Compared to the Outlook, the CX-9 feels swifter when accelerating at highway speed.

Smooth is the defining word for this powertrain; the V-6 revs freely and the automatic changes gears without a hint of harshness. It's a level of refinement you'd expect on an expensive luxury car, not a SUV that goes for less than $40,000.

It's only when you throw it into a tight turn that you start to feel its true size as moderate body roll develops.

...the CX-9 provides owners with a high driving position, generous cargo capacity and the ability to take on slippery roads worry-free.

Some people thought it was a slick minivan, while others saw it as a slick SUV. But nearly everyone who had anything to say about its appearance gave the CX-9 high marks for styling.

The CX-9 is a heavy runner with a factory weight -- vehicle weight absent cargo and passengers -- of 4,546 pounds. That weight is noticeable in low-speed city traffic, where the CX-9 feels a bit cumbersome.