Used 2023 Mazda CX-9 Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 CX-9, so we've included reviews for other years of the CX-9 since its last redesign.
Not bad at all
Dallas Cowboy, 06/05/2023
2022 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
34 of 34 people found this review helpful
The good: - Handling is great, better than anything in this segment, without sacrificing the ride comfort (I have Touring with smaller rims though); - Acceleration from the turbo engine is decent, especially in the 40-70 mph range.No turbo lag at all. - Overall ride is smooth and composed, I'd say premium-like (think Volvo XC-90 with better handling); - Noise level - way quieter at highway speeds than my wife's Toyota RAV4; - Very good third row with cupholders, some additional storage and its own USB port; more suitable for kids/teenagers though; - Second row has it's own climate controls; - Remote start from the app (works from anywhere); - The knob interface is not as bad as I thought it would be, after getting used to it I no longer regret not having touchscreen; - Mazda finally fixed the problems it had 5-7 years ago (which were very weak AC and horrible headlights - no longer an issue). - Build quality and interior materials quality is great overall. Better than competitors from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, etc. in this price category (yes, I test drove them all, with the exception of Telluride - because it's more expensive and dealers were not willing to negotiate). Leather actually looks/feels/smells like leather and not like some PU. The Bad: - The collision mitigation system is VERY sensitive, even at the low radar setting. At least 2-3 times I almost caused an accident because vehicles behind me had to emergency-brake because of this system engaging; One good example is when a vehicle in front of me was turning right and I wasn't reducing my speed because I knew for sure I had plenty of distance for the vehicle in front of me to complete that turn - well, the system thought otherwise... Also, be careful when/if you change the lanes too aggressively as it might engage as well. - Experienced some pretty bad hesitation/jerking from transmission when accelerating from a rolling stop, especially downhill (appears to be some transmission issue hunting between 1-2 gears). Only happened 5-7 times and appears to be mostly gone after my dealer reprogrammed transmission at 7k miles; - Also experienced some transmission lurching/jumping forward at lower speeds (total of 5-7 times); once it happened when I pulled into the garage. The issue still happens occasionally and was not fixed with the transmission reprogramming by the dealer. Shifting into neutral and back into drive usually takes care of it, although sometimes it would require engine shut off/restart for it to go away. - Seats are not too comfortable; and no memory settings on Touring (you would have to get Touring Plus for that); - Keep an eye on oil level (I usually check it every other refuel, so far so good); The Ugly: - Depreciation is horrible, prepare to loose 20% of value in year 1; - If you drive aggressively prepare for some unpleasant surprises: my fuel consumption is 19.2 mpg and my front tires are at 50% after 10k miles. The tires that come from the factory on these are terrible and don't even have tread life warranty from the manufacturer. I also suspect the front brake pads won't last longer than 20-25k miles as the brakes feel weak for such a large vehicle. Overall I'd rate it 3.7 - 3.8 out of 5. 1 YEAR UPDATE: All of the above still applies. Great build quality and great handling. Very stable (and quiet) even at 100mph. All the transmission issues disappeared (knock on wood), haven't felt anything for the past 3-4 months. Seems like reprogramming by the dealer took care of the problem. MPG still sucks and haven't improved at all (still at 19 MPG combined). The best I've seen was 24-25 mpg (if I really baby it). Zero oil consumption issues after 12K miles (knock on wood again). The new comment for those who live in hot climates: the turbo SUBSTANTIALLY under-performs when it's above 90 degrees outside. We've had a heat wave here in TX with temperatures in 110-115s, and while during my morning commute the car feels normal, during my 4-5pm drive it sometimes feels like I have no turbo at all!
Big bang for the buck!
