2022 Mazda CX-9 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Mazda CX-9 debuted as a 2007 model and underwent a complete makeover for the 2016 model year. The 2022 CX-9 continues this second generation of production with minor updates over the 2021 version.

The CX-9 is the flagship of the Mazda lineup, with the smaller CX-5, CX-30, and MX-30 EV SUVs following in its wake and the Mazda3 hatchback and sedan and MX-5 Miata roadster rolling behind. Mazda's design language, "Kodo," flows through the entire lineup, especially on the SUV side. The compact CX-30 and three-row CX-9 look almost like different-sized versions of the same vehicle at first glance. High wheel arches, deeply detailed body bends, and sloping rooflines give the vehicles a kinetic visual stance, capturing motion in repose. CX-9 presents a big-mouthed grille, expressive headlights, and a long hood. The whole package is elegant, sporty, and attractive. Mazda's bodywork, paint, and trim live up to high standards.

The CX-9's dash and cockpit are similarly striking and elegant. A bold horizontal band of trim bulges to house the central HVAC outlets, bringing unity to both sides of the dash. A curved hood shields the instrument panel from the sun, integrated into the upper level of the layered dashboard. Doors and dashboard meet in an attractive fashion, continuing lines and lending continuity to the design elements. The horizontally arrayed 10.25-inch infotainment screen is mounted high on the dash, above the center stack, close to the driver's line of sight without obstructing outward visibility—so much better than the portrait-oriented giant screens proliferating in some competitive vehicles.

Seating in the second row is very comfortable and supportive, with room for three adults across and reclining seatbacks. The third row is appropriate only for small children or for short hops—if the CX-9 has a weakness, this is it.

Mazda has a well-deserved reputation for building fun-to-drive cars. While the CX-9 is no Miata, it does share some of the performance philosophies, favoring handling and balance over brute power.

All CX-9 trims use a SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter turbo-four with 16 valves and variable valve timing. When fueled with regular 87-octane gas, the engine puts out 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Fill up with premium 93-octane gasoline, and output goes up to 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. Few manufacturers offer owners this clearly defined choice, instead specifying a single octane level for rated performance. Indeed, using premium fuel in an engine tuned for regular doesn't typically result in greater output. Mazda leaves it up to the owner to balance performance and value, recommending less-expensive regular gas while acknowledging an increase in power from more expensive premium.

The CX-9 uses a six-speed automatic transmission and standard (AWD) across the trim lineup. The i-ACTIV AWD system comes with off-road traction assist, which helps free stuck tires when driving in mud, sand, or deep snow. It also includes G-Vectoring Control Plus, Mazda's clever system for torque vectoring. The system uses controlled braking to shift body weight during cornering, essentially reducing torque to the inside corner, which causes the outside wheel to bite harder, improving turn-in and control. The system is very effective, and the 4,409-pound CX-9 handles like a much lighter vehicle. Steering feel is direct, firm, and very predictable. Towing capacity is 3,500 pounds.

There are faster midsize SUVs, but few are as pleasurable to drive as the CX-9, especially when the roads turn curvy.

The three-row SUV is always a compromise, and the CX-9 is not immune to this fact. The minivan has become unwelcome for social reasons—indeed, Mazda's excellent Mazda5 left the lineup after 2018. In the place of sliding side doors and an easily accessible third row, we're left with mechanical solutions to third-row access and a tight squeeze for anyone over five feet tall.

The CX-9 handles this conundrum with a sliding second-row bench (twin captain's chairs are an option), allowing passengers to negotiate legroom between the rows. The result is discomfort for all if adults are involved or relative peace and harmony for smaller people. Having third-row seats available for emergencies is probably a good thing, though, especially when the third row folds flat so quickly, leaving a good load floor and opening up luggage space.

With the third row up, 14.4 cubic feet of cargo space are available. Fold the third row, and the open space increases to 38.2 cubic feet. Fold down the second row, and the CX-9 can swallow 71.2 cubic feet of stuff. The load floor conceals some additional storage space behind the third row, approbate for a laptop or thing briefcase. It's always nice to have a little hidden storage in an SUV.

The CX-9 cabin is rife with storage options. In the front cabin, there's a glove compartment, an overhead console with sunglasses holder, a center console armrest with storage, and door bottle holders with storage bins. The second row gets bottle holders and storage bins in the doors, front seatback pockets, and storage in the center armrest with integrated cupholders.

