Used 2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring SUV Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring SUV.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Traded Pilot for CX-9
DC, Monteagle, TN, 11/02/2017
2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
I was looking for a replacement for my 2016 Honda Pilot Touring since it did not have blind spot monitoring, the adaptive cruise control was abrupt, lane departure intervention too aggressive, and I hated the AutoStop feature. I looked into and test drove the Acadia Denali, Toyota Highlander Platinum, Nissan Pathfinder Platinum, Volvo XC60, Lexus RX350, and the 2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand … Touring. The CX-9 was the clear winner with better pricing, great standard features, comfortable wrap around seats, great power, smooth and quiet ride, and most importantly, the most fun to drive.
The CX-9 heads up display is better than the Lexus or Volvo because the CX-9 displays the blind spot monitoring info on the screen as well as the speed, adaptive cruise speed, and navigation directions. And, the heads up display is STANDARD on the Grand Touring trim and up.
I love the heated steering wheel and heated seats, and my passengers love the heated seats too. The sound system is great, and the infotainment system is the most ergonomic and easy to use system out there. I never though too much about the zoom zoom commercials till I drove the Mazda CX-9, but now that I have one, I totally understand.
Almost 5 starts BUT...
VK, Sarasota, FL, 09/19/2018
2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Replaced one of our BMWs with CX-9 as we need 3-row SUV occasionally.
Love: windshield-projected display, how it drives.
Good: steering feeling is exceptional, engine and transmission are good, 3rd row is good enough for kids, a lot of techs that work pretty well.
Weird: when you shut the engine it turns off the audio and Bluetooth, no light in the glove box, the Bose surround mode is … awful so I disabled it.
Bad: black leather interior gets too hot in FL (compare to my other BMW), AC not very powerful but very noisy when on full, backup camera is so-so.
Personal bad: the left foot rest is located too close to the driver and unlike BMW you cannot straight out your left leg (in Mazda the rest is closer to the driver than the pedals, in BMW the pedals are closer). Makes a big difference not in a good way.
If not the issue with the left foot rest I would give it 5. My wife doesn’t have that issue, she is not using the foot rest at all.
Large enough for me!
TB012, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, 10/31/2018
2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
I bought my CX9 12 months ago and I’ve been super happy with the vehicle. Great outside style and the interior looks close to a luxury vehicle. It drives extremely well for an SUV/Crossover. My wife has an Audi Q7 and my Mazda drives much better (not as heavy and light on its feet). Only knock is that it is not as big as some other three row SUVs but it MPG is better than those vehicle … so that’s the compromise you need to make. I hardly ever (never) have used the third row so it’s basically a two row for me. I bought a rubber trunk cover and primarily use two rows. Great vehicle for the price! Great value!
Great styling and performs perfectly
Matt Woodle, Concord, NC, 07/04/2018
2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Interior is just beautiful. Handles fantastic. Electronics are very intuitive. GPS without Android Auto is lacking but the head up display is sweet. I really like that it is a pure Japanese car.
Been driving for a few months now and my only complain is that there can be some small amount of noise from the brake pads within the caliper. I have been told by others the same … complaint. Mazda confirmed it with me that the pad clearance is tight and sometimes on rough pavement you can hear the pad tap the caliper. With my car once the pads got broke in around 25K miles it stopped. The vehicle is still very smooth Drive and the engine and transmission performs wonderfully. No regrets and the car is a great value
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring SUV
What’s new
- The 2018 CX-9 gets more standard safety features
- Part of the second CX-9 generation introduced for 2016
Pros & Cons
- Pro:With sharp, modern style inside and out, the CX-9 feels richer than its cost
- Pro:Sporty handling makes it fun to drive
- Pro:Comfortable interior remains quiet on the highway
- Pro:Top-level Signature trim is on par with some luxury-brand competitors
- Con:Cargo capacity isn't as generous as in competitors
- Con:Third-row seats aren't especially accommodating
Which CX-9 does Edmunds recommend?
With 20-inch wheels and upgraded interior trim, the Grand Touring model looks great and comes with several driver safety aids such as frontal collision warning and mitigation and lane departure intervention. We liked it so much that we bought one. But we chose the Grand Touring only to report on its variety of features. We actually think a CX-9 Touring model with the optional Touring Premium package will satisfy most buyers. This configuration adds several of the Grand Touring's features — navigation, premium Bose audio, sunroof — and still costs less.
Full Edmunds Review: 2018 Mazda CX-9 SUV
Driving
8.5The Mazda CX-9 is one of those vehicles that earns the "it drives like a smaller car" description. It feels more athletic than competitors on a winding road and is more maneuverable in trickier confines. The turbocharged engine has enough power to satisfy most drivers.
Comfort
8.0Whether you're just commuting or taking a long road trip, the CX-9 delivers an impressive degree of comfort thanks to a smooth ride, quiet cabin and well-sculpted seats. Our test car's air conditioning was mediocre, but we're not yet certain if this early test sample is representative.
Interior
8.0Pretty much everything about the CX-9's interior feels right and thoughtfully designed. This is a new benchmark for non-luxury SUVs, and other manufacturers should take notes on how Mazda makes the most of available space and how quality components all contribute to a favorable impression.
Utility
7.0The CX-9 doesn't hold as much cargo as competing SUVs. But thoughtful design makes it easy to live with, and growing families should find adequate space for their stuff. Few people tow with SUVs in this class, so the fact that the CX-9 doesn't lead in this area might not be of concern.
Technology
8.0Mazda took a page from the German luxury playbook by incorporating a dial-based infotainment interface, and it's one of the better systems at any price. Likewise, the active-safety driver aids it offers seem to be well-tuned to prevent false alarms.
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2018 Mazda CX-9 in Ohio is:
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