SNP, 05/03/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Carbon Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
29 of 30 people found this review helpful
Been driving my 2022 CX-9 Carbon Edition for three weeks now and I very satisfied with my purchase. I was a little nervous in in taking the plunge on this vehicle since the current iteration has been around for quite some time. I traded in a 2019 Passport Elite which I must say was a fine vehicle. It was super dependable, has storage for days and was easy to drive whether it was to the grocery store or on a road trip to the Carolinas. The Honda was like wearing your favorite pair if khakis; it never let you down, comfortable and not the least bit flashy. One must admit however the Passport especially the Elite model does exude an aura of style, toughness and personality that most Honda's do not. All praise for the Honda aside, honestly I do not miss it at all. The CX-9 (Carbon Edition especially) looks great, drives great, feels and handles like a much smaller vehicle. My Honda felt strong and sturdy while the Mazda in comparison feels quick and nimble. According to all reports the Honda is actually faster 0-60 than the Mazda but you would never know it by the way they feel. The CX-9 is quite and comfortablre and I cannot wait to get it on a road trip to Michigan in a couple months. I can nitpick a few items on the Mazda that are all generally small annoyances. The inside storage (center console and doors) is well below average and again in comparison to the Honda, miles behind it. The good news is with less space I will not store so much junk and perhaps my car will stay cleaner! Doors feel light and often times find myself seemingly having to slam them shut to get them to close properly. The 3rd row cupholders are really unnecessary and all they do it eat up potential storage space in the rear of the vehicle making it feel somewhat narrow. I'm sure the 2023 updated CX-9 (or CX-90) and other new Mazda SUV's will be fantastic vehicles too but it's not hard to see what there are so many CX-9's and CX-5's on the road today. The CX-9 still feels and looks like it belongs and the drive confirms my decision every time I get behind the wheel. Dollar for dollar, feature for feature you will be hard pressed to find anything with such a combination of satisfying drive, adequate space, contemporary looks for the money!
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2023 Mazda CX-9 for sale near you
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- Touring 4dr SUVMSRP: $27,90016 mi away
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Great SUV. Quality and features galore.
Happy owner, 01/19/2023
2023 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
Over the years our “family” car has been an SUV. Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4, Acura RDX, then when kids came the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. We leased a 2021 Mazda CX9 GT and we were impressed. Three issues; less room, so so gas mileage, and terrible infotainment. However, the rest of the car is so good we just leased a 2023 CX9 GT. OK, size is the same and gas mileage still so so (22 MPG combined). BUT, infotainment and nav vastly improved. The car is beautiful to look at inside and out. It has good power. Handles like a compact car, quality materials, pretty much every option you need and then some. They’ve even added the My Mazda app for remote starting and vehicle monitoring. Honestly, if you can live with the gas mileage and a little less passenger and storage space you have to take this SUV for a test drive.
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Decent car, horrible gas milage
Jay S, 02/17/2023
2022 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
Car is OK, fun to drive. It gets horrible gas milage, around 19 mpg vs. the 26 mpg Mazada claims. I've had problems with the electrical system.
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Good SUV
mike, 01/25/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Touring Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
Impressed with Mazda so far! Great handling sporty ride drives like a luxury suv. Interior very upscale.
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Terrible MPG
new CX-9 owner, 06/16/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
30 of 33 people found this review helpful
I recently bought a brand new 2022 CX-9 grand touring last month (all 2022s are AWD). I have about 1,000 miles on it now. I totally baby it. I have tried all types of gas. The tires are inflated perfectly. I barely touch the gas peddle as often as possible. I coast to lights and stops and try constantly to up my MPG. The first couple weeks I was averaging 14MPG combined. Now I am up to 18MPG combined. My mix is 80% highway and 20% city. I was almost going to by a Yukon but the MPG my dad was averaging on his 2022 was only 19mpg on the AWD gas version. So I decided against it due to the bad MPG. Now I have a smaller vehicle (CX-9), with a smaller engine (2.5 T) and less HP and the MPG is even worse!! The MPG ratings are such lies. This is a real review and not embellished at all. Good luck in your search.