The CX-9 comes standard with the latest Mazda Connect infotainment system. In addition to its in-car functions, the interface includes access to Mazda Connected Services with a three-year trial of remote monitoring and vehicle control with the MyMazda app. Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity join a six-speaker sound system, AM/FM/HD Radio, Bluetooth, an auxiliary audio jack, and audio menu voice-command as standard equipment. A three-month trial of an in-car 4G LTE WiFi hotspot is standard, too.

SiriusXM satellite radio is available on the CX-9 Touring and standard on the Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, and Signature. Two second-row USB audio inputs are standard in the center console on all models, and an additional two are standard in the second row on all but the Sport trim level. Two more USB ports are standard in the third row of Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, and Signature models and are available on Touring.

A Bose 12-speaker audio system with Centerpoint and AudioPilot2 technology can be added to the Touring trim level and comes as standard equipment on the upper trim levels. Mazda Navigation system comes with the Grand Touring and Signature trim levels, along with three years of SiriusXM traffic and travel link subscription. All models get speed-sensing automatic volume control. A wireless device charging pad in the center console is standard on Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, and Signature models and available on Touring.

Mazda has done away with the touchscreen interface in the CX-9, believing that a central control knob is a safer interface for the infotainment system. This choice allows the 10.25-inch display to be placed further away from the driver, meaning it can be closer to the line of sight and focus a driver has when looking at the road.

Standard on Grand Touring and Signature models, the Active driving Display is Mazda's version of a head-up display, projecting critical information like navigation prompts and miles per hour on the windshield in the driver's view. The system, which also includes traffic sign recognition, works very well, even through polarized sunglasses.

Navigation comes standard only with Grand Touring and Signature models. The Mazda system has a troubling habit of resizing the driver's view with every change of direction, with no option to hold the view at a certain level. The view zooms in, which can be very handy when navigating a city, where turns come up quickly. But in the countryside, where a broad perspective is much more helpful, the map insists on zooming in, depriving the driver of a more expansive view of the area. Sometimes, the best thing a system can do is nothing, and there's no way to instruct the navigation system to stop zooming in. Annoying!

Unlike some competitors, Mazda has not yet integrated a digital instrument panel into the CX-9, which seems like a bit of a stumble. Now a staple in many luxury models, this technology is rapidly trickling down into mainstream models and would enhance the CX-9's tech profile. Not that there's anything wrong with the CX-9's current analog instruments; they're just on the verge of looking old-fashioned and quaint by comparison and may date the CX-9 on the used market very quickly.

The 2022 Mazda CX-9 received a Top Safety Pick + rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the highest-possible rating. It also received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Both ratings are important to consider, especially for a three-row family vehicle.

The list of standard safety features is familiar and long. In addition to federally mandated items like a rearview camera and full complement of airbags, the CX-9 comes standard with hill-launch assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, side-impact door beams, an engine immobilizer anti-theft system, tire pressure monitoring, LATCH second-row child seat safety anchors and upper tether anchors, child safety rear door locks, and front and rear parking sensors. Carbon Edition and above models add a driver attention monitor and reverse automatic emergency braking.

Our test vehicle was a top-of-the-line 2022 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD. It had a list price of $47,210 and only one option: $395 Snowflake White Pearl Paint. With a $1,225 delivery, processing, and handling fee, the bottom line came to $48,830 MSRP.

The midsize three-row SUV class overflows with excellent contenders, including the Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Chevrolet Traverse, Toyota Highlander, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Volkswagen Atlas, Subaru Ascent, and more. The CX-9 has many luxury attributes, especially in Signature trim. So you could also compare it with the Volvo XC90, Acura MDX, Lexus RXL, and Infiniti QX60. Based on what we’ve seen, the CX-9 does not suffer in comparison to premium vehicles.

Mazda has spent the past few years consciously upgrading the styling, finishes, and content in its lineup. As the flagship of the brand, the CX-9 has benefitted from those upgrades. Not only is it good-looking inside and out, but the CX-9 is also a pleasure to drive and genuinely sporty on the road. It gets excellent safety ratings and has an excellent reputation for reliability. Improved fuel economy, perhaps with the aid of a hybrid model, would be a welcome improvement, as the current rating is the CX-9's one glaring weakness.