Mazda’s CUV strategy is brilliantly simple: there’s a small one, a medium-sized one, and a large one. This time around, we’re in the large one: the Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD.

While we all love to think of Mazda as a powerful, iconic brand, the truth is it’s very small for a car manufacturer, and it lacks the resources of say, a Toyota, VW or GM. But thankfully for us, Mazda is a master of using the resources it does have, helping vehicles like the CX-9 punch far above its price point.

For example, you tell the mechanical story of one Mazda, and you tell the mechanical story of every Mazda. By focusing resources on just one engine, just one transmission, Mazda could ensure that they deliver a jewel of a powerplant. So it should come as no surprise that the CX-9 Signature AWD is powered by the SKYACTIV-G 2.5 Dynamic Pressure Turbo engine, as always making 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on 93 octane.

You can also put your shocked Pikachu face away when you hear that this engine is mated to the SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission, and that power is shifted around the wheels through Mazda’s G-Vectoring control system. And yes, these are all the same parts found in the Mazda3, Mazda6, Mazda CX-30 and Mazda CX-5. And who knows, maybe these parts will all find their way into the next MX-5 Miata, too.

But thankfully, this powertrain is an excellent one, so Mazda could leave it be and really focus its efforts on making the CX-9 a stellar luxury tourer.

The fact that this is the only three-row vehicle in Mazda’s lineup is a big deal to them. But as with just about every other three-row car, that third row is just about useless. And the high floor and low ceiling make things even worse for adults back there. Best to just fold that third row down and focus on the four captains chairs that remain.

The CX-9 Signature is an incredibly well-appointed machine, offering quilted Nappa leather and genuine Santos Rosewood trim. Mazda exhibits meticulous attention to detail here, and the fit and finish is nothing short of excellent. Ergonomics are fantastic – as long as you’re in one of the captain’s chairs – with the driver getting one of the more intuitive sets of controls found in a modern vehicle. From the first glance to the thousandth touch, the CX-9 Signature’s cabin remains a truly inviting, luxurious space. How Mazda manages to sell this for just $46k and some change, we’ll never know.

Though Mazda continues to fight its old “zoom-zoom” image, the CX-9 AWD Signature still carries some of the old Mazda sports car DNA. Its ride is firmer than most, offering spirited handling in the corners. Those looking for a more isolated ride won’t be happy, but for those of us who still pretend to live life a quarter mile at a time, it’s not too bad.

Steering is sharp and direct, though it feels artificially heavy when set to Sport mode. And speaking of Sport mode, it does an okay job of holding the gears for a bit longer, but doesn’t seem to offer much else. As-is, the Mazda CX-9 is one of those cars you just leave in “D” and forget about it. Manual mode is okay, but we can’t see one wanting to virtually row through the gears here.

The CX-9’s turbocharged engine is a good one, but as it’s shared throughout the lineup, we feel it isn’t as optimized here as it could be. With California’s 91-octane pee-water, the most power we could get is 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Those are great numbers for something like the Mazda3 hatch, but in a crossover that weighs over 4400 lbs, we feel like we could use more power. Around town, it’s adequate, but you have to shift down and really rev it out if you want to get any sort of hustle out of the thing.

All said, though, it’s hard to find any real fault with the Mazda CX-9 Signature – especially for the price. It’s arguably one of the best values on the market right now, and it’s by far the best-looking vehicle in its class. So if you need a family-hauler to park alongside your RX-7 and aren’t quite sure what to get, just go with the big one.

Highlights	Description
Engine	2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G Dynamic Pressure inline 4-cylinder
Horsepower	250 hp @ 5000rpm
Torque	320 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm
Transmission	6-speed DCT automatic
Suspension, F/R	MacPherson strut/Multilink
Brakes, F/R	12.6-in. vented discs, 12.8-in. solid
Wheels and Tires	20 x 8.5-in. aluminum alloy, 255/50R20 all-season tires
Curb weight	4409 lbs.
Overall length	199.4 in.
Overall width	77.2 in.
Overall height	69.0 in.
Wheelbase	115.3 in.

Mazda CX-9 Signature

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