2013 Vehicles

Subcompacts were long relegated as first cars for first-time drivers. They were the cheap family hand-me-down for Junior until he could prove his mettle behind the wheel before being entrusted with the keys to a “grown-up” vehicle. How times have changed. Today such entry-level vehicles are offering an unabashedly charming version of fun and frugal that Junior probably doesn’t want to drive wha …

The largest vehicle in the lineup, the 2013 CX-9 is a mid-size SUV that seemingly towers over its Mazda brethren in size and maturity, yet behind the wheel feels just as sprightly and acts just as juvenile as the rest of the Zoom-Zoom lot. This is not a bad thing. Refreshed for the 2013 model year, the three-row, seven-passenger CX-9 receives KODO “Soul of Motion” design enhancements, the new fa …