The CX-9 is available in three trim levels-Sport, Touring and Grand Touring-and in either front- or all-wheel drive. The vehicle seats up to seven passengers in three rows and offers cutting-edge safety technology, including front, side and three-row side-curtain air bags, ABS, dynamic stability control, traction control and roll-stability control, all as standard equipment.
It is one of the safest vehicles on the road, too, having recently received the highest possible ratings in frontal and side-impact crashes by the government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In addition to receiving a five-star frontal and side-impact crash-test rating, the CX-9 received four-star rollover resistance ratings.
About The Award
To judge contenders for the award, Motor Trend's editorial staff conducted exhaustive off-road, street and track testing, and carefully considered essentials such as driving performance, safety and features.
Sport/Utility of the Year is not a comparison test. Each contender was evaluated against three simple criteria: superiority (engineering, design, utilization of resources); significance (its impact on the market); and value (what buyers get for their money versus the competition).
To learn more or to find a nearby Mazda dealer, write Mazda North American Operations, P.O. Box 19734, Irvine, CA 92623-9734, Attn: Customer Assistance Center; call (800) 222-5500; or visit www.mazdausa.com.
