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2008 Mazda CX-9 Preview
Sep 18 2007 by Sara Lacey
9/19/2007
Being Average Finally Pays Off
I've had a recurring thought since I was about 8 years old that I am so — normal. So average. I'm of average height, average weight, brown hair, brown eyes, B student. (OK, I admit it, I was a C student.) I'd be a shoo-in to the Average Hall of Fame if there were one (of which 50 bazillion people would already be members). On a recent trip to Irvine, Calif., to see the 2008 Mazda CX-9 crossover, this notion was heartily reinforced. According to Mazda, the target buyer of the CX-9 is 30 to 50 years old, has two kids, drives a second car that is a small, sporty coupe or sedan, and has brown hair. OK, I made up the brown hair part, but I'd have believed it if they said it. Fortunately, there's an upside: Being the average consumer has finally paid off in spades — witness, the CX-9. When there are so many of us, our voice is actually heard!
Mazda listened to those of us with two or three kids who wanted the flexibility of carrying more than just our own crew in the event of carpool or an outing. We've been indulged with a third row, which also happens to be comfortable for adults, as well (ones of average height, mind you). Mazda listened to its focus groups when they said they wanted a family car that would double nicely for date night. In this capacity, the CX-9 is above-average: The interior is stylish and form-fitting, sleek and sexy. The exterior is modern, curvy and slick.
Mazda also listened when we said we wanted a little more pep in our engine. The 2008 CX-9 comes with a new V-6 that has more horsepower and torque (that's the fun pulling feeling you get when accelerating). Even better, Mazda says it gets better gas mileage, too. Once we get our hands on this hot little number for a longer test, we'll let you know.
Lastly, Mazda took heed when we said we wanted more safety features. While it doesn't come standard, the 2008 CX-9 will be available with a Blind Spot Monitoring System for safer lane changes. Yay for more safety! Factor in the CX-9's Roll Stability Control feature and standard side curtain airbags for all three rows of seats, and this average girl is happy, happy, happy.
Thank you, Mazda, for appealing to the middle — and making us average folks feel pretty darn special.
While Mazda pushes its flagship crossover to a seemingly mundane crowd, that crowd is the one that necessitated the entire crossover market and it’s that crowd that brings some hope to American car makers as well.
The CX-9 is but one (if not a very good one) of several competing largish wagons (in disguise). The soccer moms and the dads who gave up their ground-pounding, off-road pretense for something more practical and fuel-wise, have been looking for the near 100-inch long vehicles for quite some time. Mazda resonded very appropriately.
And so has Detroit. The GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, Buick Enclave and, soon, the Ford Taurus X are nicely designed and promising vehicles that will get American car makers out of their funk. The crossover market will be every bit as hot as the SUV market was and for better and more valid reasons.
Sure, average Joe and average Joan may be driving the market but the new breed of cars they’re driving won’t be too shabby. Not shabby at all.
Dave