Mazda CX-9 | New Diagonal AWD test with Off-Road Traction Assist!

A lot of Car Question fans asked for a retest of the new Mazda Cx-9, with Off-Road Traction Assist, on our diagonal test hill! Mazda’s predictive i-Activ all-wheel drive is standard in CX-9 Signature and available on all other trim levels. When paired with i-Activ all-wheel drive, the 2020 CX-9 is the first Mazda vehicle offered with the all-new off-road traction assist feature. Replacing the traction control button, this feature can potentially help the driver when adventuring on uneven terrain. When the diagonal wheels lose traction, off-road traction assist will stop reducing the engine torque and increases the brake force on the wheels without traction. This transfers power to the wheels still on the ground to help allow the vehicle to regain traction and continue the drive. G-Vectoring Control Plus is also standard for 2020 and further improves the steering response to help the driver and all occupants have a smooth, premium driving experience.
The performance of the CX-9 has also been enhanced. The turbocharged Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine equipped on all CX-9 models now delivers a robust 320 lb-ft of torque on 93 octane gasoline (310 lb-ft of torque on 87 octane gasoline); an increase of 10 lb-ft of torque on the outgoing model year. The turbocharged engine is rated to deliver up to 250 horsepower on 93 octane gasoline (227 horsepower on 87 octane gasoline) and is paired with a quick-shifting, six-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission.
Real-life test note: In the Mazda CX-9 signature AWD, gone is the TCS on/off button! It's now replaced by the Off-road traction assist button! We might say we had an influence on that since Mazda took notice of our Cx-9 and Cx-5 video a while ago and got their engineer to talk with us about that button change! So without it, it's smoking tire on the diagonal test hill, when you press on it, there is a little delay but the Mazda Cx-9 will climb it easily and way better than the previous gens of Mazda AWD system! There was no Excessive AWD System Load warning message. You can even feel it when you roll and turn on the dry tarmac! There is no maximum speed for the system to be used... can't wait to test it in the snow! This button Off-road traction assist button is also optional on the 2020 Mazda Cx-5, Cx-30, and Mazda Cx-9! And to add to the difficulty, it was raining a lot and slippery that day!
Check out our AWD diagonal test of the Mazda CX-9 equipped with Off-road traction assist to find out what happens when we press on it!
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Mazda CX-9 | Diagonal AWD test with off-road traction assist!
• Mazda CX-9 | New Diago...
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[@CarQuestion]

A lot of Car Question fans asked for a retest of the new Mazda Cx-9, with Off-Road Traction Assist, on our diagonal test hill! Real-life test note: In the Mazda CX-9 signature AWD, gone is the TCS on/off button! It's now replaced by the Off-road traction assist button! We might say we had an influence on that since Mazda took notice of our Cx-9 and Cx-5 video a while ago and got their engineer to talk with us about that button change! So without it, it's smoking tire on the diagonal test hill, when you press on it, there is a little delay, but the Mazda Cx-9 will climb it quickly and way better than the previous gens of Mazda AWD system! And to add to the difficulty, it was raining a lot and slippery that day! #mazdacx9 #iactivawd

[@Birdmacher]

Could you please ask Dave Coleman if the off-road mode in the 2020 CX-9 is the SAME as turning off TCS in the 2019? Did they just change the button or did they also make other changes to how the system operates? It would be great for 2019 owners to know! Thanks!

[@haroldbeauchamp3770]

Can always count on Car Question for excellent diagonal test videos!

[@CarQuestion]

Glad you like them!

[@jbg9866]

That's pretty damn amazing what Mazda has done here with AWD. We had a 2016 FWD CX9 GT great SUV just outgrew it with another kiddo and had to move over to a minivan. Glad to see Mazda take input.

[@jakestallman5448]

Thank you I've been waiting for like forever for this video. Now I can finally buy one without a doubt.

[@BBlackmen]

You guy's make the best videos real life the cx9 did alot better this time. Which I'm glad about i thought about buying one before but was turned off when o saw how bad their allwheel drive system worked

[@justicecenter]

Thank you for the video. Very impressive.

[@CarQuestion]

Glad you like! Share the love of cars :)

[@veowsaku]

You have founded the flaws in the systems and they fixed the issues. Win win for both as well as the consumers!

[@BernardWei]

Performing quite well despite of the horrible traction from the tire in the test condition. Thanks for the test.

[@seanw7638]

Great job!

[@linuxkernel4.199]

I cant wait for winter and lots of snow with my AWD cx -30 as i also bought a really good set of winter tires too.

[@CarQuestion]

did you check our Mazda Cx-30 Review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJLLlGaGdtRmnpI And our Mazda Cx-30 Diagonal test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZzcdqVoa9N0jsk

[@linuxkernel4.199]

@@CarQuestion I sure did :)

[@asrsweden7065]

Insha Ollox shunawasida 2020 Dekabr oyida olaman⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🇺🇿 Mazda cx9❤

[@god1284]

Damn this car absolutely destroyed the Highlander in this test.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Question: I have a 2019 CX-9. Is TCS-OFF the same as

[@dimekoza]

It actually works, and now the car is seriously good off road.

