2019 Mazda CX-9 Road Test and Review

Reviewing a Mazda without describing it as fun to drive is like cranking up your favorite tune and not playing air guitar: It’s just not possible. We would have gotten to it eventually, so in the interest of time, let's just get it out of the way right now: The 2019 Mazda CX-9 is fun to drive.

With that box checked, we can move on to the many other attributes that make Mazda’s largest and most expensive SUV such a standout in the extremely competitive three-row crossover class. Now in its second generation, the seven-passenger Mazda CX-9 is also stylish, fuel-efficient, and comfortable. It’s built with impressive attention to detail, features a high-quality interior, and offers many family-friendly features. Did I mention its high safety ratings? Am I gushing? What's more, Mazda has made further improvements to the CX-9 this year, helping it continue to stack up well against its long list of popular rivals. These include the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, Hyundai Santa Fe XL, Volkswagen Atlas, and Kia Sorento.

Built in Japan, the 2019 Mazda CX-9 is available in four trim levels: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, and Signature. All are powered by a smooth and fuel-efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which is turbocharged and makes 227 horsepower on 87-octane gasoline. Fill the tank with 93-octane premium fuel and Mazda says its output jumps to 250 hp. An automatic transmission is also standard on all models. With just six-speeds, it isn’t exactly state of the art, but it’s well-tuned and features a Sport mode for additional response.

The CX-9 isn’t the most affordable SUV in its class, but it’s priced very competitively and represents a strong value. Prices start at $33,275 including a $995 destination charge, for the CX-9 Sport and increase to $36,325 for the better-equipped Touring. The Grand Touring has a base price of $41,835, while a CX-9 Signature like our test vehicle starts at $46,360. Front-wheel drive is standard on all models except the Signature, which is all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is offered on the other models for an additional $1,800.

Mazda last redesigned the CX-9 in 2016 and its exterior hasn’t changed much since. It’s still a looker with sporty proportions, a wide athletic stance, and large upright grille. It remains one of the more attractive designs in the mid-size crossover class. LED headlamps and taillights are standard, as is its attractively integrated rear spoiler and dual chrome exhaust tips.

Our CX-9 Signature test vehicle was striking in its unique paint color of Snowflake White Pearl, which had a brilliant luminescence in the sun. It costs an additional $200 but beautifully highlighted the SUV’s voluptuous curves. The Signature’s standard 20-inch wheels are also handsome, and their glossy dark silver finish isn’t too blingy.

Did we mention the CX-9 is fun to drive? Well, it is. For 2019, Mazda has retuned the SUV's suspension for better response and smoother ride — but if you’re looking for a cushy SUV, you should probably look elsewhere. The CX-9’s suspension is still tuned sportier than others in this class. The ride is comfortable, but you can still feel the road. The tradeoff is athletic handling. The CX-9 is fun in the turns with little body roll, responsive steering, and exceptional balance. All 2019 CX-9s also get Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control system, which increases the SUV's stability by quickly reducing the engine’s torque to help its front tires grip the road.

The Mazda CX-9 isn’t the most powerful SUV in its class, but it’s more than quick enough off the line, and there’s plenty of passing power on the highway. Its 250-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine is smooth and lively, and it likes to rev to its 6,250 rpm redline. Accelerating from 0-60 mph takes about 7.0 seconds. That’s about average for this class, but it is slower than the Honda Pilot, which has a more powerful V6 engine.

The 2019 Mazda CX-9 is also among the most fuel-efficient SUVs in the mid-size seven-passenger class, and it can run happily on less expensive regular-grade 87-octane gasoline to keep costs down. With front-wheel drive, the Mazda is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. With the optional all-wheel drive system, those numbers drop slightly to 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. I averaged 22 mpg during a week of mixed driving around Los Angeles in our all-wheel drive test vehicle.

Those numbers match up well with others in the class including the V6-powered Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. However, the Toyota is also offered as a more fuel-efficient hybrid, which is rated at 30 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

The Mazda’s interior is one of our favorites in the mid-size SUV class. The cabin of our test vehicle featured high-quality materials, an interesting design, and impeccable fit and finish, with Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery, real aluminum trim, and wood and piano black surfaces. Nothing feels cheap or chintzy.

Our test car also featured rear window shades, navigation, a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a sunroof, and three-zone automatic climate control. The Mazda’s front seats are comfortable and supportive enough for long drives, but they also hold you in place when you toss the SUV into tight corners. The driver’s seat is height-adjustable, and a tilt and telescopic steering wheel is standard so it’s easy to find to get comfortable. Rear seat space is about typical for this segment, which means three can fit in the second row comfortably while the third row is best for kids. Unlike some others in this class, Mazda doesn’t offer second-row captains chairs in the CX-9.

The interior of the 2019 Mazda CX-9 also offers plenty of storage space. There’s a sizable console bin between the front seats, large enough door pockets and a big cubby ahead of the shifter, which is perfect for your phone and wallet. Its two large front cupholders are also well-placed behind the shifter so tall drinks don’t interfere with any of the controls.

Open its power liftgate and the CX-9 offers 14.4 cubic feet of space behind its third row, which is about average for this class, but less than you get in a Honda Pilot. With its third row folded flat, the CX-9 offers 38.2 cubic feet. Its second row also folds flat easily to increase the space again to 71.2 cubic feet. Although that’s enough for most families, the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and others offer more.

Where the Mazda’s interior stumbles is its infotainment system, which feels a bit dated and could be more intuitive to operate. The Mazda’s 8-inch infotainment screen is large enough for a vehicle of this size, but the navigation system’s graphics are rudimentary and the system is slow to respond to your inputs. Instead of a touchscreen, Mazda’s system is controlled with a large knob on the console behind the shifter. Although the knob feels good in your hand, this interface can be frustrating use. Mazda also doesn’t allow most inputs when the SUV is in motion.

On the upside, this year Mazda has updated the system to be compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Unfortunately, onboard Wi-Fi is still not available, which won’t make your kids happy.

The Mazda CX-9 has received extremely high safety ratings. It's been selected as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and it has a five-star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Parents with infants or toddlers will appreciate the Mazda’s easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and three easily accessed upper tether anchors.

Our test car was also equipped with Mazda’s extensive offering of high-tech driver aids and active safety systems, including an Adaptive Front Lighting System, which turns the headlights with the front tires to help you see around dark corners; blind-spot monitoring; a rear cross-traffic alert; automatic high beams; a lane-departure warning; lane-keep assist; radar cruise control; front and rear parking sensors; Mazda’s Smart City Brake Support system, which automatically applies the brakes to lessen the severity of a collision in emergency situations; and a 360-degree camera, which gives you a bird’s-eye view of the SUV and its surrounding when you're parking.

At around $33,000, the 2019 Mazda CX-9 Sport is a solid value. However, we recommend the Touring model, which costs about $3,000 more. The increase in features is substantial and includes a power liftgate, heated front seats, leather upholstery, the 8-inch color infotainment screen instead of a smaller unit, keyless entry, and a number of valuable safety systems. Like the Sport model, the CX-9 Touring rolls on 18-inch wheels and tires, so it rides a bit better than the Grand Touring and Signature models, which are equipped with 20-inchers.

Overall, we’re very impressed by the CX-9. It continues to offer an exceptional driving experience along with one of the finest interiors in the segment and high safety ratings. It’s comfortable, fuel-efficient, and fun-to-drive. If you’re looking for mid-size seven-passenger SUV, the 2019 Mazda CX-9 is a very desirable overall choice.