2021 Mazda CX-9

First launched back in 2016, the second-generation Mazda CX-9 hasn't received a major facelift yet. Instead, Mazda has made small but meaningful updates year on year since it arrived, meaning for 2021, the CX-9 is not only better than ever, but it's a strong contender for one of the most accomplished three-row midsize SUV all-rounders, despite the segment being packed with alternatives like the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Hyundai Palisade. Powered by a 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder producing 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque and driving either the front or all four wheels, the CX-9 isn't the most powerful in its class, but its six-speed automatic is slick and its suspension strikes an excellent balance between comfort and agility. Throw in the premium interior, massive infotainment screen now standard across the range, and high levels of safety, and it's no wonder the CX-9 is a popular entrant in an overcrowded segment - it has the goods to back it up.

CarBuzz tested a fully-loaded 2021 Mazda CX-9 Signature to discover if it still manages to be one of our favorite three-row SUVs.

The CX-9 is a large car, but Mazda's Kodo design language gives it a sleek, rounded appearance. The grille is prominent thanks to the five horizontal bar design. The top-spec looks even better thanks to a new titanium gray metallic finish front grille, unique 20-inch alloys, and larger dual tailpipes. The LED headlights look fantastic and house the LED daytime running lights as well. The Sport and Touring models come with 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, while the Carbon Edition, Grand Touring and Signature ride on a set of 20-inch alloys. All models have dual tailpipes, LED turn signals, and rear privacy glass. A power tailgate is standard on all models, except for the entry-level Sport.

The total length of the CX-9 is 199.4 inches, housing a wheelbase of 115.3 inches. It's 77.5 inches in width, and it stands 69 inches tall including the shark fin antenna. The ground clearance is 8.8 inches. The latter should be helpful if you regularly travel on well-maintained gravel roads. The CX-9 is slightly on the heavy side, with front-wheel-drive models weighing 4,236 pounds. and all-wheel-drive models weighing in at 4,409 lbs.

There's a maximum of seven colors available, but not all are available on every trim. The Sport has Deep Crystal Blue Mica and Jet Black Mica as no-cost options. Snowflake White Pearl Mica is available at $395, and Machine Gray Metallic at $495. The Touring and Grand Touring models add Sonic Silver Metallic as a no-cost option and Soul Red Crystal Metallic for $595. The Carbon Edition is only available in Polymetal Gray Metallic and is the only trim with access to this hue. The Signature is only available in Snowflake White, Soul Red, Machine Gray, or Jet Black. The latter is the only no-cost option.

It's not a wide selection, but the Soul Red Metallic and Deep Crystal Blue Metallic accentuate the car's lines nicely, but if you want it to blend into the background, the other colors should work just fine.

The CX-9 is a one-engine model with a turbocharged four-cylinder measuring 2.5 liters in displacement. There is no entry-level low-power version nor a high-output performance variant. Most of its rivals are sticking to the tried and trusted naturally-aspirated V6 recipe. There are upsides and downsides to both, the most notable upside being the CX-9's hefty torque figure. With up to 320 lb-ft of torque on tap, the CX-9 dashes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, making it one of the quicker options in its segment. When it comes to three-row family SUVs, Mazda does not provide a top speed.

The Mazda impresses with its low-down grunt, brisk acceleration, and impressive fuel economy. On the downside, it can't tow as much as its rivals. The Mazda has a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs, while competitors like the Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander can tow up to 5,000 lbs. The top-spec Signature model has all-wheel-drive as standard, but it's optional for the other models in the line-up which are equipped by default with front-wheel drive.

When you only offer one engine, you better make sure it's a decent one. Luckily, Mazda succeeds in this department, as the 2.5-liter turbocharged four-pot is a gutsy powertrain.

The Mazda's 250 hp is on the low side compared to the Highlander's 295 hp and the Pilot's 280 hp but in big cars like these, it's the torque that matters. Luckily, the Mazda has 320 lb-ft to work with, making the acceleration feel smooth and unburdensome. The total torque output is available at 2,500 rpm, making the CX-9 a joy around town and merging on the freeway. Mazda even lets owners run the CX-9 on regular fuel if they don't feel like shelling out extra for premium. With 87 octane, the engine produces 227 hp and 310 lb-ft.

