Our friends over at AutoGuide have wonderful leaked photos of the new Mazda CX-9 that will be announced Wednesday.
The photos show a sleeker CX-9 than the current model, although not nearly as dynamic as the concept sketch released more than a month ago. A lower belt line and bigger windows should help the three-row SUV be a little brighter inside. We still can’t get much of a look at the car’s grille, but the headlights are clearly much sharper and the bumper has a whole lot going on there.
The interior sports an updated and more visually interesting dash, although its hard to discern the materials involved. The dash’s upper surface appears to be textured, but that could also be grainy photos.
The car will be shown off Wednesday in LA, so expect better photos then. But for now, here’s the new 2017 Mazda CX-9.
Not bad, the sleek rear is an improvement, as is the interior. But boy are the 3rd row people not gonna have much room. Thing looks pretty small.
Is it still on a lengthened Edge platform? If so, why? A D4 (Explorer)-based CX-9 would not only give a little more room in the 3rd row, but also provide a slot for an Edge-based CX-7.
I believe it is a stretched Mazda6 platform.
…Which is the CD3, same as the Edge.
No. The CD3 is the Mazda GH platform. The current Mazda6 uses the GJ platform.
Well not anymore. The 6 is on the GJ platform. Look at CD4 and GJ as parallel evolutions from CD3. So not the same platform, but built upon the framework of the same reference point.
I stand partially corrected. Mazda6 is the GJ, but CX-9 is the GG, which is related to the Ford CD3. GH was the old Mazda6.
Side view of the seats: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tzmPMxENoyI/VkqB8Clx3kI/AAAAAAABO7o/aQOWXm_2yB4/s1600/2016-Mazda-CX-9-4.jpg
That actually looks OK for the third row, but now I’m wondering if they slid the middle row forward to equalize.
I have one of the current models, and those second-row seats look like they’re pulled forward all the way to the stops (which is great when you have kiddie seats in that row.)
YEp. I see the tracks. I was actually hoping it would go for Pilot sized or larger this time around.
“I was actually hoping it would go for Pilot sized or larger this time around.”
Yeah I was kind of expecting it to grow significantly too. This vehicle looks like it could easily be called a CX-7.
Porsche cayenne + tracing paper?
Hey, looks good to me.
So on these pop-up tablet-looking LCD screens – if you have the radio off, does the thing just stay recessed in the dash?
Mazda’s screens do not “pop-up.” They are up all the time. I don’t know what Audi’s or others that retract do.
(Of course, this one may be a new one that does retract, but I doubt it.)
Ooooh I like this, has that cool wagon-y look going on (like the new Q7). If the CX-5 looked more like this I might be interested. But I don’t need three rows.
Third row might be optional, or at the very least, you’re gonna want it down anyway because mid-size CUVs with third rows generally have no cargo space behind.
Yeah, I dislike CUV’s on principle, but this looks like a wagon in pictures. I keep hearing praise for how the new-ish 6 looks, but to me it looks like a cost-cut Infiniti with worse proportions.
I’m dying to know what’s under the hood. If they are still using Ford’s V6 it’s not a good sign on the engine development front.
I’d like to see a brand new 6-cylinder design that will trickle down to the rest of the lineup, but turbo is fine too.
I hope they can greatly improve over their last effort. My MS3 convinced me to stay way at the back of the line for Mazda turbos.
The rumors hinted the demise of the V6, and even if they do keep one, it’s highly unlikely to appear anywhere else. The only thing that would make sense would be a sports car or a high-end luxury car, neither of which exist.
A turbo-4 seems more likely based on industry trends, SkyActiv characteristics (like the 4-2-1 exhaust), and portability to other cars. A turbo-4 could easily drop into the 6 for its upgrade engine as well as into a Speed3.
Rumor mill has been that it will be powered by a turbo 4.
Looks like a stretched CX-5. Not bad. If they boost the current 2.5, that could be a sweet powerplant. The 2.0. meh. I’d drop that boosted engine in the CX-5 too, for a Sport version of it.
Turbo does make the most sense, but it would be pretty cool if they bucked the trend. I’d even like to see them do like VW did with the Golf VR6 and squeeze a 6-cylinder in the Mazda3. From what I’ve read, there won’t be a fast Mazda3 or Mazda6 until their next redesigns (2 years probably), so just design the car around that big engine. Yeah, it’ll never happen.
My guess is the 2.5ltr from the 6 for best fuel economy + 2.0 ltr turbo for power. A 2.0 ltr turbo would likely transfer to a speed version of the 3 & 6
I recall seeing spy photos that made it look considerably larger than these press shots. I will hold out hope for a usable 3rd row. I think the safest engine bets are a turbo 4cyl but I suppose it would be possible to source a V6 from Yota.
I guess hoping that this will be available with AWD and MT is totally unrealistic?
Name any mid-size or larger CUV that was ever available with a stick in the US.
BMW X5, X3 originally offered sticks.
D’oh! I forgot about luxury marques.
I also think the previous gen Hyundai Santa Fe had a stick with the 2.7L V6. Not that it mattered to anyone. Is the previous gen Santa Fe even considered midsized?
1st Gen Cayenne
I’m not into the CUV class but this is the best looking CUV in Mazda’s own line up. It’s also one of the more handsome CUV when compared to other makes as well, but that’s just my opinion. Still pissed they didn’t reconfigure the Mazda 5 to fit the Skyactiv engine but I understand the mini/microvan segment has no leg in the US mkt and Mazda didn’t see sufficient return on the necessary investment for such a move. But that’s an old story from an old man with old preference.
Mazda interiors are getting better with every new release. Really impressed. Now if they’d just offer some more power.
Tim Taylor agrees!
I fully expect the interior to be of high quality going of the 6 and CX3 recent models. Certainly a cut above the norm in the mid market segment.
Style wise, an evolution of what was there before. I was expecting something with more oomph. The CX3 is gorgeous, where as this is just OK. Maybe it is the alloy wheel design that contribute to that. It was never the most spacious SUV, but at least it is honest with just 2 rear seats, and not trying to imply three could fit back there.
You can always make a small car with polarizing styling, but as you go up, you need to have a more neutral look so you don’t alienate family buyers. Until you go all the way up to pickup trucks and then you can have a polarizing look again.
I know that its a dream but was hoping they would stay away from the 4cyl route. In real world I dont think they would meet my expectations for MPG. I have driven a Volvo XC90 and it is nice but during my short 5 mile test drive I averaged 16 mpg. I realize its a very limited sample but it is what it is. A 6 with a 9 speed would do wonders for the CX9
Wuz hoping for 3 inches taller, 6 inches longer, 3 inches wider. 6inch longer wheel base. 3 inche wider track front to rear.
CD, Mazda can’t do that. It would make the CX-9 a smash hit in the American marketplace.
Mazda had me at CX5 styling, rear air vents, and (hopefully) improved infotainment, but completely lost me once they went to turbo 4.
Watching the reveal. It looks really small for some reason.