2020 Mazda CX-9 Review

Price Range: $17,998 - $29,590

Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

The 2020 Mazda CX-9 is one of the more distinctive midsize three-row SUVs, prioritizing style and driving experience. It also comes closest to closing the gap with the luxury brands with its impressive cabin materials and design. It falls short when it comes to cargo, utility and third-row accommodations, which seem like important things on a midsize-SUV shopper's list, and a big reason why it isn't higher up the ranks.

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2020 Mazda CX-9 Review

Pros

Premium interior, especially in the top-level Signature trim
Sporty handling
Comfortable and quiet on the highway
Intuitive infotainment interface

Cons

Cargo capacity isn't as generous as in competitors
Third-row seats aren't especially accommodating

What's new

Several previously optional safety features are now standard
New 9-inch infotainment touchscreen option
Second-row captain's chairs are available
Two USB ports added to the third row on Grand Touring and Signature models
Part of the second CX-9 generation introduced for 2016

Overview

Written by automotive expert Travis Langness

4/17/2020

The 2020 Mazda CX-9 is proof that a fun-to-drive formula used for small cars like the Mazda 3 can also work on a three-row SUV. Drivers will be impressed with its handling, smooth ride and fuel economy. In a class of large vehicles, those three strengths make the CX-9 a break from the norm.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Columbus, OH

28 listings

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2020 Mazda CX-9
Grand Touring 4dr SUV
$17,900
fair price
$374 below market
- 130,281 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, rental vehicle
- 7 Seats, 20 City / 26 Hwy MPG
- Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick of Paris (148 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Paris, KY
This 2020 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring is being offered to you as an alternative to us taking to the auction. This CX-9 is being offered COMPLETELY AS IS ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (20 City/26 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JM3TCBDY1L0411970
Stock: 63817B
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 09-19-2025
2020 Mazda CX-9
Grand Touring 4dr SUV
$17,950
great price
$2,727 below market
- 110,442 miles
- 3 accidents, 2 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 7 Seats, 20 City / 26 Hwy MPG
- 24/7 Cars (165 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Larwill, IN
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (20 City/26 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JM3TCBDY7L0412752
Stock: 4334PRC
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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There are more conventional SUV things to like about it too. The interior, especially in higher trims, is outfitted with high-quality materials. The cabin is quiet on the road and seating is comfortable. A controller dial helps you easily navigate a sharp infotainment menu. We're less enamored with the cargo space, tight third row and towing capability — but that's the trade-off for a dynamic vehicle this large.

The Kia Telluride has rugged flair, the Hyundai Palisade screams "upscale," and the Honda Pilot stresses versatility. But the Mazda CX-9 is about enjoying the drive. Its styling will turn heads, and the newly standard i-Activsense package brings extensive safety features. That's a unique SUV blueprint, and shoppers will do themselves a favor by putting this Mazda on their list.

What's it like to live with the CX-9?

To learn more about the Mazda CX-9 of this generation, read about our editors' experiences from a full year and 20,000 miles of driving a 2016 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring. We cover everything from seat comfort to real-world fuel economy. We found the CX-9 to be one of the most fun and best-looking SUVs around, but its cargo space might not be enough for some shoppers. Please note that the 2020 Mazda CX-9 differs from our long-term 2016 CX-9 in that it offers more standard features, updated tech and a retuned suspension. It's the same generation, though, so most of our observations still apply.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Good

7.9

out of 10

We drove the 2020 Mazda CX-9 on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the CX-9 drive? The Mazda CX-9 feels like a smaller midsize SUV in many ways, including the way it drives. It's a bit more athletic than competitors on a winding road, with confident brake response, and it's easy to maneuver in tighter confines. The AWD system is tuned mainly for inclement road conditions, but it can handle your weekend "soft-roading" excursions.

There's a sufficient amount of power on tap that's available right off the line, delivering great response when you need to get going. Accelerating to 60 mph takes 7.6 seconds, which is good for a midsize three-row SUV, and the transmission shifts smoothly, making for a seamless daily driver experience.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the CX-9? Whether you're commuting or taking a long road trip, the CX-9 delivers a good degree of comfort. Much of the credit goes to the smooth ride, which strikes a balance between sporty and compliant. Taller tire sidewalls contribute to this balance, helping provide cushion against road imperfections. Inside, the CX-9 has well-sculpted front seats that offer ample support, but it's worth noting the third row is quite small and not as comfortable as many competitors' back rows. The cabin, however, is luxury-level quiet, which is impressive.

