A Trip to Witch City in the Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD
Lillie Morales
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‘Tis the season to get spooky.
For some that may mean decorating, haunted houses, pumpkin picking. Or maybe a trip to the “Witch City” also known as Salem, Massachusetts. It’s only a few hours away from the tri-state area which makes a fun, easy road trip. And the Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD was perfect for providing comfort, space, and some pampering.
Related: 2019 Mazda CX-9 Review: A 7 Seater SUV Filled with Luxury
Spacious and comfy enough for an oversized pumpkin!
There’s Plenty of Space in the Mazda CX-9
My husband and I took a trip to Salem during the month of October in the Mazda CX-9. It’s a spacious car, providing passengers lots of comforts- including a third row. Passengers also get their own heat/AC controls in the back, heated seats, cup holders, USB ports and plenty of legroom. It was just the hubby and me for this particular road trip but we had plenty of space for luggage and didn’t have to worry about shopping too much- and there was lots of shopping to do in Salem!
Related: What You Need to Know about 2019 Mazda CX-9
Perfect to get around and see the sights like the Salem Witch House. Photo: Lillie Morales
Signature Interior Design- Not for Your Basic Witch
One thing I appreciated about the CX-9 is the beautifully designed interior. Inside you’ll find Nappa leather, sculpted aluminum, and genuine Santos Rosewood crafted together to give you that premium factor. It’s those little details that make your ride so much better. The drive to Salem, MA was about four hours so it was nice to have those amenities.
Related: Is the Mazda 6 the Best Luxury Car Under 40k???
Luxe features at a premium price. Photo: Jose Gomez
A Quiet Ride with the Perfect Sound System
One of the first things we noticed was how quiet the ride was. Driving on a noisy highway, one normally expects to hear some noise but the soundproofing on this car was just awesome. Add a great sound system (BOSE complete with 12 high-performance speakers) and you can listen to those tunes (or the GPS) with very little interruption.
Plenty of safety tech in the CX-9. It even warns you about the weather! Photo: Lillie Morales
Safety Features I Loved
When it comes to safety, I’ve always found that Mazda does it well. Their safety technology helps alert the driver of any hazards. Driving through Salem during October, you will find there are many pedestrians around. It can get pretty crazy and those safety features come in handy for crowded places.
Other safety features I really liked are:
- Blind Spot Monitoring (helps detect objects in your blind spot using sounds and light)
- Radar Cruise Control (allows drivers to maintain a set speed minimum following distance from the traffic ahead)
- Smart Brake Support with Collision Warning (helps detect cars ahead and warns the driver when to brake)
- Lane Departure Warning (alerts the driver using visual and sound)
- Traffic Sign Recognition (reads road signs and displays the information on the Active Driving display for you)
Photo: Jose Gomez
Who This Car is For and What Will it Cost
I think this is a great car for families. It is generous in space and has a third row (that still leaves you with a good amount of trunk space) which makes traveling for big families easy. It’s a great car for a mom looking for some luxury features and not interested in minivan life. And it’s great for carpooling folks, too. The model I test drove is the Signature trim which starts at MSRP is 45,365 but other trims start as low as $32,280 (Sport trim). There are four trim options.
The Salem Witch Museum. Photo: Lillie Morales
If You Like Spooky…You’ll Love Witch City
You simply must plan a trip to Salem! We had a great time. And as much as it may seem “witchy,” it’s actually rich in history. You’ll learn about the famous Salem witch trials and if you’re a Hocus Pocus fan, you can visit some cool filming locations from the movie. I’d definitely return- it’s wicked fun!
Disclosure: I was loaned the Mazda CX-9, all opinions are my own.
