Mazda prices CX-9 keenly

MAZDA has announced pricing for its all-important second-generation CX-9 large SUV ahead of its rollout to Australian showrooms next month, confirming a lower entry price and more variants than the outgoing model.

As previously reported, Mazda has ditched the old Classic, Luxury and Grand Touring model names in favour of the familiar Sport, Touring and GT as well as the flagship Azami, which is a new name to the brand.

The availability of front-wheel drive or Mazda’s i-Activ all-wheel drive system on all versions of the CX-9 means the model range has risen from four variants to eight.

Mazda has dropped the price of entry for the CX-9 by $1280 compared with the eight-and-a-half year-old outgoing version, with the base Sport in two-wheel-drive guise priced from $42,490 plus on-road costs, rising by $4000 to $46,490 when fitted with the i-Activ all-wheel-drive system.

Next up is the Touring from $48,890 for the 2WD, lifting to $52,890 for the 4WD, while the GT starts at $57,390 in 2WD guise and hits $61,390 when optioned with the 4WD system.

The new Azami range-topper is priced from $59,390 for the 2WD, while the 4WD version attracts a $63,390 pricetag, representing a $1680 increase over the superseded AWD Grand Touring.

The CX-9 is undercut in price by a couple of seven-seat rivals, namely the Hyundai Santa Fe ($38,490-$55,990) and Kia Sorento ($40,990-$55,990), but undercuts the Jeep Grand Cherokee ($47,000-$90,000) and is positioned closer to the petrol and petrol-electric hybrid-powered Nissan Pathfinder ($41,490-$69,190) and the petrol-only Toyota Kluger ($42,190-$68,330).

Mazda has not revealed full specifications for each variant – this will be released closer to the July launch – but the company says in a release that the new seven-seat CX-9 “comes with significantly more standard equipment than its predecessor”.

Some features that fall under Mazda’s i-Activesense suite of active and passive safety gear will be offered in CX-9 for the first time, including a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert and Mazda’s ‘Smart City Brake Support’ low-speed autonomous braking system.

The top-spec Azami will also be offered with adaptive LED headlights with high beam control, a driver fatigue warning system, lane-keep assist and ‘Smart Brake Support’ full autonomous emergency braking system.

All variants are powered by Mazda’s new 2.5-litre direct-injection turbocharged SkyActiv petrol engine that delivers 170kW at 5000rpm and 420Nm at 2000rpm, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and featuring idle-stop and the i-Eloop brake energy regeneration system.

According to Mazda, fuel economy has improved by 25 per cent compared with the thirsty outgoing model, , with 2WD variants consuming 8.4 litres per 100km, rising to 8.8L/100km for AWD versions.

Mazda says it is the “most economical seven-seater petrol model in its class”, beating the Santa Fe (9.4L), Holden Captiva (9.6L), Ford Territory (10.2L), Sorento (9.9L), Grand Cherokee (10.1L), Kluger (10.2L) and Pathfinder (9.9L).

Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak said the new CX-9 would appeal to buyers looking for a premium SUV without the premium pricetag.

“The brand-new Mazda CX-9’s value proposition is a strong one,” he said.

“Starting from $42,490 plus on roads, each grade offers something unique, we expect brand-new Mazda CX-9 will appeal to a broad buyer group.

“When you consider the seven-seater SUV options available on the market, this is affordable luxury.

“I think we can now safely say that the Mazda CX-9 offers a premium ownership and driving experience without the price tag.”2016 Mazda CX-9 pricing*

Sport FWD (a)	$42,490
Sport AWD (a)	$46,490
Touring FWD (a)	$48,890
Touring AWD (a)	$52,890
GT FWD (a)	$57,390
GT AWD (a)	$61,390
Azami FWD (a)	$59,390
Azami AWD (a)	$63,390

*Excludes on-road costs