[@CarQuestion]

Better than the fail a few years ago!

[@juanpichardo1]

How good is the cx9 2020 in sand

[@mattX5]

A CX9 will never be “seriously good” off-road. Dozens of cars have completed this challenged with much less fuss than this CX9, wake up.

[@dimekoza]

@@mattX5 That's just your opinion dude, don't think that you're the only one who knows a thing or two about cars, wake up...

[@mattX5]

dimekoza this isn’t opinion, it’s objective smart one. Go watch their diagonal test of any SUV that is actually good off road, eg the BMW X5 they did. Minimal wheel spin. Then watch this thing. Not only did it fail once, it couldn’t get up without spinning the wheels like there’s no tomorrow. It’s pathetic off road.

[@zoe7657]

Maza have some very nice vehicles. Slick styling and great interiors.

[@CarQuestion]

Yes they do

[@drw1926]

I hope that wasn't my CX-9 prior to taking delivery! LOL...

[@samwh4775]

That new off road button really does wonders 😂

[@lowgil]

Looks like i-Activ AWD and Off-Road Traction Assist is standard on all 2020 CX-9 trim levels.

[@olegvitiv9658]

Hi I have 2021 cx9 Gt! If you turned on,off road assist does it turning off the traction control? Or how I can turn traction control off? It doesn’t have buttons for it or in settings🤷🏻‍♂️

[@skauzer9706]

Здравствуйте , теперь после 1-2 минут пробуксовке муфта греется не будет ?

[@95Omniscient]

What do you think of the AWD system in the new 2022 Mazda 3 ? Is it better than previous generations? I'm really hesitating on getting it for winter after seeing all these i-Activ awd tests.

[@CarQuestion]

You can check the video here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJutpoVmg71phc0

[@turboteam1]

Waiting for your review on the new mazda 3 turbo Hatchback.

[@CarQuestion]

on the list but might be right in the middle of winter! Snowdrift INCOMING! :P

[@jaumebassaganyaobiols]

Hello, Mathieu, Compared to the Subaru Ascent, the Mazda CX-9 is better? I know you did the Diagonal Test on the Subaru in snow and ice conditions and it might be difficult to make a comparison, but is the X-Mode better?

[@CarQuestion]

In winter you can throw the Subaru ascent in power slide more easily. But when it comes to our test hill, they are nose to nose with that new button. I really think Subaru needs to add a more agressive mode to face the completion now.

[@subazealand9158]

@@CarQuestion do you think X-Mode acts faster? What about % of torque going to the back wheels in Mazda?

[@OutdoorFun01]

Pourquoi que le bouton existe? Ça devrait être toujours actif par défaut.

[@freedom_foz_6337]

Off topic but did you turn on the windshield wipers on accident? Been there. Or is that a traction device from Mazda? Never mind I see the rain 🌧

[@mikeprime81]

Mazda on this model use the wiper speed to ajust the awd (cx3-cx5-cx9) but not on the mazda3 and mazda cx30 wich use a different awd system

[@ggg3671]

So, among all the cars you’ve tested,which AWD system is the most effective in your opinion?

[@Danilo85868]

Probably the torsen from Subaru.

[@andrewsilver]

If you have a 2016-19 CX-9 Signature, can Offroad Traction Assist be added, via a software update? Or not possible...

[@sgomez3047]

Any input on this question guys? Would be nice if someone would answer

[@themikeroberts]

I believe turning off traction control in pre-2020 models does this same thing. This channel has a video with a mazda engineer about that and he said they were working on a new name for that button, which I guess ended up being "off road traction assist". I have a 2019 and turning off traction control makes a huge difference when off roading.

[@andrewsilver]

@@themikeroberts many thanks, going to give that a try!

[@waynerogers6621]

When you sign the loan agreement with mazda/ chase you also sign an agreement that you wont take the vehicle off road. I had to sign it when I bought my CX 5

[@CarQuestion]

Loan maybe because the vehicle is not yours

[@waynerogers6621]

@@CarQuestionif you have 30,000 cash then you can baja with it. Until then the bank has a interest in seeing the vehicle is not destroyed. The cx5 and cx9 are not off road vehicles.

[@CarQuestion]

Offroad is not the Rubicon trail by default

[@waynerogers6621]

@@CarQuestion We have lots of off roads here in Pennsylvania. Off road is a path not graded for traffic. Lots of jeepsters and ATV run those paths all the time and at least one is killed each month. You wreck a cx5 or cx9 a lien holder will sue you in court. A cx5 with snow and mud rated tires will get you anywhere you want to go in the winter as long as it's a road.

[@CarQuestion]

You got my point

[@brightness4195]

I have cx-9, but without the traction assist button, so what I do in off road?

[@subazealand9158]

Turn off your traction control if yours is 2019 model

[@themikeroberts]

Push the "TCS off" button (which is similar or identical to the off road traction assist button. I do that in my 2019 and it makes a huge difference.

