I've only had my CX-9 for a few days, but I have to say it's probably the nicest vehicle I've owned. I compared the CX-9 with the Territory and the Kluger before I bought, and it was the best in terms of quality (interior and exterior fit, finish and materials) and the features for the price. The Territory doesn't even come close to either the Toyota or the Mazda in terms of build and materials quality; I don't care what the Australian motoring magazines and websites say (and I'm a die-hard Ford guy who's owned/restored a number of Mustangs, and have owned 6 other Fords before buying the Mazda). Leather, trim materials, controls, etc are very high standard, especially compared to the domestic offerings. Seats are more comfortable than the Territory and offer easier adjustment as well. The seat memory paired with individual keys is also a great feature where you have more than one regular driver, and your settings differ significantly. Paint quality seems very good with minimal factory orange peel, and nice, deep even color. Can't comment on how it will hold up over time if abused, because mine will always been well cared for. Ease of access and flexibility of the third row seats beats the other two hands down. Having the split third row seats adds a lot of flexibility. I'm 188cm, and I can sit in there and be relatively comfortable, though I wouldn't want to be in there for too long. There's still a reasonable amount of space with the third row up to fit a couple of overnight bags, and definitely more room than the other two. The Kluger had better third row ventilation (overhead), but the Territory has none at all. The handling is fantastic, and the engine and transmission work very well together. I find that it take a bit of throttle input to invoke urgency in the acceleration, but when you do it certainly leaves the Territory flat footed. The Toyota was more "sprightly" off the line, but I found that this made it difficult to get a smooth start, and it responded almost too quickly to slight modulations of the throttle even when underway. The Mazda is much easier to drive smoothly, and when you want it to go, all you need to do is dip into the throttle a bit more. It rides firmer and flatter than the other two as well. Steering is light at slower speeds, but is also fine for the highway. Not sure if the power steering assist is speed sensitive, but it does feel like it is (i.e. seems firmer once at highway speeds). Basically, I looked over and drove all three back to back, and the CX had it all over the other two, especially when it came to what I could negotiate on price. The Mazda dealer I dealt with was much more willing to move on the price, and as a consequence it was a significantly better deal than the other two (comparing AWD top of the line models for each). My only gripes are that the roof racks offered over here are garbage (but I'm currently sourcing a set of the North American racks from Canada), satnav should be standard in the Luxury model (and allow for at least 3 CDs instead of only 1 in the factory Mazda optioned satnav), and the lack of an available factory rear DVD/entertainment system (which is, again, an option on the CX-9 in North America but for some reason we miss out). Other than that, I'm stoked about my CX-9 and can't wait to hop in for a drive every morning.

Very comfortable to get in and out of; anybody should be able to find a comfortable seating position except perhaps (much) shorter drivers. Great accommodation in the cabin for up to 7 and usable third-row seating. There is not a lot of storage space in the console or elsewhere though. Respectable acceleration off the line, really stout midrange torque and horsepower. Excellent steering feel and response. Excellent stopping performance for a big vehicle. EPA estimated gas mileage of 16/22 seems just about spot-on based on eight months of driving.

Best crossover in the class! The styling and built quality are good. 3.7 liters engines, provide 275 hp and 366NM torque, enough power and torque to run 0-100 kilometer per hour in 8.1 seconds. Six speeds Activematic transmission is smooth. Really fun to drive, never disapointed. Gas consumption about 7 km per liter in the urban area and about 9 km per liter in the highway.Zoom-zoom!

good for hauling lots of leg room great features awesome acceleration gas mileage pretty decent very fun to drive so much better than a minivan hauling the kids around expensive but worth every penny make sure to get the 4wd