On The Road With The Fun And Luxurious Mazda CX9 Signature AWD #DriveShop

What do you get when you combine the latest in automotive advances designed with luxury from start to finish but a family feel from the moment you step into the car-the Mazda CX9 Signature AWD-that’s what. Thanks to DriveShop and Mazda, we were lucky enough to drive this high-styling car and one thing we can all agree on without hesitation is this is what every family car should look and feel like.

The first thing we noticed was that the interior that made us feel on top of the world. With soft and subtle leather seats plus ample and plentiful room whether you were sitting in the front, second of third row, I honestly felt like if I ever drove cross county again, this would be the car I would want.

Even though last week was one of the worst storm weeks Northern California had seen in years, never have I felt so safe. Driving in pouring down rain and foggy morning and nights when the rain did momentarily let up, means you’re never quite sure if someone is in front of you or next to you or coming up on your side but between the Lane Keep Assist (LKA) feature which makes sure you stay in your own lane and the Blind Spot Monitoring System feature which makes a sound alerting you that someone is in your blind spot I was in great shape.

Add for all those times you are in the crowed Target parking lot and some decides to walk right behind you car even though they see you starting to pull out, the rear facing camera also comes equipped with a warning system that alerts you to that–or when you’re about to hit your garage door.  

Where I live the speed limits change from block to block and sometimes within the same block. Add in lots of hills and you have to be aware at all times of your speed, but you don’t want to keep looking down to check. The good people at Mazda now have taken the guess work out of that with their ingenious –Windshield-projected Active Driving Display which has to be one of the greatest inventions of all time-next to seat warmers and cup holders.

This display is seen directly on the windshield over the steering wheel and can be adjusted to from the control center as to it’s height and brightness to ensure that you always know now only how fast you are going, but how fast you should be going allowing you keep your eyes on the road at all times. And if for some reason you don’t want it, you can turn it off easily again, without ever taking your eyes off the road. What does all of this mean? Thanks to this brilliant feature you can view the vehicle speed, vehicle speed setting using cruise control, turn-by-turn directions, distance and lane guidance and Lane Departure Warning System operation and warnings. 

Let’s talk about how comfortable this car is! The drivers seat not only is entirely adjustable and has settings to remember the preferences of two different drivers from how far back you want the seat to the just where you’d like your lumbar support adjusted to, but never before have I had both the center console and the left arm rest and the PERFECT height to rest both of my arms.

And the built in seat warms have not 1, not, 2 but 3 different temperature choices. And the keyless ignition means no more digging to the bottom of the purse when it’s pouring down rain to find the keys.

When it comes to technology, Mazda thought of everything including such features as:

• MAZDA CONNECT™ infotainment system with 7” or optional 8” color multi-function display with voice command, SMS text message audio delivery and replay, E911 automatic emergency notification and optional navigation system
  •Multi-function commander control
  •Available windshield-projected Active Driving Display
  •Dynamic stability control and traction control system with
  standard trailer stability assist
  •Auto-dimming rear-view mirror

The touchscreen display comes equipped with with Navigation, Bluetooth, Rear View Camera and Sirius XM Radio which can all be controlled on the touchscreen panel or by a navigational knob that sits behind behind the shifter and once again, allows you to easily switch from entertainment mode to GPS mode without ever taking your eyes off the road.

The leather steering wheel has all the controls you need right at your fingertips to enable you to use you Bluetooth enabled phone which pairs with the car or your music and of course the cruise control.

The girls loved that push-button lift gate and the fact that they could fold the seats and rearrange the configuration of the 7-passenger car with ease-no grown ups needed and of course the sunroof, when it finally stopped raining was their favorite.

Add in the USB chargers in their row to keep their electronics charged and going at all times and of course their own cup holders and pull down center console all their own so they each had their own personal space and there were never any complaints heard from either one of them that “she’s touching me!”  

The back storage area even has outlets that would make this a perfect car to take camping for the weekend or sit in a parking lot all day long while tailgating.

But the very best part of the weeklong test drive was actually not the car but Mazda’s commitment to giving back. Giving back to communities has always been at the heart of Mazda. Now in it’s fourth year, Mazda Drive for Good^® gives drivers the chance to be a part of the spirit of giving.

 Since its launch in 2013, the Mazda Drive for Good^® charitable program has donated more than 12.9 million dollars and has pledged more than 192,000 charitable service hours and continues to provide monetary donations and community service throughout the year. Part of my family’s weeklong test-drive included being presented with a $25 Charitable Giving Card which allowed us to make a donation to the charity of our choice. Thank you Drive for Good^® for helping us to touch the lives of others.

Luxurious yet family friendly, fully equipped with everything you’d want in technology in your car and more, with spacious 7 passenger seating, that easily folds down with the touch of a button to make room for anything you might need to transport, if you’re looking for that perfect fun family car that makes you want to think of places to drive to, look no further than the all new Mazda CX9 Signature AWD.

You’ll be thanking me for many years to come.

Want to find out more about the Mazda family of cars? Check them out on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram and follow along with them by looking for the hashtag #DriveMazda across Social Media.

Stay tuned next week as we head off to Walt Disney World for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Disney Land and Sea where thanks to DriveShop and Mazda we’ll have the chance to explore the Orlando area in the sleek and sporty Mazda CX-5!

Disclosure: We were given a Mazda CX9 AWD Signature automobile to test drive for one week through our partnership with DriveShop however the thoughts and opinions expressed here are 100% our own.