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Exceeded expectations
C7 Corvette Guy, 06/04/2023
2023 Mazda CX-9 Touring Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
I researched a lot of SUV vehicles in a variety of classes and settled on the Mazda CX-9. I wasn’t interested in spending big $ on a luxury class status symbol, but wanted a classy, sporty, practical vehicle with some get up and go. I knew that Mazda pushed the luxury envelope without the price premium. The Mazda met all those requirements. Our vehicle exceeded our expectations in every way. We drove 100 miles to Ocean Mazda in Miami to buy the car ($6000 savings vs local dealer), and rented a BMW X2 to get there (Hertz upgraded us because they were short of vehicles). On our drive home in the CX9 we realized that the performance, comfort, and features of our CX9 exceeded the BMW, even though I took it easy on the throttle for engine break-in. We’re only about 400 miles into our Mazda experience, but we love our new vehicle.
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2.5L Turbo Burns oil
Jim W, 08/07/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
28 of 32 people found this review helpful
Loved our CX-9 until it started burning a quart of oil between oil changes. No leaks just burning oil. Dealer won’t acknowledge there is a service bulletin saying Mazda doesn’t have a fix. Had to trade it out once it started misfiring and violent shaking when driving (probably due to oil entering combustion and affecting spark plugs). Beware of Mazda not acknowledging the problem.
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2023 CX9 Touring Plus
Andy, 07/06/2023
2023 Mazda CX-9 Touring Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Had a 2008 Mazda CX9 and after 15 years I bought a slightly used (6200 miles) 2023 CX9 Touring Plus. Funny thing is the price for the new one all in was 40k and the price of the 2008 Grand Touring was 40k when I bought it new. I like the clean looking interior, ventilated leather seats and the touring plus with the black wheels looks great. Drives nice, quiet and handles well. Doesn't get great gas mileage at about 16-18mpg around town. I'm not easy on the accelerator but I don't drive that many miles so not a deal breaker. The engine sounds a little buzzy and not liking no touchscreen. I don't care about the third row as I keep them down all the time and use the extra room for hauling equipment, mulch and other supplies. It's just the right amount of space for me. Was trying to hold out for the CX70 but my old CX9 wasn't cooperating and the new CX90 was more money. Probably keep this for a couple of years and see how the CX70 fairs.
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Wowzers
MT, 09/14/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Touring Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Very comfortable and peppy. I am getting almost 30mpg on daily commute. That being sad though, we did only get 21mpg on a long road trip but we had a big rooftop brick full of luggage. After removal of the vacation brick fuel economy returned….. Zoom Zoom
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2023 CX9 Breaks
Doc, 02/08/2023
2023 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Car rides beautifully BUT, after only 1900 miles, the breaks became soft and would slowly go to floor when at a light. Dealer replaced the master cylinder and problem persists. It's been in the shop almost two weeks as they attempt to identify the problem.
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Great Vehicle
Tom, 03/14/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Touring Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
Interior was well thought out, but the real fun comes from the driving experience. Although some what large, the CX9 is very nimble and sometimes feels like a vehicle half it’s size. Highly recommend.
