2020 Mazda CX-9 Road Test and Review

Mazda’s largest sport-utility and only three-row offering is the shapely CX-9. The 2020 Mazda CX-9, now in its fifth model year since a new second-generation version was introduced in 2016, competes in the hotly contested mid-size SUV segment. Major competitors include the Honda Pilot, Kia Sorento, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, and Toyota Highlander, among others.

Despite its age in the market, the CX-9 still looks sharp with sculpted bodywork that belies the SUV’s utilitarian capabilities. The CX-9’s premium design and feature content rival that of luxury models like the Acura MDX, Lexus RX 350, Cadillac XT5, and Infiniti QX60. Also noteworthy are the CX-9’s driving dynamics, which embody the sporty road manners of Mazda’s sedans despite the SUV’s greater weight and footprint. The 2020 CX-9 lineup includes base Sport, midlevel Touring, premium Grand Touring, and top-of-the-line Signature trims. Including the $1,045 destination fee, base prices range from $34,835 to $47,160. The CX-9 can be configured as a seven-seater with a second-row bench seat or six-seater with a pair of captain’s chairs in its place. Mazda’s i-Active all-wheel drive is a $1,900 upcharge with Sport, Touring, or Grand Touring trim and standard on Signature.

Under the hood of all CX-9 models is a SkyActiv-G 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. In the CX-9, it produces 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on regular unleaded fuel or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft running premium. It’s hooked to a six-speed automatic transmission. The CX-9 can accelerate from rest to 60 mph in just over 7 seconds.

While naturally aspirated V6 powerplants are the norm in the mid-size SUV segment, Mazda’s four-cylinder turbo provides good low- and mid-range torque that results in satisfying around-town performance. Although the CX-9’s automatic transmission has just six ratios, the turbo four’s broad torque band delivers brisk response even at part-throttle and reduces the need for downshifting just to stay with the ebb and flow of traffic. Only when pushing the four-cylinder to higher revs, such as when passing on a two-lane road, did I miss the extra oomph another pair of cylinders might add. EPA fuel economy estimates are 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway/24 mpg combined for front-drive models and 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway/23 mpg combined with AWD. In a week of mostly residential driving behind the wheel of an AWD CX-9 Signature, I averaged 23.5 mpg per the trip computer.

Hop inside the CX-9 and you’ll be forgiven if you thought you were luxuriating in the cabin of a Lexus, Audi, or some other luxury model. The CX-9 is just as upscale looking inside as it is outside. The dash design is clean and elegant. The bucket seats are firm yet inviting. Soft-touch vinyl replaces hard plastic at most touchpoints, and French stitching dresses up the console sides, armrests, and seats. The top Signature trim adds real aluminum and Rosewood trim inserts.

A power driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment is standard in the base Sport with all other trims adding a standard power front passenger seat. Sport models get cloth seats, the Touring and Grand Touring have leather, and the Signature is fitted with extra creamy perforated Nappa leather. The front seats are heated on all models and ventilated as well in the Grand Touring and Signature. Driver’s seat memory is included with Grand Touring and Signature trims, too. Standard on all trims are niceties such as three-zone automatic climate control, push-button start, a leather-wrapped tilt/telescopic steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic headlamps. Grand Touring and Signature models also add a power moonroof with a sunshade.  

All CX-9 trims feature a landscape-format full-color touchscreen display atop the center of the dash. On the base Sport, this is a 7-inch screen, while all other trims now are fitted with a 9-inch one with glare-reduction properties. The larger screen adds standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto cellphone mirroring. The touchscreen icons are only active when the CX-9 is stationary. On the road, the driver can access content via voice commands, steering-wheel buttons, or the console-mounted, Audi MMI-like multi-function controller.

Sport and Touring trims come with a six-speaker AM/FM/HD radio sound system with Grand Touring and Signature models upgrading to a Bose 12-speaker premium system with SiriusXM, navigation, and traffic and travel-link data.

The key to happiness with the CX-9’s infotainment system is spending some time setting it up before venturing out. Powering up the system and adjusting volume is simple enough with an analog knob on the center console, but every other function — including radio station tuning and setting favorites — requires scrolling through multiple menus.

The controller knob itself has a quality feel and is surrounded by hard shortcut buttons for audio, navigation, home, back, and favorites. The system enables Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming; is set up for Aha, Stitcher, and Pandora internet radio; and can deliver and reply to SMS text messages. A pair of USB inputs and an auxiliary audio jack are in the console as well.

