When I saw the 2020 Mazda CX-9 Signature, I was taken aback by its aggressive stance and exterior body styling. The smooth finish and the sculpted hood and grille provided the CX-9 with the appeal anyone would want from a full sized SUV. The 20-inch alloy wheels, in dark grey high lustre metallic, provided the CX-9 with a tall bold look. As for the colour combination, the exterior of the CX-9 was in Soul Red Crystal metallic and the interior seating was in white Nappa leather upholstery with premium stitching detail. The CX-9 came equipped with LED headlights with signature lighting and signature grille illumination. The signature grille illumination was a nice added feature to showcase that the Mazda CX-9 Signature was the premium SUV of its class. Overall, Mazda has done an exceptional job with the exterior build quality of the CX-9 Signature.
The interior of the CX-9 Signature was elegant and built with high quality materials. The black dash went well with the white interior. The Santos Rosewood trimmed center console panel and door switch panel provided the CX-9 with a premium look. As for the seating, the CX-9 is equipped for six passengers. The second row seating was equipped with Captain’s chairs with premium center console armrest. Also, it featured a storage compartment along with heated seats with its own separate controls. I found the Captain’s chairs provided maximum comfort with the high end looks and feel for the second row passengers. As for legroom, the second row provided plenty of space for its occupants. However, the third row seating did not come with heated seats and it provided very little legroom. Finally, both the second and third rowing seating had their own USB ports and generous sized cup holders. I was not a fan of the sunroof as I would have preferred a panoramic roof because it would have run the full length of the roof.
My test CX-9 Signature was equipped with a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, leather wrapped steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The infotainment system featured a 9” color touchscreen display which was crystal clear and simple to use. Also, it came equipped with onboard navigation.
The cargo space was not adequate enough due to the third-row seating. The neat feature was the power rear lift gate with hands-free access. I liked this feature as it made carrying heavy items easier. However, the hands-free access was tricky and it took some practice placing the foot underneath the rear bumper and timing it perfectly for it to open. Once I had mastered the timing, I loved this neat added feature to the CX-9.
The CX-9 is equipped with a SKYACTIV- G 2.5L 4-cylinder with Dynamic Pressure Turbo engine which is mated with an all-wheel drive (AWD) system. Peak horsepower and peak torque are divided into two categories which are dependent on what fuel is used in the CX-9 Signature. For peak horsepower, one would get 250 @ 5,000 rpm with 93 octane fuel or 227 @ 5,000 rpm with 87 octane fuel. For peak torque, one would get 320 @ 2,000 rpm with 93 octane fuel or 310 @ 2,000 rpm with 87 octane fuel. However, do not feel alarmed about the CX-9 needing premium grade fuel to get the job done. The recommended fuel grade is regular unleaded, and the turbo charged engine is paired with a quick shifting SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission. I did not notice the difference of having regular or premium fuel in the CX-9 Signature since the turbo provided enough power for all driving conditions. As for the driving capabilities, the CX-9 Signature responded well in all driving conditions. There was very minimal cabin noise at low and high speeds.
As for the CX-9 and being geared towards safety, it had it all. To name a few of the main safety features, it came equipped with advanced blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning system, rear cross traffic alert, and rear-view camera with wide angle. As for myself, I found the CX-9 provided a variety of safety features and the extras while going above and beyond to make sure the driver and passengers would remain safe while travelling on the road.
Overall, I would recommend the Mazda CX-9 Signature for buyers who are looking at getting into the SUV market. The CX-9 Signature provides a serious competitive edge over its rivals as it has an attractive exterior and interior cabin while providing an upscale feel of a premium top-tier trim level for its class. Lastly, the CX-9 Signature is equipped with all the features and provides a comfortable ride without making any compromises.
