Mazda CX-9 attracting luxury SUV shoppers
According to Mazda’s North American officials who spoke with Ward’s Auto, the Mazda CX-9 is attracting luxury car buyers to the Mazda name for the first time.
“Our dealers are telling us they”re seeing people (trade in) BMW X5s and that (customers) are cross-shopping Acura MDXs and Volvo XC90s,” Chris Hill, vehicle line manager-CX-9, told Ward’s. Hills also said that the full-size SUV is attracting buyers who are looking for a sexier substitute over cars like the Toyota Highlander or the Honda Pilot.
Mazda has already sold 13,719 units of the CX-9 up until August. The full-size SUV, which just went on sale in January of 2007, has a sales target of 25,000-30,000 units for the year. The range-topping Grand Touring trim level has been the best-selling model, accounting for 51% of all CX-9 sales.
The Mazda CX-9 is powered by a 3.7 liter V6 DOHC engine that produces 273 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. Even though the full-size SUV is more powerful than its predecessor, it still provides 5% better fuel-economy in the city.
Pricing for the 2008 Mazda CX-9 starts at $30,035 for the 2-wheel-drive Sport model and tops out at $34,000 for the Grand Touring AWD version.
Source: Ward’sAuto
[tags]Cars, Car, Auto, Automobile, Vehicles, Technology, Auto News, News, Automotive, Mazda[/tags]
