CX-9 aims to unseat the family minivan

Crossovers may be the vehicles everyone looks for now, but there are a lot of models that I'm just not sold on. While there are a bunch of reasonably sized CUVs, there are an equal number of really large ones as well.

And that's the problem.

I find that large crossover vehicles are either too much like SUVs or too much like vans and, regardless of what the marketing campaigns say, the differences are negligible.

Search for a used Mazda CX-9

When the Mazda CX-9 came out, I was already impressed with its smaller sibling, the CX-7, and I didn't warm up to it as much as others did.

All it took to change my mind was some cold weather and snowy roads.

The CX-9 is big and with the GT model sitting on 20-inch alloy wheels (above and beyond its entry level 18s), it looks very much like an SUV and a van at the same time.

Maybe the CX-9 suffers from a little bit of an identity crisis.

The CX-9 can handle anything thrown at it and still manage to maintain a comfort level that few vehicles in the same circumstances can. Its long wheelbase keeps the ride comfortable, which is always good.

The cabin has plenty of room in the front and those seats provide heated comfort on cold days as well as great support year round. The second-row seats gave the kids plenty of leg room as well, of course being propped up in their booster seats they don't get to enjoy the leather upholstery.

The only concern with the CX-9 seating is the third-row. Once you slide the second row forward, you can climb into the back to find little to no leg room. I found it hard to imagine kids back there, never mind adults.

If it were my vehicle I would just keep the third row folded down to have tonnes of cargo room available at a moment's notice. Even on large shopping trips it was hard to fill the entire cargo area. The luxury package includes a power tailgate, which is always a fun feature to show the kids (heck, who doesn't like a lift gate that opens and closes at a touch of a button?).

The luxury package also adds a great 10-speaker Bose sound system. Add in the audio controls and hands-free phone controls on the steering wheel, power sunroof, power windows, doors and mirrors, and there aren't too many things you wished you had.

The chrome accents and wood trim up against the all black interior looks sharp and has a great fit and finish.

Power comes from a good-sized 3.7-litre V6 that performs dutifully with 273 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. That's more than enough to move around in the city but the CX-9 really stretches its legs out on the highway, where passing slower vehicles is just a mere hesitation to your destination.

Power is transferred to the all-wheel drive system through the six-speed automatic transmission and there isn't hesitation at any point in the power band.

The traction control kicks in only when needed and lies in wait in the background until absolutely needed.

While I prefer the size of the CX-7, the CX-9 is a good step up if you need more cargo room or if you absolutely need that third row of seats to punish someone.

The CX-9 is aimed right at the buyer who hates the family van, but doesn't want to be tagged with owning an SUV in today's day and age.

If that's what you think your identity is then you'll be happy in the CX-9.