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20 mpg
FireStation46 , 07/20/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Bigger than my Chevy Equinox that I sold off to get the CX-9. Did not realize it is the last year for the CX-9. I got the sport edition new, $33k off the lot with 12 miles on it. Better rear view camera, good cross track warning. More room than the equinox which helps when I haul my gear to my hunt club 6 hours away. Only 20 mpg and I am not a lead foot. Driver comfort is fair. Better pick up speed greeting on a highway vs my Honda CRV and Equinox both of which I got rid of. I did put nitrogen in the tyres as Florida heat can be tough on tire wear. This level does not come with XM radio :-(
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A wolf in sheep's clothing
Eddie, 11/18/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Signature 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
20 of 28 people found this review helpful
I have a 2022 Signature, and am currently 7 months into ownership. The short comings of this car are plentiful, so I’ll start with the positives. Upon first entering, you’ll be impressed by the seating material, the large screen, and the soft touches over the panels. That first drive, you’ll notice a surprisingly smooth ride, a quiet interior and a torque kick that might make you smirk. The shiny black panels sell into that luxury environment. On paper, the offerings are similar to driving a luxury car, but Mazda has done such a poor job at execution that you could find yourself often frustrated. The quiet ride doesn't last. Rattles have already developed. Gas mileage is horrible. Range anxiety is going to be top of mind given their decision to use 3 of the 6 meters in the dash to measure fuel range. The Bose system is pretty good, and you'll never forget you have a Bose because their decision to place a reflective trim around the tweeter on the dash will ALWAYS reflect - day and night. The heated steering wheel heats strictly at the 3 and 9 positions, with some warmth spilling over to 2, 4, 8 and 10. That would be acceptable, except that 3 and 9 are taken up by the steering wheel pillars. No previous car I've own with heated steering warmed up so little of the steering. The rear hatch opens way too low at its highest setting. At 6ft tall - I'm often hitting my head on it. This is my first large SUV, previously own mid to compact - and none opened so low. The adaptive cruise control lacks the ability to check beyond the set range - making it so that you can't trust it to slow down in time when catching up to traffic. The adaptive headlights jiggle in their housing. When going to a Mazda Service Center - I was told the bouncing around is "by design". So is the nausea that it could induce I suppose? The nice black panels around the interior scuff easily. Very easily. I owned 2 cars previous to this that also had that - and those scuffed up easily too, but what is going on in this CX-9 is on a different level of delicacy. When shopping, the CX-9 wasn't in my top 5. But after researching it, and finding out it was among the highest in reliability, as well as all the offerings it had - on paper, I had to take a look. I was impressed after my first drive. What I didn't know is that it's reliability has less to do with it not being problematic, but that service centers won't fix things or will attribute problems to being "normal behavior". Worse is that the features that put it on par with the luxury brands are not executed as well as, you know - luxury brands. It's all thrown in there almost to appear competitive, and get you to walk out with it. Months into it, after putting some miles and time into it - you'll witness the real personality of the CX-9 - its list of shortcomings would be 3x as long as a list of it's features. My opinion - move on to the next car on your list.
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Better than my Chevy Equinox
FireStation46 , 12/03/2022
2023 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I had a new <3k Mike’s on my Chevy Equinox started having issues. Sold it and bought the Mazda CX-9 new off the lot. 3rd row will fine when the grandkids fly in for a visit otherwise with the back seats down gives more interior space. WeatherTech does not have floor liners for this version so I used another WT liner I had for the trunk not perfect but does the job. Good power, gas mileage so-so. Maybe ~300 highway miles on a full tank before I start looking for a gas station. No XM/Sirius on this trim level but for $5 a month I can run XM off my iPhone . Good back up camera, side warning alerts, left of right turn indicated on the side mirrors. I did add a hitch so towing under 3,000 pounds. Comfortable. They don’t have the Sport edition which I bought $33k off the lot, it only had 5 miles on it. Sits high enough to give clear view all around.
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Driving enjoyment over utility, thats the CX9.
