Which SUV has won two thousand seventeen Wheels Car of The Year?
MAZDA CX-9: It’s only the 2nd time an SUV has won Australia’s most prized Car of the Year award, and it’s the 2nd top gong for Mazda in a row after winning in two thousand sixteen with the MX-5.
MAZDA’S CX-9 SUV has won the coveted Wheels Car of the Year award for 2017.
The all-new seven-seat large family car was launched in its second-generation guise in July this year, and becomes only the 2nd SUV to scoop the Wheels COTY honour. Ford’s Territory was the very first SUV to win the title back in 2004.
2016 Mazda CX-9 GT
The CX-9 triumphed from a field of twenty eight cars, each rigorously tested by independent motoring journalists over three days at the Ford You Yangs Proving Ground in Victoria.
The panel of judges rated the contenders under five stringent criteria: function, efficiency, value, technology and safety.
Mazda’s CX-9 is priced from $42,490 (before on-road costs) in front wheel drive guise, and from $46,490 with all-wheel drive. Range topper is the CX-9 Azami for $63,390.
The two thousand sixteen Mazda CX-9 Azami.
This was Mazda’s eighth win in the Wheels Car of the Year’s 54-year history, meaning the Japanese brand is now the 2nd most successful marque in the awards, behind only Holden with its ten victories.
Mazda also scooped last year’s title with its MX-5 roadster.
“The CX-9 is such a persuading blend of eye-catching design, genuine practicality and spectacle, all with a sprinkling of driver appeal,” said Wheels acting editor Alex Inwood.
2016 Mazda CX-9 GT
From the original field of twenty eight cars the testers whittled that number down to just six: the Mercedes-Benz E Class, Audi A4, Holden Astra, Subaru Impreza, Volkswagen Tiguan and the largest of the bunch, the Mazda CX-9.
Wheels senior journalist Nathan Ponchard wrote in the magazine’s Car of the Year issue that: “The CX-9 blitzes the category for interior convenience and versatility. This seven-seat SUV is so vastly superior to the competition, you’d need to spread to a premium SUV like Audi’s superb Q7 to attempt and better it – for dual the price. ”
SO just how good is the fresh Mazda CX-9?
OUR three motoring writers have each tested the seven-seat SUV in varying conditions over latest months, and unsurprisingly, each found favour with the semi-premium large SUV and agreed with much of what our contemporaries at Wheels magazine said of its two thousand seventeen Car of the Year.
Grant Edwards covered the fresh CX-9’s launch last July and was quickly enamoured, not least by how it had improved over its ageing predecessor.
“While the old model was too thirsty and outclassed in cabin dexterity, this CX-9 takes the fight up to all key players,” he opined, also remarking how the Two.5-litre turbocharged engine “does an impressively slick and strong job,” despite having just four cylinders.
2016 Mazda CX-9 GT
Our road tester mum-of-two Vani Naidoo then gave the near range-topping $61,390 all-wheel-drive CX-9 GT model an extended family-filled test and instantly proclaimed it a “rock-hard favourite”.
“It is a hulking seven-seater but a nice looking one,” she said, while remarking: “It is taller, broader, more stylish and better tooled. it is just more.” It’s one she truly didn’t want to give back.
Personally speaking I eventually got behind the wheel of a CX-9 a few weeks ago, the big SUV having been extensively hyped by almost every other motoring writer I spoke to.
I’m typically not the thickest fan of large SUVs (well, I love the Audi Q7 but get a bit grumpy I have no way of affording the $100,000 price tag), but there are some cars you feel just make sense within minutes of living with one.
2016 Mazda CX-9 GT
For starters it looks superb: strikingly modern, sleek and even a bit funky despite its considerable size.
The cabin too offers a fine mix of unfussy layout, solid-feeling switchgear and touch points that are a cut above the majority of rivals in this price range.
With four adults on board the CX-9’s Two.5-litre petrol engine shone – incredible torque (420Nm) displayed why no diesel variant was required, and it joyfully purred along the highway is cosseting muffle.
Joy? Not truly, but that’s not the point of this car.
Commencing at just over $40,000, and with my family featuring growing kids, the CX-9 has instantly been added to my list of potentials when I next buy a fresh car.
2016 Mazda CX-9 GT
Wheels Car of the Year winners through the years
two thousand seventeen – Mazda CX-9
two thousand sixteen – Mazda MX-5
two thousand fifteen – (Temporal basis for award switched)
Which SUV has won two thousand seventeen Wheels Car of The Year, News Mail
Which SUV has won two thousand seventeen Wheels Car of The Year?
