rear cross-traffic alert.

There are both pre-and post-2011 ratings from the NHTSA. The 2008 model crushed the safety test, scoring five stars overall, and five stars in every category but the rollover. Post-2011, the scores were less admirable. Why? The NHTSA changed the parameters of the test to keep up with the times. As we know, safety is not a static thing, with huge improvements being made on an almost annual basis. The Mazda was tested again in 2013, and its scores dropped dramatically.

The CX-9 has one of the easiest trim structures out there. Mazda started and ended the 1st gen CX-9's lifecycle with the same three trims. You have the entry-level Sport, the mid-spec Touring, and the top-spec Grand Touring. Mazda's largest SUV retailed for roughly $30,000 when it was new, so you can expect a decent number of niceties from the base specification. Keep in mind that even though the CX-9 had a touchscreen from the start, the systems were extremely clunky. Mazda was quite proud of the 2013 facelifted model's 5.8-inch touchscreen, but compared to a modern smartphone it's still very rudimentary.

Besides the features outlined below for the individual trims, the range as a whole also received some year-by-year updates. For 2009 a trip computer is standard on all trims and the trailer-preparation package is also standard on AWD models. All 2010 models benefit from improved materials in the interior and rear AC controls with a readout. All 2011 models all have speed-sensing automatic door locks.

The CX-9 is practical and well put together. While the infotainment systems across the various model years are all outdated by modern standards, proper build quality never goes out of style.

Even early models feel properly bolted together, and owners praise ride comfort over long journeys. The ergonomics are also spot on despite its age. All of the most-used features are exactly where you'd expect them to be. We also dig the red gauge backlighting, which makes the instrument cluster and digital display easy to see no matter what the exterior conditions.

As for the trim, Mazda uses some inferior plastics, but mostly it's high-quality stuff that still looks good. Cloth is standard on the Sport, but the Touring and Grand Touring come standard with leather upholstery for the first two rows. The top-spec Grand Touring comes as standard with wood trim, which looks a bit last century to our younger eyes, but at least it makes the interior feel like a luxury space.

The practicality is where the Mazda really shines. The CX-9 has large rear doors, which makes it easy to access the third row. The CX-9's third row has ample legroom for adults, but headroom is on the tight side. Still, many owners maintain that adults are perfectly fine back there. The first and second rows offer more space than anyone could reasonably expect, though in-cabin storage is limited. With all three rows in place, the Mazda has 17.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity, which is a useful figure for daily and even weekly errands. With the third row folded flat, the cargo capacity grows to 38.2 cubes, which is enough for a family of five to have a week-long holiday. Fold the second and third row flat, and you have just over 100 cubes to work with.

Mazda has roughly 700 dealers to service both the USA and Mexico. The good news is that the 1st generation CX-9 was built using many Ford parts, so you won't struggle to find a dealer that can help you out. As a result, the Mazda CX-9 isn't that expensive to service, though you want to keep an eye on the mileage. A basic oil and oil filter change costs roughly $100 and needs to happen every 7,500 miles. A cabin air filter replacement should take place every 25,000 miles, and the cost of that is roughly $500. It's mostly done as part of a larger service, where the technician will also inspect various parts closely. At 100,000 miles you can expect another big bill, as various parts need to be lubricated, and the spark plugs have to be changed. For this service, you're looking at roughly $1,000. The most expensive service should take place at 150,000 miles. That's when Mazda lubricates everything with a hinge, and replaces all of the serpentine and drive belts. Budget around $1,600 for this service.

Technical Service Bulletins according to the NHTSA. Check service book for:

The 2007-2015 Mazda CX-9 recalls were few and far between. The 1st generation CX-9 was one of many vehicles recalled for the Takata airbag problems. Following the initial recall, another airbag recall was issued two years later. Other notable 2007 Mazda CX-9 recalls include the corrosion of a front suspension ball joint, and a model-specific Grand Touring recall for a malfunctioning seat memory function. Mostly, the airbag recall and the front suspension ball joint were the most notable recalls in an otherwise well-built vehicle. The 2010 model was recalled for a seat heater control system that could possibly burn the seats in extremely cold temperatures. Later in its life, the CX-9 was recalled for steering issues. There was a possibility that the steering knuckle could separate from the strut assembly, resulting in steering loss. This problem affected only 578 models across Mazda's entire range.

There are a few recurring problems with the Ford Cyclone V6 engine used in the CX-9 and although it is a durable and reliable engine, there are issues with water pumps failing that have the potential to ruin the engine. The AWD system can also play up if the fluid levels are allowed to run low or leaks are ignored. The engine has a timing chain that needs no periodic replacement, as long as the engine oil is replaced frequently and not allowed to drop too low.

These are the model year error codes you'll most likely encounter when shopping for a 1st generation Mazda CX-9:

• 2007 Mazda CX-9 Code P0171 is a warning that the car is running lean according to an oxygen sensor in the exhaust system.
• 2007 Mazda CX-9 P0016 is a warning that the crankshaft and camshaft are not aligned correctly.
• 2008 Mazda CX-9 P0352 indicates a problem with the ignition system.
• 2008 Mazda CX-9 P0456 is a notification for a small leak in the EVAP system.
• 2008 Mazda CX-9 P0302 indicates that a misfire has been detected.
• 2008 Mazda CX-9 P0202 indicates that there's a fault with the injector circuit.
• 2008 Code P171 and P172 are indications that the engine is either running too lean or too rich.
• 2010 Mazda CX-9 P0451 is for a malfunctioning fuel tank pressure sensor.
• 2010 Mazda CX-9 code P0455 is for a large leak in the EVAP system.
• 2010 Mazda CX-9 P115E is an indication that the throttle bodies are acting up.
• 2010 Mazda CX-9 code P1887 indicates a fault with the AWD solenoid failure.
• 2012 code P0306 for the Mazda CX-9 is also a misfire code, indicating that cylinder six is acting up.

The CX-9 is generally a reliable car, but there are a few anomalies. A tiny proportion of owners complained about electrical problems, more specifically starting problems. The car wouldn't always start after pushing the start button when the car was new, but the problem eventually went away by itself. There were also some isolated problems with power windows not wanting to stay up and alloy wheels that stain easily.

There isn't really a bad apple, but you can skip the first year when the CX-9 was only available with the 3.5 V6 engine. Not that there's anything wrong with the engine. You just get more power and a better response from the 3.7 V6. In terms of problems, the worst years were 2008 and 2010 to 2012.

A few years stand out as the most problem-free and by far the best was 2009. However, if you prefer the facelift, 2013-2015 cars are relatively problem-free, with 2015 being the best. As for the trim, we'd get the Touring, unless you can get a Sport with lower miles for the same price. There isn't a huge difference between the various trim levels, as Mazda pretty much included almost everything in the base model. In summary, Touring with low mileage is the way to go. Shop around carefully and you might even find a model with some interesting optional extras, which included a rear entertainment system. Why not the Grand Touring? Well, the 20-inch alloys may look good, but they spoil the ride somewhat. The Touring rides on 18s, which makes a big difference.

The 2007-2015 Mazda CX-9 is a great used buy. It's a relatively trouble-free crossover that can easily reach 200,000 miles plus. In addition to that, the CX-9 is a genuinely fun car to drive, and the interior is quality. If you need a three-row car on a budget, you can do a lot worse than the first-generation CX-9.