They say God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. Though we may feel like all of the odds are against us, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. This weekend we celebrated accomplishment of her Bachelors in Science which she stripped so hard for while on chemotherapy. 

You guys know that we’re in Atlanta, so I teamed up with Mazda as usual to sponsor our wheels for the road trip to Savannah! This week we’re in the 2017 Mazda CX-9. I’m a fan girl of Mazda so I was so excited to finally give their crossover 5 seater a try, as I usually test drive their sporty sedans. 

To breakdown the road trip, we’re starting off in Atlanta, Graduation is in Savannah & I booked reservations for Marleys; a laid back Caribbean style restaurant for moms graduation dinner party just a few miles away from our favorite beach in Hilton Head Island, SC.

I was looking for a vehicle that was both fuel efficient and large enough to seat 3-5 passengers + party supplies comfortably. The new Mazda CX-9 is like the ultimate upgrade to the dreaded soccer mommy van. You get all of the normal bells and whistles of a van without the soccer mom feel. Mazda really knows how to cater to comfort with a luxurious feel. 

While the majority of our guest list weren’t able to make it, we were more than able to comfortably fit 3 passengers, a cake, cap and gown, makeup kit and table decor in this SUV. The level of comfort and style was impeccable! This vehicle is a must have for long distance road trips with multiple passengers. You’re able to access the backseat easily by just pulling the chairs forward and extend or take down the entire rear seating depending on the amount of trunk space that you may need. 

Before graduation, we decided to do a large set of grocery shopping to really see how many groceries we’re able to fit with the rear seating down. Let’s just say I was super impressed! Between you and me, there’s a little secret compartment in the trunk for those valuable items that you want out of sight to deter away thieves as well as indents in the trunk perfect for large drinks. The indents are perfect to keep drinks out of sight, sunlight or heat. 

While I enjoyed so many features of this model, I had a just a few downfalls. The 2017 Mazda CX-9 depends on Premium gas and of course because of the larger build you are guaranteed to burn so much more gas quickly. I can definitely see this being a downfall for large families that are on a budget. I was a little disappointed in the gas mileage as I’ve been spoiled with their sedans which are generously fuel efficient; one of the main reasons that I am a Mazda fan. 

Beyond gas mileage this SUV is #familygoals. You’ll feel like you’re in a $50K-$60K SUV with the luxurious trim, interior lighting and entertainment features! The drive is so smooth and the attention to detail with this release is almost impossible to miss. 

*There’s even a tailgate button great for click and ship or ship to store. Directions are available on the heads up display for turn by turn instructions without the distraction of looking down. Passengers can even control their own air/music volume from the backseat!

Remember, you can do anything you put your mind to. Keep God first, stay focused and you can accomplish anything. If mom can do it while sick on chemotherapy, you can too!

*I received this 14 day test drive courtesy of DriveShopUSA in exchange for my honest review. I am not being compensated.