2007 Mazda CX-9 Review

Auto industry executives have a tendency toward exaggeration when talking about new vehicles but chief designer Hideki Suzuki has a point when he says the CX-7 has a distinctive presence.

The CX-9's nose features a huge Mazda insignia with prominent and flared fenders that start a line that heads back and slightly upward just below the windows. The roof arches, crests and then slides back and down. One surprise is that it continues to give a pronounced bulge to the tailgate, looking like an old-fashioned bustle. It is a neat trick that adds a little extra storage capacity.

What is perhaps most surprising about the CX-9 is that it doesn't look big from the outside, although it is about a foot longer than the Nissan Murano and Toyota Highlander, which are not small vehicles.

Safety researchers say the strength of the vehicle's body is also crucial in providing protection in a side-impact crash. Mazda officials say that was taken to consideration including making the B-pillar extra wide and strong. (The B-pillar is the second roof pillar back from the windshield, which uses the A-pillar.)