Interior

The inside of the CX-9 looked good, too. Rich two-tone leather seats and simulated wood trim were luxurious and lovely to the touch. Those front seats were eight-way adjustable and heated, which made my tushy happy during my chilly testing period. The steering wheel tilts, telescopes and had controls for the stereo and cruise control system. The instruments were easy to read and easy on the eyes, thanks to cool blue and red electroluminescent gauges.

A covered set of cupholders handled a variety of beverage containers, and a deep cubby at the bottom of the center stack was a great place to stow your cell phone or other small items. A deep bin in the center console housed both an AUX port and a charging point. I love it when manufacturers do that because I can plug in my iPod and phone and keep the cords out of my way. Nobody likes messy cords running all over the place!

The Bluetooth connection had a clear sound, but there was a slight delay between calls connecting and the Bluetooth engaging. Bluetooth didn’t pick up until I had begun worrying that I’d lost the call. I did love the keyless entry and ignition system that let me leave the credit-card-shaped keyfob in my bag and start the car with the push of a button.

The CX-9 seemed to be really wide; the touch-screen and climate controls seemed far away, and I found myself leaning out of my seat to reach them.

The backseat was just as roomy; its configuration would make it difficult to fit three child-safety seats across the second row, especially since there were only two sets of Latch anchors in the second row. The seat belts are easy to use for little hands because the receptacles were set nice and high and weren’t wiggly. The rear armrest folded down to provide two pop-out cupholders and a small storage bin that was great for holding books or crayons. To keep everyone comfy in the second row, there were vents and controls for the three-zone climate-control system.

The third row was great for carpooling and even functional for full-sized folks. The second row can slide forward to provide more legroom for those in the back row. In a spectacular example of “what were they thinking,” there were big, deep, partially covered grooves in the second-row floor area for sliding that seat. The mind boggles at the grunge-collecting possibilities. Still, it made getting in and out of the third row fairly easy, so it’s kind of a trade-off.

Cargo space was functional and plentiful in the CX-9. With the third row in place, there was plenty of room for backpacks or a midweek grocery run. With the seats down, there was room for a major road trip or a couple of Saint Bernards. I liked the grocery bag hooks in the very rear cargo area, but there were only a couple, and each held a bag or two. Another of my fave features was the under-floor storage, which houses not only the spare tire and tool kit, but also a plastic bin for anything you’d like to keep out of sight or off the carpet.

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Galore
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample/Galore

shopping around: At cars.com

• Side-by-Side Comparison
• Auto Loan Calculator

• Build your own
• Check for Rebates

key interior: Features

available interior: Colors

Take the Next Steps at Cars.com

Shop for a car

New

Used

Certified

Make

Model

Search Within 10 miles 20 miles 30 miles 40 miles 50 miles 75 miles 100 miles 150 miles 250 miles 500 miles All

of

Your ZIP

Powered by Cars.com

Make

Model

Search Within 10 miles 20 miles 30 miles 40 miles 50 miles 75 miles 100 miles 150 miles 250 miles 500 miles All

of

Your ZIP

Powered by Cars.com