AJL, 02/07/2024
updated 09/19/2024
2023 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is the second Mazda I've owned, the first being a 2008 Mazda 5 (minivan). Mazda's tagline at that time was "Zoom-zoom" and it's still fitting to their vehicles. Mazda puts a premium on the driver and driver enjoyment in their vehicles. Honestly, I've had a BMW 5 series and a 3 series as rental cars and when I got back into this giant Mazda crossover, I wasn't missing much driving enjoyment even though the CX9 is a large and heavy crossover compared to those sedans. That might say more about current BMW than Mazda but I digress. If you like to drive and outright space and utility are not needed, the CX9 is very good. The engine and transmission work very well together. I use premium fuel in mine which raises the power from 227 to 250. Could be all in my head, but it's much happier on premium fuel and it's a difference you can feel, though only slightly. Transmission could use another gear or two; this is only a 6 spd automatic and most others in this class are 8 speeds or more now. At 80 mph, this engine is turning 2500 rpm. This means mileage suffers because the engine is working fairly hard ( though it's very smooth at all times). All highway, steady with the cruise set at 80 means 22 mpg is the best you'll see. Around town with a lot of hills and traffic, 16-18mpg is common. It is a comfortable vehicle. It's quiet and smooth on the highway. Due to the way the engine makes power and the engine/transmission smoothness as well as the handling, it's also very easy to be going faster than you think you are when you're not using cruise control. 90mph when you want 80 is no problem for the CX9. The handling is very confident especially for this class of vehicle. It actually isn't a big deal to drive it fairly hard, it responds well and the brakes are pretty good too. The difference in driving dynamics between the CX9 and our 21 Honda Pilot are night and day. The Honda drives well, but very much like an appliance. The Mazda has a lot more character and capability to it. The CX9 does not have a touchscreen interface for its entertainment system. It uses a rotary controller (similar to a BMW if you're familiar). It's cumbersome at first, especially using CarPlay, but once you get used to it, it's actually better than a touchscreen. Mazda's claim is that it takes less attention away from driving and I can believe it. Sound from the audio system is pretty good, the higher trim packages with the Bose are likely even better. Ours is a basic Touring trim, but it still has leather, heated seats and remote start as well as other creature comforts like power seats. The fit and finish are very well done, this is a Mazda made in Japan after all. Really, the only downside is the lack of space in the vehicle. There is more style over substance here in terms of passenger comfort and storage space. The 3rd row is nearly unusable unless you're 8 years old or less or very small in stature and getting back there is not easy. Not compared to our 2021 Honda Pilot. It's still not great in the Honda, but infinitely better than the CX9. Also, due to the sloping rear roofline, the Mazdas cargo area isn't nearly as useful as the size of vehicle suggests.If you do plan on people in the 3rd row, they will also be resting their heads on the ceiling if they're over 5'7", so if you have tall kids or are planning on a car seat back there, the Mazda may not be for you. The CX9 also lacks a lot of cubby holes and other interior storage which is critical in this class of family cruisers. Now that vehicles are so good, it's the small things that make or break most ownership experiences. The remote start is controlled from a subpar phone app. Also, the remote start turns off the car when you open a door or the hatch, which is stupid to me. On the Touring trim at least, the vehicle does not turn on the seat heaters when cold. One big complaint is that the climate control system is fairly weak ( common among Mazda's apparently, our 5 was no different) but also the fans are very noisy. You have to unlock the doors to open the hatch from the drivers seat. If you like to drive and plan on no more than 4 people in the car, leaving the third row folded down, this is a good choice. It is a comfortable and capable vehicle for a family of 4 or less, though it still lacks some cargo space compared to other options. Fuel mileage is mediocre and it does prefer premium fuel, adding to the cost but also the enjoyment. It has some quirks, all cars do. But if you need room for family or gear (or both) the Mazda lacks the space of others in this class. We leased this CX9 (replacing a 2020 Honda Odyssey minivan) and my wife didn't particularly like, nor could she get comfortable in the CX9. So when my lease expired a few months later, I took over the CX9 and we purchased the used 21 Honda Pilot Touring I've mentioned. The Honda is not nearly as fun to drive, but it is much more useful and that's why you get this class of vehicle ( if you don't want a minivan.) Update: 6 months to go in the Mazdas lease and it's everything I said in my original review. It's the "drivers choice" for three row crossovers ( I would imagine the all new CX90 is as well) but you do give up a lot of utility compared to a similar Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander or Kia Telluride. If space isn't that important but driving feel and response are part of your requirements, the CX9 is a good choice. Fuel mileage is still only so-so (25 mpg is the best I've seen, but mostly 22mpg all highway and 16 around town). I've had no issues with it and it doesn't use any oil. I still find the climate control weak and noisy and some quirks have become more irritating ( the app is slow and buggy, you can't open the rear hatch with the engine running unless you use the release on the hatch) but it's been a solid vehicle. Its much more athletic and enjoyable to drive than it should be for a giant 3 row crossover that doesn't have a European badge on it.
