Review: 2014 Mazda CX-9 GT AWD – Part 3
The interior of the Mazda CX-9 GT AWD combines a luxury feel with the need to carry multiple people.
The driver and passenger seats are power adjustable and heated. They are also bolstered, but the seats are on the wide side for me. For a female perspective, I brought in my wife and she loved the seats.
The controls for the windows, mirrors and doors are on the drivers side door. Not the chrome and wood accents which really adds an upscale feel to the CX-9.
To the right of the steering wheel are controls to turn off the safety systems as well as to open the hatch and control the dash lighting.
Two things about the footwell stand out for me. One: There’s a dead pedal. Two, there’s a mechanical parking brake. Bonus points to Mazda for having both.
The steering wheel is leather wrapped and has redundant controls for the infotainment system. I found it to be slightly too thin. For a female perspective, I brought in my wife who found the thickness to be fine.
The gauges are clear and easy to read. Though you cannot see it here, it will also show what gear the six speed transmission is in. Nice touch!
The first time I started the CX-9, I couldn’t find the start button. Instead, I used this knob to start the crossover. I thought that it was dumb to not have a start button, until I figured out what Mazda was up to….
…. If you remove the cap, you can use the redundant key in the keyfob to start the CX-9. The use case is that if the batteries in the keyfob go dead. You’re not stuck someplace unable to drive. Clever!
The center console is interesting. At the top is a display (in red which is a bit of a trademark for Mazda) that show left and right front passenger temperature, clock, and fuel economy. In the middle is the infotainment system and below that are the HVAC controls which are dual zone.
Below that is a classy looking shift lever and a pair of cupholders…
….That you can see hold my Venti Starbucks coffee without an issue. You’ll also notice on the right that there’s a door to cover the cupholders.
Behind the cupholders is a decent sized storage area with a 12V, USB, and 1/8″ jack.
The glovebox is on the small side though.
The second row seats split s60/40 and can slide forward to give those in the third row more room, or slide back to give themselves more room. Pulling the handle at the side of the seats….
Allows quick access to the third row. It’s big enough that you could have adults sit back there in a pinch and not complain as long as the second row passengers co-operate by moving their seats forward. Another note: The rear doors open wide for easy entry and exit.
The second row has this flip down tray with a pair of cupholders and some storage that you can use if you don’t need to seat three people.
Second row passengers get their own HVAC controls.
Third row passengers get cupholders on each side of the CX-9.
Audio for all passengers is provided by Bose.
Cargo capacity is a big selling point of the CX-9. With all the seats up, you get a decent amount of space…..
…. But put the third row down, you get even more space…..
…. And for some context, here’s what our weekly grocery haul looks like. As you can see, there’s tons of space left over.
There’s also underfloor storage that will prove very handy for most.
Plus there are cargo hooks spread around the cargo area…..
…..Along with a 12V outlet that is handy to have.
The rear hatch is motorized and has a button to close it as well as a handle in the location it should be in to keep your hands clean.
There is a moonroof for the front passengers as well.
The surfaces that you touch are a mix of hard and soft materials. Plus the fit and finish is excellent. Everything that the driver could possibly need falls easily to hand as well. In short, everything interior wise is well thought through.
In part four of this review, I will cover the technology in the car. Stay tuned!
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