[@arthurserino2254]

If a slight reprogramming of the TCS was all it took to avoid this embarrassing failure, why didn't they put it in before?

[@themikeroberts]

Cause they programmed it for snowy pavement so they preferred just reducing throttle until the spin of the tires caught up with movement of the vehicle. This setting makes it so it brakes the spinning tires instead of reducing throttle. That works great for this situation but would be bad at 50mph on pavement. You can achieve the same thing on pre-2020 models by pushing the poorly named "TCS off" button. There's a video on this channel where they interview a Mazda official about that.

[@omaralnaabi1989]

Really good video, do you have tried cx9 offroad ? Sands, muds, hills ...

[@CarQuestion]

Nah with those wheels and tires... nope We will let the other youtuber break things and do some scratches

[@subazealand9158]

@@CarQuestion who?

[@abdu2s]

Please put a an explanation or at least an indication of when you pressed that button. A narrated comparison would be perfect and will add to your content

[@CarQuestion]

Is the logo too small ??

[@A314000]

@@CarQuestion LOL

[@zoe7657]

Love the post... But I bet that location doesn't love the tire marks on the fresh paved surface ...

[@CarQuestion]

cool, don't worry about them they are ok! you can thank them by buying their products. Oh and it's not fresh paved, it's just wet.

[@Mamo878]

It's called mud.

[@na1406if]

الارض مويه هذا سبك لازم عزم والا دبل والموتر مافي دبل

[@juanpichardo1]

How good is the CX-9 in the sand

[@mohammedaminebourkadi]

Check this video made by my 2019 version.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXutpnWIh9aZi68

[@mohammedaminebourkadi]

I got System on load after a while.. But this is dubai sands kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqSxgX-qhK2LeJI

[@juanpichardo1]

?

[@TEMPLE7D]

I take my 18’ AWD on the beach occasionally. She does great! If I stop, initially it’ll feel like it’s digging and sinking when you try to go, but it’ll easily pull itself out and keep going.

[@juanpichardo1]

TEMPLE7D Thanks !!!

[@srorapongmeunthong5844]

ชอบๆ

[@scott8919]

So it's basically the opposite of a TCS "off" button. You press a button to make it stronger.

[@KageSuper]

Seems is just an oppose operation but previous replied it performed better than before "TCS off" especially got to count the rainy teat slip

[@Birdmacher]

I think it's more like a better name for the button but it does the same thing the TCS off button did.

[@acerrulz1053]

Its all good, 99.99% of people are not going to drive like this. Its a family suv- and it can do things when needed. Thats the point of this video

[@i_vxoz]

2017

[@amin77illinois]

Hyundai and Honda awd system is a lot more responsive and on point when it comes to same test. Mazda as you can see how long the wheels don’t respond when needing to pull and pause. My 2020 Hyundai Santa Htrac responds like a 4x4 meaning not only the AWD system sends power to the rears on auto mode but it sends power to each side. But if u lock the differential it splits the power 50/50 front and rears. Htrac AWD is better than most AWD system. Through heavy rain it performs excellent.

[@m-cw7er]

Subaru Forester passed this test in snow

[@priyankukashyap7650]

Its gonna struggle a lot in icy hill climb

[@nicholassmith7048]

Why? It did pretty well on this test so it should be fine on an icy hill with winter tires.

[@priyankukashyap7650]

@@nicholassmith7048 no brother.. the time it took to shift torque onto the the tyre with traction is much more compared to some other cars .. and during icy hill climb that time delay gonna cause the car to come backward which will make even tougher for the driver to climb up ..

[@annahn8750]

Thật lun

[@ajlovett6740]

Hummers did this first

[@STEALTTH7]

People are not cross shopping CX-9's and Hummers....SMH

[@rafars2246]

Good luck to the poor soul who buys that car thinking is new...

[@CarQuestion]

what's wrong with it now?

[@rafars2246]

@@CarQuestion a lot. You might think you're driving a tank, oh well, for you all cars you test are tanks since you don't have to pay for them.

[@CarQuestion]

​@@rafars2246 stop crying; it's not a tank; we test the AWD system here, and diapers and kleenex reviews are not on our channel. Thanks.

[@rafars2246]

@@CarQuestion cars like these are meant to drive smoothly on the road, not to be extremely abuse by clueless reviewers.

[@jaiganeshb8304]

Range Rover can climb stairs effortlessly this is struggling like hell

[@EldenTriLee]

I don't know what video other people are watching. This was terrible. The CX9 has a very poor AWD system unlike the CX5.

[@michelebellomo4418]

Vergogna

[@CarQuestion]

shame? what shame ?

[@TMS5100]

Very lazy and slow response AWD system. Come on mazda, you can do better than that. This is just barely adequate in this price segment.

[@wenwen5878]

Feel no good

[@CarQuestion]

!? why?

[@wenwen5878]

@@CarQuestion i mean this car is not capable for offroad.