Our test car's climate control is easy to use, but it might not blow cold enough if you have polar bear blood running through your veins. The heated and ventilated front seats work decently, and rear passengers have access to climate controls for their area.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? The 2020 Mazda CX-9's interior is thoughtfully designed, simple and elegant, and a benchmark for non-luxury SUVs. Primary controls are easy to reach and use. The main control dial is instantly intuitive and provides quick navigation within the menus of the sharp-looking 9-inch infotainment display.

Getting in and out of the CX-9 is easy, and access to the third row is much improved thanks to new second-row captain's chairs available in the Signature trim. The first and second rows have a good amount of room, but the third row is best reserved for kids. Visibility isn't quite as open as in other SUVs because of the CX-9's thickish pillars and a rear window that's on the smaller side.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? The Bose stereo system, found in the Grand Touring trims and up, delivers clear and powerful sound. Smartphones are easy to pair and quick to be recognized on startup. There are also plenty of USB ports to keep everyone's devices charged — six total in our top trim. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available on Touring models and up.

All CX-9s now come loaded with advanced safety and driver aids such as adaptive cruise, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning and lane keeping assist. They're well-tuned to deal with heavy traffic, and false alarms are rare. Adaptive cruise and lane keeping work well to relieve the burden of heavy traffic.

Storage

7/10

How’s the storage? The CX-9 falls behind the competition in cargo and utility. The 14.4 cubic feet behind the third row could be adequate for many shoppers, but for comparison, there's 21 cubic feet in the class-leading Kia Telluride. Max cargo is equally short, with 71.2 cubic feet in the CX-9 and 87 cubes in the Telluride.

Thoughtful interior design makes the CX-9 easy to live with, and growing families should find adequate space for all their things. Door pockets and cupholders are nicely sized. Car seats are easy to install with the second-row captain's chairs. There's a good amount of room for any size car seat, even large rear-facing ones. If you plan to do much towing, the CX-9 doesn't lead in that area either, maxing out at a lower-than-average 3,500 pounds.

Fuel Economy

8/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA fuel economy rating for our all-wheel-drive CX-9 is 23 mpg (20 city/26 highway), which is slightly better than average for this class. The 2WD version is rated at 24 mpg (22 city/28 highway). We were mostly able to hit those fuel economy targets, but they can be easy to miss if you're heavy-footed. If saving money is more of a priority than max engine power, the CX-9 has the ability to run on regular octane fuel.

Value

7.5/10

Is the CX-9 a good value? The CX-9 is definitely among the leaders in terms of its build quality, especially in top Signature trim. The base CX-9 starts around $34,000, slightly above average, but it offers more standard features. It's priced fairly competitively at the top end, and the interior closely resembles a luxury-class cabin thanks to exquisite materials, uniform gaps, and clean, elegant design. The exterior paint is well done too.

Warranty coverage and ownership benefits such as roadside assistance are pretty standard for the class.

Wildcard

8/10

The Mazda CX-9 Signature is a standout in the midsize three-row SUV class, mostly for its striking design and relatively engaging driving experience. It feels decently athletic through corners but not at the expense of ride comfort. It's the most original offering in the segment.

2020 Mazda CX-9 trim level differences

The 2020 Mazda CX-9 is a three-row crossover available in four trim levels: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring and Signature. All come standard with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft with premium gas) connected to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Which CX-9 trim does Edmunds recommend?

The midrange Touring is the sweet spot. Leather-trimmed seats, a power liftgate, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are standard. A 9-inch color touchscreen is also new this year. It's a good combo for the money, especially considering the big jump in price for higher trim levels.

Compare 2020 Mazda CX-9 trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$197/mo

$222/mo

Avg. Large SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability

The 2020 Mazda CX-9 has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, ranks it #4 out of 16 among Fullsize SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above Average

#4 out of 16 among Fullsize SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$480/yr

vs. $614/yr
for Average Fullsize SUV

Frequency

1.57x/yr

vs. 1.59x/yr
for Average Fullsize SUV

Severity

13.8%

vs. 16.7%
for Average Fullsize SUV

Recalls

1 recall found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 21V750000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 5221I
Number of vehicles affected:: 8648
Defect Description:: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CX-9 vehicles equipped with 60/40 split bench second-row seats. The left-side second-row seat may unexpectedly slide forward during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Defect Consequence:: A seat that slides forward during a crash can transfer excessive force onto a belted occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the internal parts of the affected second-row seats, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5221I.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