MAZDA CX-9: It’s only the 2nd time an SUV has won Australia’s most prized Car of the Year award, and it’s the 2nd top gong for Mazda in a row after winning in two thousand sixteen with the MX-5.
MAZDA’S CX-9 SUV has won the coveted Wheels Car of the Year award for 2017.
The all-new seven-seat large family car was launched in its second-generation guise in July this year, and becomes only the 2nd SUV to scoop the Wheels COTY honour. Ford’s Territory was the very first SUV to win the title back in 2004.
2016 Mazda CX-9 GT
The CX-9 triumphed from a field of twenty eight cars, each rigorously tested by independent motoring journalists over three days at the Ford You Yangs Proving Ground in Victoria.
The panel of judges rated the contenders under five rigorous criteria: function, efficiency, value, technology and safety.
Mazda’s CX-9 is priced from $42,490 (before on-road costs) in front wheel drive guise, and from $46,490 with all-wheel drive. Range topper is the CX-9 Azami for $63,390.
The two thousand sixteen Mazda CX-9 Azami.
This was Mazda’s eighth win in the Wheels Car of the Year’s 54-year history, meaning the Japanese brand is now the 2nd most successful marque in the awards, behind only Holden with its ten victories.
Mazda also scooped last year’s title with its MX-5 roadster.
“The CX-9 is such a persuading blend of eye-catching design, genuine practicality and spectacle, all with a sprinkling of driver appeal,” said Wheels acting editor Alex Inwood.
2016 Mazda CX-9 GT
From the original field of twenty eight cars the testers whittled that number down to just six: the Mercedes-Benz E Class, Audi A4, Holden Astra, Subaru Impreza, Volkswagen Tiguan and the largest of the bunch, the Mazda CX-9.
Wheels senior journalist Nathan Ponchard wrote in the magazine’s Car of the Year issue that: “The CX-9 blitzes the category for interior convenience and versatility. This seven-seat SUV is so vastly superior to the competition, you’d need to spread to a premium SUV like Audi’s superb Q7 to attempt and better it – for dual the price. ”
SO just how good is the fresh Mazda CX-9?
OUR three motoring writers have each tested the seven-seat SUV in varying conditions over latest months, and unsurprisingly, each found favour with the semi-premium large SUV and agreed with much of what our contemporaries at Wheels magazine said of its two thousand seventeen Car of the Year.
Grant Edwards covered the fresh CX-9’s launch last July and was quickly enamoured, not least by how it had improved over its ageing predecessor.
“While the old model was too thirsty and outclassed in cabin dexterity, this CX-9 takes the fight up to all key players,” he opined, also remarking how the Two.5-litre turbocharged engine “does an impressively slick and strong job,” despite having just four cylinders.
2016 Mazda CX-9 GT
Our road tester mum-of-two Vani Naidoo then gave the near range-topping $61,390 all-wheel-drive CX-9 GT model an extended family-filled test and instantly proclaimed it a “hard favourite”.
“It is a hulking seven-seater but a nice looking one,” she said, while remarking: “It is taller, broader, more stylish and better tooled. it is just more.” It’s one she indeed didn’t want to give back.
Personally speaking I ultimately got behind the wheel of a CX-9 a few weeks ago, the big SUV having been extensively hyped by almost every other motoring writer I spoke to.
I’m typically not the fattest fan of large SUVs (well, I love the Audi Q7 but get a bit grumpy I have no way of affording the $100,000 price tag), but there are some cars you feel just make sense within minutes of living with one.
2016 Mazda CX-9 GT
For starters it looks superb: strikingly modern, sleek and even a bit funky despite its considerable size.
The cabin too offers a fine mix of unfussy layout, solid-feeling switchgear and touch points that are a cut above the majority of rivals in this price range.
With four adults on board the CX-9’s Two.5-litre petrol engine shone – incredible torque (420Nm) showcased why no diesel variant was required, and it gladfully purred along the highway is cosseting muffle.
Joy? Not truly, but that’s not the point of this car.
Commencing at just over $40,000, and with my family featuring growing kids, the CX-9 has instantly been added to my list of potentials when I next buy a fresh car.
2016 Mazda CX-9 GT
Wheels Car of the Year winners through the years
two thousand seventeen – Mazda CX-9
two thousand sixteen – Mazda MX-5
two thousand fifteen – (Temporal basis for award switched)