Shooting Brake on Stilts? (Mazda CX9)

[tgrobbo]

This big lump is actually a Mazda 6 wagon on stilts, stretched in every direction and powered by a 2.5 turbo petrol engine. I am not sure why it even exists in RHD, as it’s not sold in Japan or the UK. It is mainly sold in the US.
I bought it as a dealer demo with delivery km for $55k NZ, which is under 30k in GPB, so quite cheap for what it is. I’ve blacked out a lot of chrome and put some bigger wheels on it for now, but might do a bit more stuff as funds allow.


It drives ok, heaps of low down urge but not a lot of top end stonk. Still, plenty fast enough. Handling is a bit floppy like all Mazda’s, but nicely balanced and not understeery or anything. You can even get the back to step out of you lift off - quite why Mazda instills such handling balance in all its SUV’s I’ve never figured out - I swear it doesn’t sell any more cars for them.

[craig_m67]

Sold by the absolute metric shed load here in Aust.... the new CX30 looks nice too

[Wacky Racer]

Can't understand why they don't bring the CX9 to the UK.

I'm going to get a new CX5, but I would have had a CX9 first choice (Bigger)

[samoht]

Looks good in black, has an elegance that escapes nearly all SUVs - actually the Aston DBX is the closest other example I can think of. As you say, good value. It warms the heart to see Mazda following a driver-focused strategy of weight reduction and keen chassis, and apparently making a commercial success of it.

Wacky Racer said:

Can't understand why they don't bring the CX9 to the UK.

I'm going to get a new CX5, but I would have had a CX9 first choice (Bigger)

I suspect that even had they done so in the past, a 2 tonne petrol SUV would have been Jimny'd out of European markets this year in the face of the fleet CO2 penalties which Mazda is currently rather exposed to.

If/when they catch up technologically with the requirements, I wouldn't be surprised to see the next CX-9 come here as part of their overall strategy to move upmarket.

[tgrobbo]

From my limited knowledge of car Sales volume v profit, I don’t think Aussie sales really justify RHD development of models (as has been demonstrated a lot recently) but maybe with Mazda making so many RHD cars - including the Mazda 6 - then maybe it wasn’t too expensive to develop a RHD CX9. They’d definitely sell a lot more if they offered a diesel version, which you’d think would be easy, but they haven’t bothered... It’s a great car - if offered in the UK I’m sure it’s sales would easily match Australian volumes - but maybe fleet emissions are the reason. It sure uses a heap more fuel than our 2018 CX5. (Pictured) The CX5 feels like a go kart in comparison, but I still take the CX9 at every opportunity - it’s a vastly better vehicle.