The engine comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, which sends the power to the front wheels as standard. An all-wheel-drive system is available on every trim and standard on the Signature. While there's nothing wrong with how Mazda's transmission operates, a few more cogs might help it have a smoother power delivery, allowing you to always be in the meat of the power band.

The Mazda CX-9 SUV has earned a reputation as one of the best-driving vehicles in its class; kind of a seven-seat Miata, if you want to drink the company's Kool-Aid. It's no sports car, but the CX-9's sporting intentions are much higher than you might expect. Mazda tuned the steering rack to feel tight and responsive, making this a vehicle that feels much smaller than its dimensions imply. Well-tuned suspension keeps the ride supple over rough pavement while also keeping the vehicle composed through the corners. With high-performance luxury models excluded, the CX-9 is the most enjoyable three-row vehicle to hussle down a back road.

Most impressively, the CX-9 manages to be this enjoyable while barely compromising on comfort. Wind noise is limited and at slower speeds, the tight steering doesn't make it too tough to maneuver in parking lots. You'll struggle to find a more athletic and luxurious package without crossing into luxury territory.

The Mazda CX-9 is one of the most fuel-efficient midsize SUVs available. In front-wheel-drive format, it gets an EPA-estimated mileage of 22/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined. Adding the four-wheel-drive system doesn't do too much damage, resulting in 20/26/23 mpg. It does well compared to its V6 rivals. Take the Honda Pilot, for example. Best case scenario, you're looking at 20/27/23 mpg. The AWD models have a slightly larger fuel tank to make up for the difference in fuel economy. The FWD model gets 456 miles from its 19-gallon tank, while the AWD gets around 449 miles from its 19.5-gallon tank.

The Mazda CX-9 has a superb interior. It takes a minimalistic approach in terms of design, yet it remains an ergonomic masterpiece. The controls are logical, and the new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system looks more mature than the outgoing one.

The standard black cloth on the Sport model is a bit dull, but it does have a generous standard specification and the excellent build-quality present on other models. The Touring trim includes black leather upholstery, which makes a big difference. Higher up in the trim levels, you get more leather and trim options, but the top-spec Signature takes it to another level with the quilted leather and wood inserts.

Space is generous in the first two rows, but the third row only has enough space for children. The only real problem we have with the Mazda is the lack of usable cargo capacity when all three rows are up.

The CX-9 is a three-row vehicle with space for up to seven passengers, though Mazda offers second-row captain's chairs that limit the seating capacity to six people. First row occupants have plenty of head and legroom, though we have long found knee space limited in this model due to a large center console. The second-row feels more commodious with 39.4 inches of legroom and 38.5 inches of headroom, though rivals like the Telluride and Palisade offer more. We particularly love the optional captain's chairs, which add a handy center console between the second-row seats. The third row still feels like a weak point for the CX-9, with 29.7 inches of legroom best reserved for children or adults on short trips. In terms of passenger space, the CX-9 struggles to match many of its rivals.

Black cloth trim is the only option available on the base model, but it's leather from there on. The Touring and Grand Touring are available with Black or Sand leather but the new Carbon Edition comes with model-specific red leather seats. The Signature comes with two color options for the new quilted leather seats; Deep Chestnut or Parchment Nappa, both of which feel like they belong in a much pricier vehicle.

A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter are standard across the range, but the base model comes with dull plastic trim on the dash. The Touring and Grand Touring feature aluminum trim. The Signature is adorned with Santos Rosewood trim and the new patterned aluminum inserts.

Overall, the Mazda's interior is a magnificent place to spend time. You're going to struggle to find a substandard piece of plastic. We'd go as far as stating that Mazda is currently building cars with German-like quality interiors. And at a reasonable price.

Most crossovers and SUVs at this price point tend to be boxes on wheels. The CX-9 is more sculpted and far more pleasing to the eye. This design does have a downside, and unfortunately, it's a lack of space. In addition to the third-row only being suitable for children, the cargo capacity is also below par. With three rows in place, the Mazda can only muster 14.4 cubic feet of cargo room. The Honda Pilot offers up to 18.5 cubes depending on the third-row position, while the Ford Explorer offers 18.2 cubic feet. The CX-9's available cargo room with three rows up is good enough for day-to-day errands, but no more than that. With the third row folded flat, the cargo capacity increases to 38.2 cubic feet. With the second row folded flat, it expands to 71.2 cubic feet. This is still some way off the Honda Pilot's 83.9 cubic feet of space.

The cabin storage is plentiful. The door pockets are a reasonable size, and each row gets two cupholders. With the standard seating configuration, there's only one center armrest with a storage bin. When you opt for the second-row captain's chair arrangement, you also get a second armrest with a storage bin.

Mazda's people were feeling extremely generous the day they decided on the CX-9's standard specification. The most important, in our opinion, is the i-Activsense safety suite, standard across all models. It includes forward collision avoidance, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. What an excellent move to add so many driver's assistance features on a family vehicle as standard. Higher-specification models also come with parking sensors front and rear, and a surround-view camera.

The base Sport comes with tri-zone climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, and cruise control. The Touring adds advanced keyless entry and start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power liftgate, two additional USB chargers for the second row, and a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The front seats on the Touring and Sport are heated as well. The Grand Touring and Carbon Edition come with heating for the second row and the steering wheel. The front seats are upgraded even further to include ventilation and driver-seat memory. From the Touring specification upwards, the second-row Captain Chairs can be added as a no-cost option.

For the 2021 model year, the CX-9 gains a standard 10.25-inch infotainment screen, powered by the latest software that first arrived in the Mazda 3. This system's graphics look more mature and less cartoony than the old one, though Mazda oddly decided to leave the CX-9's rotating controller unchanged without switching to the new one from the Mazda 3 and CX-30. Mazda still frustratingly locks the touchscreen while the vehicle is in motion, meaning this system isn't as intuitive as it could be. Luckily, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are now standard across the board. A six-speaker sound system comes standard, while a Bose Centerpoint premium unit with 12 speakers is available on the Touring trim and standard from the Cardon Edition up. Other standard features include SMS text message audio delivery and reply and Pandora integration. Built-in satellite navigation comes standard on the Grand Touring and above.

The new Mazda CX-9 has led a relatively trouble-free existence with good predicted reliability. No recalls have been issued in 2021, and it was recall-free during 2020. It was recalled in 2019 for a tire tread that could detach, and once in 2018 for a malfunctioning wiring harness that could prevent the passenger airbag from deploying.

The Mazda scored 81 out of a possible 100 points in the 2019 J.D. Power Survey. In 2020 the score dropped to 78, and it has remained static for 2021.

The CX-9 is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 60-month/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Considering the generous standard safety specification in the US models, the Mazda CX-9's impressive ratings are hardly surprising. In the NHTSA's review of the Mazda CX-9, it gave the 2021 model the full five stars for overall safety. In the IIHS review of the CX-9, it was awarded with the best possible accolade, a Top Safety Pick + award.

The CX-9 is equipped with all the traditional safety basics, including ABS, traction and stability control, and six airbags including side curtain protection. The i-Activsense safety suite is standard on all models. It includes forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, and lane departure warning. On higher-trim models, a surround-view camera and front and rear parking sensors are included as well.

The 2021 Mazda CX-9 is no longer the new kid on the block but it remains a highly desirable SUV. Despite only receiving minimal updates over the years, the CX-9 is still one of the prettiest vehicles in its segment with the plushest interior. Bundle in an efficient engine with stellar performance, and the CX-9 emerges as a winner; with a few caveats. Many competitors in this space offer better practicality, newer technology, and a lower starting price.

As an overall package, we'd have a tough time recommending the CX-9 over this segment's most outstanding vehicles, the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. Though these two aren't quite as fun to drive, they make up for it with a lower starting price, more technology, and more usable space inside. That being said, buyers who care more about how their three-row drives and how many premium materials it packs inside might still prefer the CX-9 over its Korean rivals. Aside from the Kia and the Hyundai, we still feel the Mazda CX-9 is one of the most compelling three-row SUVs money can buy in the USA.