Mazda CX-9 Owner Reviews

4.5

81 reviews

5(74%)

4(13%)

3(9%)

2(0%)

1(4%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

The automotive press loves the CX-9, here’s why…

Tom D, 04/17/2019

2019 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

The CX-9 is smaller than most vehicles in this segment but since I’m the only occupant 98% of the time it meets my needs. It’s arguably the best looking in terms of design and has the most luxurious interior of any other crossover in its class avoiding the excess of cheap plastic so common in other rides. The leather is superb, there’s real aluminum trim on the doors and dash, the … knobs for the infotainment system are beautifully machined aluminum that you’d expect to see in German import costing thousands more. I was reluctant to move from a V6 to a turbo 4 cylinder but Mazda’s tuned this engine to perform and you’ll never notice the difference thanks to bountiful torque. You’d hope for better mileage but my experience in mixed driving so far is about 22-25 mpg. The chassis and suspension deliver exceptional handling and a quiet ride overall. Most autos today in the upper level trim include a suite of safety features which depending on the maker can be intrusive but not the Mazda. Lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise, reactive braking, blind spot monitoring, etc. are engaging and actually help you drive more safely rather than annoy you. The controversial engine start/stop alleged fuel saving feature is NOT found on the CX-9. The head’s up display is outstanding providing speed, speed limit info, safety suite feedback, and turn-by-turn directions from the nav system (unless you’re using Android Auto or Apple Car play for navigation). A 12 speaker Bose stereo is better than any factory system I’ve experienced in years. It’s not all perfect; the front cockpit is a little snug (more like a sports car than a SUV/mini-van), the front seats could have more adjustment and longer cushions for better thigh support (not a problem for me but taller drivers might notice), third row seating is a penalty box for other than small children (I just folded them down and expanded my cargo capacity), and interior cabin storage is very meager. The HVAC seems a little slow to heat/cool the interior but acceptable (the ventilated cooled seats do work very well), and the infotainment/nav is kind of clunky to use, looks dated in appearance (your opinion will depend on what your last car was), and is quite slow to boot up. I’ve never had a 360 degree camera so the Mazda’s is a useful novelty but as others have noted the resolution is poor which is surprising given how far miniature camera tech has advanced the past few years. The piano black trim around the shifter and door window switches is so fragile it will scratch just looking at it. Finally, if you’re into physical media the CX-9 does not offer a CD player available. Overall after a month of ownership I am enjoying my new Mazda and recommend it to those who need a crossover/SUV with more room than the 2-row models, but will rarely if ever need to put passengers in the very back. I researched mid-sized 3-row crossovers for over a year before making this purchase and highly recommend anyone shopping for any new vehicle spend a lot of time studying owner’s forums to get the straight scoop on potential problem areas. The Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring (FWD) beat out the Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum and Honda Pilot Touring in my evaluation. One Year Update: I've owned my CX-9 GT for just over a year now and it's been a trouble free pleasure to own. I've had no difficulties with this SUV and have a little over than 7K miles on it. Rides and handles great and the performance from the 4 cylinder turbo engine is brisk. My only annoyance is the sluggish boot up of the infotainment system; occasionally it won't load all of the Sirius/XM stations. Mileage on mostly rural backroads and highways is 22-24 MPG. 2 YEAR UPDATE: I'm starting on my 3rd year of ownership of the 2019 CX-9 GT with FWD and as I'm retired and with reduced activity in 2020 due to Covid only have 11,000 miles on the odometer. So far it's been a great vehicle, comfortable and sporty to drive for an SUV. Maintenance has thus far been routine oil/filter changes. The only thing I've had an issue with are the automatic folding side mirrors. Sometimes when the car is unlocked and the mirrors are fully deployed when I open the door they will either close completely or start to close then reopen. They never do this when the car is running or I'm driving, just when parked and the engine is off. There is a TSB about the auto folding mirrors which my VIN is covered under but the dealership couldn't reproduce the problem and couldn't find anything wrong. Other than that it's been a good experience. 3 YEAR UPDATE: I'm a little over 15K miles on my CX-9 and it continues to perform just fine. On the last routine service I had the original battery checked and it failed; the dealership replaced it under warranty. I'm still on the OEM tires. Mileage this past winter has varied from 22-25 MPG which is as good as I get. One red flag for potential pre-owned buyers is that on the Mazda 24/7 owners forum I'm following an ongoing thread about issues with this generation CX-9 with the turbo 4-cyl. Some owners are having coolant leaks due to an engine defect which requires a major repair and in some cases an entire new engine. It seems earlier model years or those with higher mileage are involved but I'm monitoring this situation closely. Caveat emptor. 4 YEAR UPDATE: I've got a little over 20K miles on my 2019 CX-9 GT FWD and continue to enjoy pretty much trouble free motoring. The electric folding mirrors continue to do strange things, the passenger side mirror stopped folding all the way in when locking the vehicle for a few months this past winter and the dealer couldn't find a problem. Lately it has been operating normally? Mileage remains about the same around 22-23 MPG and occasionally 24-25 on longer highway trips. As mentioned last time, engine problems with this generation Mazda CX-9 turbo 4 are well documented on owner's forums like Mazda 24/7; specifically a coolant leak due to a cracked cylinder head or an oil leak with both often requiring a complete engine replacement costing thousands. This is happening in higher mileage CX-9's and since they are out of warranty the owner is having to eat the cost in most cases. There are TSB's out on this known problem but no recall and affected owners are not happy. I'd advise anyone considering buying a used 2016-2022 CX-9 to do some homework on these owner's forums and know what you are getting into. I plan to ride this out until I replace my car in early 2025 since I don't drive that much and hope the lower mileage and wear and tear will spare me this problem. FINAL UPDATE: Had to delete some previous updates due to space, I traded in this vehicle in January before the tariffs and bought a 2025 Ford Explorer ST. I looked at the CX-90 and find the interior storage space to be even worse than the CX-9. I didn't want another Mazda because of the engine issues I described earlier in other CX-9's even though I did not experience them. Caveat emptor for those considering buying a used one of this generation.

