CX-9 towing Jayco Hawk/Expanda - thoughts?

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 20:10

ThreadID: 85934 Views:8082 Replies:4 FollowUps:5

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S&CG6

Hi everyone

We currently have a Kia Grand Carnival which tows our Jayco Hawk (outback) sufficiently on tarred roads but we want to travel around Oz from early 2013 and I don't want to do it with the Kia.

With four kids and long trips a part of how we like to travel, we need a car that is comfortable for 6 and we've very impressed with the CX-9. We know it's thirsty and would be more so towing, but we're pretty used to that with the Kia. While the Kluger/Prado would be great for towing, there is no boot room and the back rows would be quite uncomfy on a long trip for our elder kids (younger ones in car seats still).

So - does anyone tow with a CX-9? We don't plan to go offroad with it, but not losing traction on wet grass will be nice. We may upgrade to an Expanda next year, which will weigh about 1.7T. While the CX-9 can tow 2T apparently, would love to hear of any experiences to see what it's like for those who've BTDT.

Thanks in advance
Sam

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Reply By: Kimba10 - Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 21:39

Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 21:39

Have no idea about the cx9 (very nice looking car and believe they go well) I know you dont want to venture off road but have you looked/thought about the new pathfinder (not sure what the price difference is) our neighbour was in the same vote and didnt like the rear seating in the new prado's and luggage room was another issue, he dosen't go off road but for less money but with more goodies he went the TI pathfinder turbo diesel, absolutely loves it to death (just ask him he'll tell you lol). Loves the seating arrangement and not to big to drive around town on a daily basis as well, just a thought. Regards Steve

AnswerID: 452648

Follow Up By: Kimba10 - Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 21:44

Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 21:44

Mate the Mazda's out of the running, these are the towing specs from redbook

2011 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring TB Series 4

Kerb Weight (kg) 2097

Tare Mass (kg) 1985

Gross Combination Mass (kg) 4619

Gross Vehicle Mass (kg) 2619

Pay Load (kg) 522

Towing Braked (kg) 1600

Towing Not Braked (kg) 750

Wheel Base (mm) 2875

Length (mm) 5099

Width (mm) 1936

Height (mm) 1728

Track Front (mm) 1654

Track Rear (mm) 1644

NISSAN PATHFINDER

Kerb Weight (kg) 2212

Tare Mass (kg) 2212

Gross Combination Mass (kg) 5880

Gross Vehicle Mass (kg) 2880

Pay Load (kg) 668

Towing Braked (kg) 3000

Towing Not Braked (kg) 750

Wheel Base (mm) 2850

Length (mm) 4813

Width (mm) 1850

Height (mm) 1865

Track Front (mm) 1570

Track Rear (mm) 1570

FollowupID: 725334

Follow Up By: Kimba10 - Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 21:52

Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 21:52

Cost Pathfinder 2.5 turbo diesel $65,990 fuel usage Fuel Urban (l/100km) 12.0

Fuel Extra Urban (l/100km) 7.3

Fuel Combined (l/100km) 9.0

Mazda (top of the range) $63,133 fuel usage Fuel Urban (l/100km) 9.0

Fuel Extra Urban (l/100km) 15.4

Fuel Combined (l/100km) 11.3

There is a higher spec TI with the new V6 turbo diesel but I was basing it on what or close to what the mazda would cost you in top of the range models

$75,990 this is the new V6 TI Engine Location Front

Configuration V65

Engine Size (cc) 2991

Cam DOHC with VVT

Engine Cycle 4 Stroke

Engine Type Piston

Engine Number V9X-######

Engine Code V9X

Cylinders 6

Valves per Cylinder 4

Power 170kW @ 3750rpm

Torque 550Nm @ 1750rpm

Induction System Turbo Intercooled

Fuel Type Diesel

Fuel Tank Capacity (litres) 80

Fuel Delivery Direct Injection

Method of Delivery Electronic Sequential

Fuel Urban (l/100km) 12.5

Carbon Dioxide (g/km) 246

Fuel Extra Urban (l/100km) 7.6

Fuel Combined (l/100km) 9.3

This also has the new 7 speed auto, my neighbour has the one above not this one

FollowupID: 725336

Follow Up By: Kimba10 - Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 22:07

Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 22:07

No wonder your not worried about fuel consumption with been used to the Kia. From redbook, Fuel Urban (l/100km) 18.9 wholy hell thats thirsty, you must be up around the low to mid 20's towing.......Geez thats thirsty for a people mover and not been a 4wd as well, I know they have pretty powerful motors and show a rating of two tonne for braked towing which is pretty good...........but can see why people buy them compared to a toyota tarago, way overpriced. My other neighbour had the 2.7 V6 I think it was, but had major issues with the head going, common problem with that motor in the earlier kias..........

FollowupID: 725339

Follow Up By: S&CG6 - Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 07:45

Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 07:45

Thanks Kimba. Ours is a 2007 Kia which is meant to be later than the head problems, but I've no desire to own/tow with it outside of warranty which runs out next year just in case!

We're actually test driving a pathfinder tomorrow. Agree specs look much better. Amazing that it's actually shorter and less wide than the CX-9, I swear the Cx-9 doesn't look that big. The Kia is longer and wider (but a bit shorter) so we'd be fine with that. We just want to try to get a car that does around town well as trips because while we camp about 6 times a year at the moment (and will do more as kids grow), we obviously drive around town a heck of a lot more.

And yep the Kia is stupid thirsty, but it's got some grunt and is very comfortable for a big family. We just hate towing with it.

Thanks for taking the time to respond so thoroughly.

FollowupID: 725364

Follow Up By: Frances - Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 12:42

Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 12:42

We have 5 kids and a Kia Grand Carnival that is a diesel. It tows easily and we do a lot of heavy towing. Have a look at that - for us it's the vehicle with the most leg and boot room on the market. Our other car is a Patrol. The Kia has half the fuel usage the Patrol (diesel) has.

FollowupID: 725408

Reply By: ss--ss - Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 16:00

Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 16:00

If you've got 4kids & need to tow an expanda around oz I'd go for something serious that runs diesel , like diesel prado or landcruser or patrol or pajero.

AnswerID: 452741

Reply By: sassenach.girl - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 08:13

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 08:13

I agree on the recommendation for the Prado. We took delivery of a 2011 GXL diesel with the intention of towing a Jayco Discovery around Australia next year (ordering the van tomorrow! yay!).

How old are your older kids? I agree the 3rd row isn't huge, though for a kid under 12, it would be plenty of room (assuming they're not 6 foot tall already!) but yes, you do lose your boot room.

Sass.

AnswerID: 454659

Reply By: S&CG6 - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 18:05

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 18:05

We're going to check out a Pathfinder this weekend. Great towing capability, decent boot room and more fuel efficient than the CX-9 amazingly. Thanks for replies to date!

AnswerID: 454727