Blending a sporty driving spirit with seven-passenger midsize SUV practicality is a challenge the 2012 Mazda CX-9 achieves.

Designed to evoke an emotional connection, a pride in ownership, CX-9 offers a sophisticated appearance and never sacrifices versatility or efficiency. Its smooth, flowing silhouette and prominent wheels and tires fixed into muscular fenders create a dramatic, but refined look. The steeply angled windshield further accentuates the vehicle's agile ability.

Inside, the driver is greeted by a neatly organized combination of cylindrical shapes and blacked-out instruments. Brightly-edged gauges and indirect blue illumination set a mood of calm and cool. Soft trim is elegantly configured and constructed of high-end materials, and seats are fabricated with a sporty look and feel. The intuitive dash panel houses large, clearly marked entertainment and climate controls.

To create comfort for all drivers, the driver's seat and steering column move quickly and easily over a long range of adjustments. The 60/40-split second row comfortably seats three and offers approximately 5 inches of fore-and-aft travel -- as well as a reclining backrest. In the 50/50-split third row, seating position and legroom are among the leaders in the class, both in numbers and in real comfort.

The 2012 CX-9 is powered by a 3.7-liter V-6 engine, which makes even the most complex pursuits as easy and as pleasurable as possible. Its power peak of 273 horsepower offers explosive acceleration and passing performance. The torque curve keeps 250 lb-ft at 3,000 to 6,000 rpm and peaks at 270 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm.