Car shoppers have a lot of 3-row midsize SUVs to choose from. Most of them blend into a look-alike, drive-alike crowd. But a handful stand out with unique personalities. The 2023 Mazda CX-9 sets itself apart with a sophisticated look and fun-to-drive road manners.
The largest Mazda, the CX-9 can play all the roles a family hauler needs to play. All three rows offer usable space, though there are more spacious options if you’ll regularly carry adults in the rear.
But the CX-9 handles like a smaller vehicle and comes standard with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine strong enough to close holes in traffic without complaining about it.
Of its five available trims, the CX-9 Touring is the best-seller.
That’s a pleasant surprise, as it’s also the most affordable. Many automakers build a small number of fairly stripped-down models so they can claim a lower starting price. But you need to spend more to get the car you want. Not so with the CX-9 Touring.
Let’s see what it has to offer.
2023 Mazda CX-9 Touring: $38,750
- 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 227 horsepower with regular gas and 250 with premium
- i-Activ all-wheel drive with off-road traction assist
- 10.25-inch infotainment display
- 3-zone climate control
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
- Radar cruise control with stop & go
- Push-button start
- Tilt & telescoping steering wheel
- 12-volt power outlets (one in front, one in cargo area)
- Rear power liftgate with programmable height adjustment
- Power-sliding glass moonroof with one-touch open and interior sunshade
- Keyless entry and start system
- Front center console armrest with dual USB inputs
- 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support
- 6-way power adjustable front passenger seat
- Second-row captain’s chairs
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
- Leather-trimmed seats in first and second-row outboard positions
- Heated front seats
- Wireless phone charger
- Infotainment system voice command
- Mazda Connected Services smartphone integration
Considering that the Touring model is the least expensive CX-9, that’s an impressive list of amenities.
Rivals like the Toyota Highlander and Subaru Ascent offer lower starting prices on paper but make you pay for luxuries like second-row captain’s chairs or leather-trimmed seats. Mazda doesn’t bother with a bare-bones edition. That lets buyers get everything they want in the base model.
What else is there to like about the 2023 Mazda CX-9 Touring? Let’s explore some of our favorite features.
Premium Cabin
Most automakers can assemble an appealing list of cabin technology. Not every one of them can put it together with style.
Mazda has earned a reputation for offering near-luxury cabins at affordable prices. The CX-9’s cockpit feels premium. The fit and finish are exemplary, leading our test driver to compare it to “something wearing a luxury badge.”
It lacks a few touches competitors offer. The 10.25-inch infotainment display, for instance, isn’t a touchscreen. It’s operated with a dial near the gear shift. The Touring edition also uses old-fashioned gauges for the driver’s instruments, paired with a small 4.6-inch LCD (higher trims get a 7-inch screen). Many rivals use a full-color screen in its place.
Second-row Captain’s Chairs
Most midsize SUVs offer bench seats for the second row and give buyers the option of paying extra for more comfortable captain’s chairs.
The CX-9 skips the bench in the base model (though one is offered in higher trims if you need 7-passenger seating). The Touring model may be the base level, but it comes with standard captain’s chairs to make second-row passengers more comfortable.
Stepping up to a more expensive trim level gets you a center console between them. The CX-9 Touring has a pass-through space between them instead. But we often find that more convenient, as it helps make the third row accessible.
Safety Suite
Mazda’s i-Activsense Safety Suite bundles features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring includes rear cross-traffic alert, and Mazda’s Advanced Smart City Brake Support can detect pedestrians.
Mazda doesn’t make every safety feature it builds as standard equipment. Higher trim levels get a 360-degree camera system, parking sensors, and a driver attention alert. But the CX-9 Touring ships with a long list of automated driver assists without added options fees.
Captivating Colors
Something disappointing has happened to automotive design in recent years. All the color has leeched out.
The Kia Telluride is an excellent 3-row midsize SUV. It comes in — we’re not making this up — white, black, and five shades of gray. Oh, there’s also a red so muted it might as well be gray.
The CX-9 is still available in several vibrant, jeweled colors. Mazda’s signature Soul Red Crystal Metallic might be the best of them, but Deep Blue Mica shines, too. Inside, the Sand leather option vibrantly pairs lights and darks.
Sport Sedan Manners
But, in the end, no one buys a Mazda CX-9 for its seats or its safety gear. Those things are all fine, but Mazda buyers choose their cars for how they feel to drive.
The CX-9 is exceptional where it counts — on the road. Our test driver calls it “the 3-row SUV that doesn’t drive like a 3-row SUV.” It’s as nimble as something smaller, with the best steering feel available in an affordable 3-row SUV.
There are a lot of 7-seaters in this price range that can get you to the office and back and take the kids to practice comfortably. There aren’t many that will feel like a sport sedan doing it. This might be the only one.
More Mazda CX-9
Want to learn more about the CX-9 and how it compares to the competition? Read our full Mazda CX-9 review or find Mazda CX-9 models for sale near you.
