WHAT WE LIKE: Mazda?s CX-9 is like the summer-camp counselor who teaches you to smoke: fun, surprising, but all utilitarian and practical when the adults arrive. In this case, what Mazda?s counselors have whipped up for the kids is an SUV with good handling, demonstrating skidpad grip of 0.83 g. Midcorner, the CX-9?s load shifts predictably and with little consequence, and its relatively low center of gravity keeps confirming what we?re feeling. Around town, the CX-9 is nimble. Not as nimble as Mazda?s cars, but of course it sits higher and its sightlines are better. Someone spent a long while balancing this vehicle?s ride/handling trade-off. READ MORE ??
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