With 263 horsepower on tap, the Mazda CX-9 is capable of scooting from here to there with relative ease. The 3.5-liter V6 delivers smooth power and remains composed even at higher revs. Over the course of 1,000 miles we averaged only 16.8 mpg, but that’s actually in line with the competition. No, it’s nothing to write home about, but at least it’s competitive, and we did see upwards of 20 mpg during a long highway cruise. Backing up the V6 is a seamless six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift function. Click the shifter to the left and flick forward or back for upshifts/downshifts. Furthermore, the driver maintains control as the CX-9 will bounce off its rev limiter rather than automatically upshifting.
