The 2018 Mazda CZ-9 is a 7-seater SUV that looks sleek, is stylish and can perform for larger families or those just needing that additional 3rd row occasionally.
While it’s only a 4-cylinder, it’s 227 horsepower and it’s great on fuel economy with 8.9-11.5 L/100 KM.
It’s a fun, easy drive. It is easy to park and I enjoyed the vehicle immensely for the entire week! (I only used a half tank of gas and spent $45 to fill it!)
I love the lines of the body style overall, and the front grill of the new 2018 are particularly modern.
I was especially impressed with the rear cargo space when the 3rd row is not in use.
However, as you can see, with cargo, a small load of groceries, I needed to put one of the two 3rd row seats down to accommodate everything.
I wasn’t a big fan of the infotainment system that needed controlling via the dial shown. I found it a bit clumsy and difficult to figure out quickly.
The cockpit is snug and I really loved the feel of the leather wrapped (and heated) steering wheel.
The interior colour is fantastic. The beige leather interior is really beautiful! Leather interior is always a great choice for families as it’s so simple to keep clean.
A fantastic value starting at only $36,400 (model shown is $49,000), it is one of the most cost-effective seven-seater SUVs on the market.
According to Driving.ca, Ford has the “edge” over the family SUV market but I would argue that in my neighborhood the Acura MDX is the most popular family SUV amongst plenty of other luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW.
Not in your budget? I get it – that’s where the Mazda offers the value of an import with a very reasonable price tag.
We also took the CX-9 on date night!
*I drove the Mazda CX-9 for a week to facilitate this post.