The same upscale trim, materials, and design details that are in evidence up front continue in the second-row perches. The outboard rear seats are well contoured and supportive. Rear-seaters get their own A/C controls, a pair of USB ports and in Grand Touring and Signature trims, retracting window shades.

Standard fare in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring models is a 60/40 split-folding and reclining second-row bench seat. A tilt-and-slide mechanism easing access to the third-row bench is manually operated in the Sport and power-assisted with the Touring and Grand Touring. Individually reclining second-row captain’s chairs with folding armrests are an option for the Touring and Grand Touring models and standard in the Signature, the latter trim also adding a standard second-row console with cup holders and a storage bin. Grand Touring and Signature trims also feature heated outboard rear cushions.

As with many other mid-size SUVs, the CX-9’s third-row perches are not for adult use. Headroom and legroom are both in short supply in the way back, and better suited to pre-teens and teenagers eager for the adventure of squeezing back there. The third-row seat is split 50/50 for enhanced cargo versatility.

New for 2020 in Touring and Grand Touring models are optional second-row captain’s chairs with no center console, creating a space between the seats to access the third row without having to slide and tilt the second-row seats forward. Also new for 2020 in Grand Touring and Signature trims are a pair of third-row USB audio input ports.

Despite stretching longer, bumper to bumper, than competing mid-size SUVs such as the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and Ford Explorer, the Mazda CX-9 comes up short in cargo space. Chalk part of that up to swoopy bodywork, with a lower roofline, sloping liftgate, and less-upright greenhouse than most other mid-size SUVs. This is most evident with the third-row seat raised, where there’s not much space between the third-row head restraints and the rear window. Cargo space aft of the third row is a scant 14.4 cubic feet, opening up to 71.2 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded flat. The most sensible configuration for daily use is with the skimpy third-row seat folded down, delivering 38.2 cubic feet of useful cargo space. Hidden storage for small valuables is available under the cargo floor.

Access to the cargo hold is via a liftgate, manually operated on Sport, power-operated on Touring and, new for 2020, hands-free with a foot kick under the rear bumper on the Grand Touring and Signature. On all but the base Sport, the opening height of the liftgate is adjustable to accommodate a wide spectrum of operators and garage door apertures.

As is the case with other mainstream automakers, Mazda has added more standard safety and driver-assistive systems for 2020. Automated emergency braking with pedestrian protection now also functions in low-light situations. Other newly added standard features include adaptive radar cruise control with full stop-and-go, a lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. This is in addition to a standard backup camera and automatic high beams as well as blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring. Grand Touring and Signature models add front and rear parking sensors that beep with greater intensity as the SUV approaches an object; traffic sign recognition; a head-up display; and a 360-degree camera that gives an overhead view of the CX-9 and its immediate surroundings.

In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, the CX-9 received a full five stars overall. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also gave the CX-9 Good scores for moderate- and small-offset front impacts, side impacts, roof strength, seats, and head restraints, and named it a 2020 Top Safety Pick+.

Mazda’s i-Activ all-wheel drive, standard on Signature and optional with all other CX-9 trims, is predictive. It calculates individual tire load and distributes drive torque to maximize traction. When the CX-9 is accelerating, i-Activ AWD transfers drive torque to the rear wheels and when decelerating, it moves torque to the front wheels. If diagonal wheels lose their grip, instead of cutting power, off-road traction assist brakes the wheels lacking traction, transferring drive torque to the wheels still gripping terra firma.

Also standard for 2020 is G-Vectoring Control Plus. It helps provide improved steering turn-in response. When the driver turns into a corner, it trims engine torque slightly, shifting the load to the front tires. G-Vectoring Control Plus also aids turn-out when exiting the corner by dragging the CX-9’s outside front brake in turns generating more than 0.4g of lateral force.

While the CX-9 remains one of the best-looking mid-size SUVs with its long, pointy nose and teardrop shape, the swoopy styling doesn’t make the flagship Mazda especially roomy for third-row passengers or cargo relative to its size.

What the CX-9 does offer in spades, however, is premium content befitting a luxury-brand offering, plus responsive handling that is far more engaging than the three-row mid-size SUV norm. The CX-9’s ride is firm but never harsh over rough patches, and it offers precise and relatively communicative steering that makes Mazda’s biggest sport-utility drive like it shrunk a size class or two.