Mazda CX-9 test drive since 2007 SUV
King Size
What is the owner and the dog. Popures of this expression, we can say what kind of country and cars. Mazda decided to join the cult of a large car reigning in our country, and brought the flagship of its model range CX-9 to the Russian market.In cramped, overloaded with transport and burdened with astronomical prices for fuel Europe, people have not been bringing the convenience of movement and parking to the size of a small micro -lines for a long time and rejoice in life to the best of strength.
A huge SUV on the roads of the Old World is very rare. In America, such machines have been loved for a long time and tightly there and more spaces, and burning is cheaper, and the prices are not an example of ours. Russia is its own way. It seems that the prices of fuel are bringing closer to the European ones, and traffic jams, but gigantomania has not gone anywhere. Everyone lives on the principle of the more, the better. The notorious mentality and public consciousness decide. The more a person has a car, the cooler he looks in the eyes of the majority.
It is therefore logical that Russia joined the short list of countries where CX-9 is delivered (except for North America these are the countries of South America, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine). Our sales will start in September this year. It is pleasant to realize your exclusivity. I realized this immediately, seeing on arrival at Stockholm at the soda presentation of SK-9 hordes of journalists from various European countries, these unfortunate people came only to ride a three-door Mazda2 modification. And they were not allowed behind the wheel of SK-9. However, like us to manage Mazda2.
In America, a large Mazda has been sold since 2007. In March this year alone, 42,500 buyers purchased it. Experts on the other side of the Atlantic appreciated the model, putting it on the title of Truck of the Year 2008. To find out what the Americans liked the Mazda CX-9, my colleagues and I went to the roads near the capital of Tre Cronor. The appearance of the novelty has not become a revelation. Nine with its forms is very similar to the younger sister of SK-7. The corporate identity is certainly good, but does the future buyer want to, that its theoretically performs on the same field with such grands as Q7, Land Cruiser and X5, from afar it was difficult to distinguish from the younger ranking? In addition, the streamlines of the forms of CC-9 pretty much conceals what many choose cars of a similar class, namely size.
But being inside, you understand the size of the wow. More than five meters from nose to tail allowed to place three rows of seats. Officially, SUV is positioned in the Russian market as a six -seater. There are seven seats in the American specification. In fact, the presence of the third passenger on the middle row is quite possible, but the seat belt is not provided for him. By the way, on the gallery you can get a job quite comfortable! I and my 183 cm conducted the following experiment: I tried to sit down in all three rows, the benefit is also equipped with an adjustment in the longitudinal direction (26 cm). It was possible to do this without any problems, all the places are full -fledged, although it is unlikely that our compatriots who are not used to moving to a large company will be appreciated.
Leather front seats are equipped with a minimum of electroregulations (longitudinal, angle of inclination of the back and lumbar back), but this does not prevent them from being very convenient. A successful compromise between rigidity and comfort, and the body is kept well. The architecture of the front panel resembles that again on the SC-7, but it looks more monumental, as is appropriate to a car of this class. Panel of devices with wells and a three -spoke steering wheel in a single corporate style. The central console has become wider, but the bodies of microclimate and music are the same. At the top there is the same narrow display of the on -board computer and radio in Russia again there will be no navigation system, and therefore a large multimedia screen.
This is strange, because for most classmates this has long been in the order of things! Yes, and the interior of the American versions looks like (of course, they have such a screen) richer, and no one will deny the benefits of navigation. But the installation of this equipment would significantly increase the price of the car, and Mazda must be kept at a rather low level compared to competitors.
The next victim of reducing the cost of production was the quality of the finishing materials. Undoubtedly, it is the best among all Mazda models, but the premium has not yet reached the harsh plastic and imitation of wood does not allow.