The price of the Mazda CX-9 is a weak point in comparison to the competition. The entry-level base model has an MSRP of $34,160. Upgrading to the Touring trim isn't a big leap, as it retails for $35,950. The Carbon Edition represents a big leap in price, retailing for $41,280. The Grand Touring retails for $42,140, while the top-spec Signature retails for $46,805. These prices exclude the $1,175 destination charge. The Signature comes standard with AWD, but adding the drivetrain to lesser models costs $1,900.

The Mazda CX-9 is available in five trim levels: Sport, Touring, Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, and Signature. All models are powered by the same 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 250 hp and 320 lb-ft. A six-speed automatic is also standard across the range. Front-wheel drive is standard on all models, except the Signature, which has all-wheel-drive - an optional extra for the other trims.

The base Sport comes with 18-inch alloys and LED exterior lighting. Premium cloth upholstery is standard, with heated front seats, power-adjustment for the driver's seat, cruise control, tri-zone climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, and a 10.25-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Touring adds leather upholstery, power-adjustment for the front passenger seat, advanced keyless entry, a power liftgate, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The Carbon Edition is essentially a standard Touring, but with the Touring Premium Package included as standard. To make it stand out a little more, it gets Polymetal Gray paint, a gloss black grille and 20-inch black alloy wheels. On the inside, it has red leather seats and black interior trimmings. Paddle shifters are included as well. On the safety side, it provides brake assist in reverse and driver attention alert. Other niceties on this particular model include a power liftgate, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel. The driver's seat is upgraded to an eight-way power-adjustable unit and the Carbon Edition includes the second-row captain's chairs as standard.

The Grand Touring gets parking sensors front and rear and a surround-view monitor with a high-definition display on the new 10.25-inch screen. The interior gains a head-up display with traffic sign recognition. Other niceties include navigation, a hands-free power liftgate, and 20-inch alloy wheels.

The Signature comes with all-wheel-drive as standard. You can tell it apart from the outside thanks to a titanium gray grille which is lit by LEDs, 20-inch alloys, and larger dual exhausts. The interior gains new quilted leather seats for the first and second row and wood trim inserts. Captain's chairs in the second row are a standard feature on this model.

The base model can't be ordered with any packages but rather a selection of standalone options. The Touring can be ordered with second-row captain's chairs at no cost, while the Touring Premium Package will add $2,060 to the price. It adds a Bose 12-speaker sound system, LED fog lights, power moonroof, parking sensors front and rear, USB outlet for the third row, and a wireless phone charger, to name just a few.

The Touring and Grand Touring's second row can also be swapped out for two captain's chairs at no extra cost.

CarBuzz tested a decked out Signature trim, which essentially comes fully-loaded for $46,805. If you can afford this model with its abundance of technology and sumptuous Nappa leather seating, it's the one we'd recommend. But if the Signature is out of your price range, the Touring model seems like a nice value for $35,950. From there, Soul Red Metallic is a no-brainer option for $595, as it makes the CX-9 look more luxurious in person. The Touring Premium Package is a worthy $2,060 addition as are the no-cost captain's chairs. All-in, you can buy a generously-equipped Mazda CX-9 for a cost of under $40,000.

The CX-5 looks like a CX-9 that's been reduced by 25%. The good news is that it shares many of its big brother's positive characteristics, like decent build quality, generous standard specification, engaging handling, and the same 250 hp turbocharged four-pot. There's a slightly underpowered 187 hp version as well without a turbo, but since the turbocharged model costs less than the entry-level CX-9, we'll focus on that.

You'll need to sacrifice some space, however. The CX-5 is only available as a five-seater with 30.9 cubic feet of trunk space. The CX-9 with the third row folded flat gives you 38.2 cubes.

It's hard to ignore the price gap between the two, however. This is especially relevant if you only have a family of four or five. The CX-5 may be better suited to your needs.

The base price of the Honda Pilot is around $2,000 cheaper and is a more practical proposition. It can easily accommodate seven passengers with more legroom in the third-row seats. If that's your main concern, the Honda is a better option. It can also carry much more cargo, and comes with just as many safety features. But that's where the Honda's advantages end. The Mazda beats it convincingly in every other department. It's more comfortable and luxurious. It has more standard features, and the interior quality is on another level. Finally, the Mazda is better to drive, and it will return better fuel consumption figures. Unless you need the extra space or are on a tight budget, the Mazda is the obvious choice.