The sports car of large crossovers did a commendable job at the track. In case you're wondering, it wasn't that much better than the Enclave. Specifically, the slalom speeds were basically equal. I've included the Buick's numbers for comparison purposes (in gray), but remember that numbers tell only so much of the story. In real-world driving, the CX-9 feels remarkably more agile thanks to its excellent steering, lighter weight and firm suspension.
James Riswick, Associate Editor @ 6,543 miles
ACCELERATION
0-30 - 2.8 seconds (3.0)
0-45 - 4.9 seconds (5.0)
0-60 - 7.4 seconds (7.9)
0-75 - 11.1 seconds (12.0)
1/4 Mile (ET/MPH) - 15.9 seconds @ 89.4 mph (16.2 @ 86.2)
Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton: "With its traction control system off, the CX-9 easily lights its front tires. With near-zero spin, the Mazda makes its best numbers. It upshifts smartly right at redline. This new engine really wakes up this large-ish SUV."
BRAKING
30-0 - 34 feet (33)
60-0 - 133 feet (129)
Walton: "Firm pedal and rapid ABS cycle make for an uneventful series of stops."
SKIDPAD
.79 g
(.76 g)
Walton: "Understeers on the limit just under the stability control's threshold for intervention. Steering doesn't really load up much and remains fairly light."
SLALOM
58.3 mph (limited by undefeatable stability control)
(58.6 mph also limited by undefeatable stability control)
Walton: "Good yaw response and lively steering is ultimately snubbed by non-defeat VSC. Still, when VSC intervenes, it's not over zealous but simply corrects for a millisecond and releases.
(My apologies to the two blog comments I had to delete. The blog had a programming error and I had to re-post).
carfreak8394 says:
02:05 PM, 01/ 4/08
Wow.
When I grow up, could I be like the photographer for Edmunds.com ?
Ha ha ha.
(:
stovt001 says:
02:01 AM, 01/ 5/08
Interesting comparo. I'm surprised by the Enclave's shorter stopping distance. I think in this segment, that is more important than slalom speeds or acceleration.
autoboy16 says:
07:33 AM, 01/ 5/08
do the cx-9 and edge share the same brakes or braking system? I remember the edge had horrible braking distances(that were hopefully fixed...)
The buick is respectably fast considering it weighs about 200lbs more(4546lbs vs 4780lbs) or 246lbs to be exact.
The CX-9 still remains a great Cuv! Too bad ford didn't give it a vista roof...
-Cj
jriz says:
12:02 PM, 01/ 5/08
When you look at all the stopping distances we did of the CX-9 and Enclave, they're actually about equal in average. It's just the Enclave had a better best distance.
The Edge and CX-9 do not share brakes, and to my knowledge Ford did not replace them for the 08 Edge nor the MKX. The Edge and MKX distances were just awful, longer than a Ford F350 we tested. A short-term Edge's best 60-0 was 152 feet and a short-term MKX's best was 146. I don't have the LT Edge at my disposal at the moment.
stovt001 says:
09:47 PM, 01/ 5/08
Wow, I'd feel the need to add a drag chute if I bought an Edge.
Remember kids, your brakes are only as good as those on the car behind you.
SubyTrojan says:
10:51 PM, 01/ 5/08
Don't forget reaction time, too!
7driver says:
01:05 AM, 01/ 6/08
hm, so I guess you guys don't wear helmets when doing track testing...
kj123 says:
06:30 PM, 01/ 6/08
Before buying a CX-9 last week, I originally screened for vehicles that had a 0-60 under 8 seconds and CR listed it at 8.6. I almost missed this one until I saw Edmunds story, so thanks!!! Edmunds and all the major magazines are in line with times below 7.5, how could CR mess up so badly?
cwalton1 says:
09:42 AM, 01/ 7/08
@ kj123: You might check to see if CR's test was of an AWD CX-9.
@ 7driver: The camera operator is wearing the helmet ;-D
Chris
jriz says:
09:57 AM, 01/ 7/08
"how could CR mess up so badly?"
During their acceleration runs, the washing machine they were testing later in the day was in the trunk.
And um, sure, I was wearing a helmet. But as a Canadian I don't go anywhere without my Koho Pro hockey helmet. I've only recently ditched the face shield.
alpha01 says:
01:37 PM, 01/ 7/08
CR doesn't brake-torque automatics. It uses the stomp and go method, akin to C/D's Street Start. Those numbers are often very similar.
boxermike says:
03:19 PM, 01/ 7/08
Alpha01: The best times we recorded for the CX-9 were with minimal brake-torquing. Stomp&Go times hovered around 7.6.
Getting into the 8s must have taken a whole lot of flooring...
alpha01 says:
08:48 PM, 01/ 7/08
Fair enough, but the point remains that I believe C/R doesn't brake-torque to any degree.
An explanation to the discrepancy so obvious that I originally overlooked it (forest for the tress kinda thing).... C/R hasn't tested a 3.7L CX-9, only last years 3.5L. That, plus the (slightly different) testing procedure, and natural mechanical variations, strike me as resonably accounting for the difference.