A mid-cycle revamp enhances both the visual impact and the creature-comfort levels of the 2013 Mazda CX-9, which makes its world debut next month in Sydney at the 2012 Australian International Motor Show. The popular 7-passenger SUV will go on sale in the U.S. later this fall, although pricing and detail specifics for this market have not yet been released.
The most obvious change to the Mazda CX-9 comes from the nose and tail tweaks that display the automaker’s latest Kodo – Soul of Motion design cues. Up front, a re-contoured soft fascia replaces the current split-grille treatment in the firm’s range-topping SUV with a new, more subtle single-frame design and a recast lower apron that share a good deal in common with the look of its compact Mazda CX-5 sibling. More elegantly rendered headlamps and running lights round out the facelift. The rear of the CX-9 gets a similar Kodo-influenced update that brings a re-profiled bumper, modified valence panel and new exhaust finishers as well as restyled taillights.
Although we’ve yet to see any photos, the 2013 Mazda CX-9 reportedly bolsters its spacious cabin with upgraded materials and improved fits/finishes that give it a more welcoming look and feel. Revamped infotainment and navigation systems feature the latest technology based on the automaker’s intuitive Human Machine Interface and offer improved voice-recognition capabilities. While its existing 273-horsepower V6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission carryover unchanged in both front-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, the 2013 Mazda CX-9 will offer a selection of new advanced safety features, including a Forward Obstruction Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System and High Beam Control System. Expect more information on U.S.-spec models to surface shortly.
