MAZDA’S contribution to the growing brigade of SUVs has been renewed with the introduction of the new CX-9, a seven-seater aiming to take on the segment’s reigning seven-seat monarchs from Toyota, the Prado and Kluger.

Mazda’s CX-9 has little pretence of taking on the Prado or other off-roaders able to get grot in wheel arches, but it’s not short of seven-seater competition in the segment, with Kluger, the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia’s Sorento, and the Nissan Pathfinder all vehicles for the buyers who want to look like explorers.

Now absent from the price list is the thirsty V6 in favour of a turbocharged four-cylinder from the SkyActiv school of forced induction internal combustion within the lighter-weight body.

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