Undercover Luxury SUV

Leroy Johnson, 11/02/2018

2019 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

I love my new 2019 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring trim SUV. The interior is on par with luxury brand SUVs. I looked at the Acura RDX and MDX and couldn’t justify paying the extra money for a vehicle with comparable equipment for 10K more. The ride is very quiet with very little if any road noise. My 2016 RDX had much more road noise. The handling is impressive but the ride is a little …

Excellent!

Richard, 09/29/2018

2019 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

Just picked it up after owning a cx5 for a year. Where I felt the cx5 lacked, the cx9 picks up the slack in refinement and luxury. It is truly a joy to drive. Styling inside and out is well thought out and outside of the same old same old in mid sized suv’s. The addition of the ventilated front seats is what I was waiting for. Apple car play is another plus. This car is a head turner. My …

Love at first drive. Long term affair

Mike Knibbs, 06/06/2019

2019 Mazda CX-9 Signature 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

I’d owned a grand Cherokee (nice power, ok ride, poor fuel, poor seats) and a Yukon (great utility, good power, blah driving, aweful gas mileage). Test drove Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer). Dismissed Volvo and Audi on cost and reliability. No opinion of Mazda till I drove it. Instant smiles. Now, a year or so in. I still smile. The torque is delightful. Like a diesel without …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Mazda CX-9, so we've included reviews for other years of the CX-9 since its last redesign.

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2020 CX-9 Highlights

Trim:

Sport

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$33,890
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$197/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the CX-9 models:

Smart City Brake Support: Automatically applies emergency braking if it detects that a low-speed collision is imminent.
Smart Brake Support: Automatically applies emergency braking if a collision seems imminent. Similar to Smart City Brake Support but activates at higher speeds.
Lane Keep Assist: Provides gentle steering guidance to prevent you from inadvertently drifting out of your lane.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover15.1%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2020 Mazda CX-9 Review

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Price & Payment

2020 Mazda CX-9 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Columbus, OH

2020 Mazda CX-9Grand Touring 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2020 Mazda CX-9Grand Touring 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

What's it like to live with the CX-9?

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2020 Mazda CX-9 trim level differences

Which CX-9 trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Recalls

Warranty

Mazda CX-9 Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

The automotive press loves the CX-9, here’s why…

Undercover Luxury SUV

Excellent!

Love at first drive. Long term affair

2020 CX-9 Highlights

Safety

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2020 Mazda CX-9
Grand Touring 4dr SUV

2020 Mazda CX-9
Grand Touring 4dr SUV