The 2017 Mazda CX-9 has been spied testing in the US with website WorldCarFans publishing a series of images.

DETAILS AROUND the new CX-9 are few and far between, but we do know that Mazda Australia recently told journalists it saw the new CX-9 going up against the Toyota Prado, among others. Surely, the suggestion here is in terms of interior space, and not four-wheel driving ability, as it’s highly unlikely Mazda would engineer its CX-9 to be less on-road and more off-road focussed…

And, judging by the images washing onto the internet at the moment, ground clearance looks to be well below the 200mm mark. Currently, the CX-9 offers 147mm (laden) of ground clearance. Indeed, looking at the current line-up, Mazda’s focus is on front-drive models for most of the range, with only the top-spec models being made available with all-wheel drive.

In terms of design, the new-look CX-9 clearly follows in the KODO (Mazda’s design language) footsteps of both the CX-3 and CX-5. Due to camouflage on the rear three-quarters, it’s hard to tell whether Mazda will stick with its current treatment of that part of the car by using a full-size window (for third-row passenger comfort), or…

Mazda is notoriously cagey about its new models, so expect more speculation as the year rolls on. It’s possible, the CX-9 could make an appearance at the LA Motor Show before going on-sale next year.

To see more CX-9 spy shots click HERE.