2009 Mazda CX-9

2009 Mazda CX-9 feels relatively cozy, but not small. The large center console and attractive instrument panel create a driver-centric cockpit, but on a winding, snowy road, we were always aware of the right wheels' proximity to the slippery shoulder. The CX-9's external size means a spacious interior for the front five passengers, while third row detainees will beg those in the second to please slide their seats forward.

Mazda's CX-9 also has a serious — and seriously safe — side. Stability control is standard equipment. Front and side-impact airbags are standard. There's a five-star frontal crash rating for driver and passenger. The CX-9 also gets five stars for front and rear seat occupants in the event of a side collision, and four stars for rollover protection, all of which are on par with our Enclave.

We're especially taken with the way the CX-9's flexible seating package works for us. The 60/40-split second-row seat offers 5 inches of fore and aft travel for added comfort, and once you swing the second-row seat out of the way for access to the third row, there's a wide 26-inch gap to wriggle through. Although the measurements for passenger accommodation are impressive, the CX-9 still seems a little tight to us (especially in headroom), so we'll see what we discover in the next year.