Frankly, I did not expect such obedience and responsiveness from this colossus. CC-9 really allows you to go quickly, with pleasure and at the same time with comfort. Now I am not talking about accelerations of the 3.7-liter V6 has a quite ordinary power of 273 hp. (But nevertheless, the degree of compression equal to 10.3 does not allow the use of gasoline with an octane number below 95). And acceleration to hundreds in 10.1 seconds seems to be not amazing, although for two tons of weight it is a good result. CC-9 is characterized by the coordinated work of all units and systems that affect the movement of the machine in space. The gearbox perfectly complements the engine, switching smoothly, but quite quick, without tearing the stream of power. With a kik downs, she willingly throws up a pair, or even the three steps down, freezes at maximum speeds, and in manual allows you to switch very quickly.
The baton is willingly supported by a magnificently configured suspension and steering. Great balance between sports and smoothness! There are few five -meter crossovers that can so confidently attack turns or rush in a straight line at high speed. SC-9 is very stable, the rolls and buildup are minimal. But from this acuteness almost does not suffer from comfort to passengers, how quickly they move if they do not look at the speedometer. The brakes do not lose efficiency even after a series of intense stops.
Council for future owners CX-9. Do not expect miracles from this car on the road. Yes, the Active Torque Split all -wheel drive system is able to transfer up to 50% torque to the rear axle. But this is primarily for slippery coatings. Not for serious off -road obstacles. Due to the short-flowing passenger suspension, the car is posted diagonally very early. But to the honor of the CC -9, it is worth saying that in this position it continues to move forward helps (albeit with a tangible delay), an indefinite stabilization system, brakes the right wheel.
Still, whatever you say, no matter how you look for the CX-9 possible competitors, and the flagship crossover from Mazda stands apart. Its essence in the unification of things that are poorly combined at first glance. Though carefully, he can crawl on the off -road. The salon is so spacious that associations with minivans beg. And acute controllability will plug up not only rolled competitors, but also representatives of a passenger tribe! Well, if there is a car capable of compared with CC-9 in terms of the number of united capabilities, then Mazda and for this case have a joker in the sleeve of a moderate price of one and a half million rubles! What, your hands have already combed, reached for a wallet or credit card? Do not rush, Russian sales will start only in September after a local presentation at the Moscow Motor Show.
NOTE
The MZI V6 engine with a volume of 3.7 liters with the collapse of the cylinder block 60-the first V6 Mazda for five years since the V-shaped K-Series. The first such engine with a volume of only 1.6 liters was installed on the Mazda MX-3 compartment, and the EUNOS 800/Millenia for the American market was equipped with a 2.3-liter version with a turbocharged Miller cycle. The same technology is used on Demio/Mazda2 power plants for the Japanese market. Mazda also produced V6 J-series (the first Mazda MPV and 929). MZI 3.7 is equipped with a sequential regulation system for the gas distribution phase SEQUENTIAL VALVE Timing S-VT, which provides good torque at the entire speed range. The V6 is assembled on the same conveyor in Udzhin, where the assembly of four -cylinder Mazda engines is also taking place.
A hard-loading body design using elements made of high-strength steel has become the basis of good controllability SK-9. Enlarged power elements create a strong security frame. The front subframe is elongated to prevent crawling on the hood of an oncoming car as a result of a frontal blow. Mazda CX-9 earned 5 stars based on the results of front and lateral crash tests conducted by the US National Safety Administration (NHTSA) and 4 stars for protection against overturning.
Mazda CX-9 suspension architecture is similar to the youngest CC-7 in front of McPherson, behind a multi-link with one longitudinal and two transverse levers on each side. The front suspension is attached to the subframe, which is connected to the body by means of six supports. The back of the rear suspension is connected to the body of four supports. The longitudinal levers are fixed above, which makes the car more stable when braking.
The all-wheel drive system with the active distribution of torque (Active Torque Split) was created on the basis of the Mazda CX-7 system of the same name. ATS is able to automatically redistribute the moment in a proportion of 100: 1 (in favor of the front wheels) to 50: 50, as well as choose winter or sports modes of operation. In the only available SC-9 configuration, the following security systems are equipped with the following security systems: ABS, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC Stabilization System), Roll Stabily Control (RSC prevention of overturning), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA Help for Extraglit brak EBD brake forces regulator).
Source: Motor magazine [July 2008]