Mazda cx9
Jose, 02/04/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 9 people found this review helpful
I love my new cx9
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Just bought the last model of the CR-9
FireStation46 , 01/19/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
8 of 13 people found this review helpful
Hard negotiations. I refused the $3k the dealer added for pretty useless add-ins. Got it below MSRP. Got it as it rolled off the delivery truck. $33k all-in for the Sports Edition. Old style gas cap and to open you have to hit the switch under the steering wheel, the Chevy Equinox was a better system. You have to hit the key fob’s little side button to open and unlock the car unlike the easy Equinox keyless feature. Hard to see the open/lock buttons. Sirius/XM not available at this level vehicle. I got the app stream to my IPhone cheaper than the Equinox set up. Roomy, powerful for a 4 cylinder. Getting 21 MPG. Nice 3rd row gives more passenger space than the Equinox, room for the twins baby seats.
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Worth of Praise
Benedict Park, 12/08/2024
2023 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Bought the MY23 Grand Touring in November 2023. It is one of the best handling three-row SUVs/CUVs two years into ownership. Although this model no longer exists with replacing CX90/70 FR structure vehicles, I wanted to share some of my experiences, as I enjoy reading those by others on Edmunds.com. Before going further, I'd like to add that I was once an automotive OEM engineer in R&D and did testing in vehicle electronics and electrics. Also, I have driven 200+ vehicles so far, which I don't do anymore, but these experiences provide me with better guidance. 1. Things Gone Right (1) Driving Dynamics - Drives so much better than any three-row front-wheel-based vehicle that I drove (Excluding the recent Toyota Highlander/Grand iterations) (2) Powertrain Accelerates with gusto thanks to the 300 lb-ft of torque. The horsepower is a bit lagging at 210hp, but I have no complaints, as the torque really helps in times of need. (3) Interior Quality - Leather and plastic are well appointed, on the better side of quality, with cushions. (4) Good space I rarely use the third row (this is for emergencies when visitors arrive), and hence, the rear space is spacious: we haul as big items as a cello without having to lower the second row. (5) Seating Comfort The front and second-row seats are all comfortable, even during long drives (7+ hours/day). (6) Apple Carplay - Both Apple Carplay and Google Android Auto work in wired format. It does not work with the OEM HUD system, but it is very useful overall. It is a pity that the display is not touch-sensitive, and hence one must use the rotary dial. However, this is better than the Acura's touchpad system. 2. Things Gone...Wrong? (1) Strange SW problems - Mazda is weak in software department, and not surprising that this is 1~2M/yr sized company. The SW department would be a weak point in R&D, as they will not be able to keep up with the trends due to the small size of the R&D capacity. Problems: The HUD height adjustment is done through the vehicle SW, and it keeps resetting to its default despite customizing. Also, the right side mirror, which previously shifted downwards when in reverse, now fails to do so. It does not seem to be an HW problem (the motor works fine) but a SW problem, which I am baffled by: this car does not have OTA, the over-the-air update function, as it is rather an old vehicle platform. (2) Speakers - It uses BOSE, but this vehicle's tuning is not good as my other vehicle, the MY23 Honda Accord Touring. The latter has 50% better clarity, I believe. (3) Remote Start Unlike other OEMs, Mazda provides an app to start the vehicle remotely for free, which is very pleasing. However, when you open the door after a remote start, the engine turns off, which defeats the purpose of turning on the vehicle when cold. This is different in Honda. I believe this is due to the company's R&D decision as their counter against product liability claims, but this is too restrictive to use and rather unnecessary. Overall, I bought this at MSRP during the COVID era, when new vehicle production was affected, and the prices for many new and used cars were inflated beyond MSRP. Would I buy this car new now? No, there are many better vehicles, but in terms of used vehicles, this is one of the better vehicles to buy. Also, note that I have had little mechanical problems so far. A workhorse of our family, we will be sad to see this go in the future.
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Excellent Mix of Sporty & Luxury
Mazda Newcomer, 08/21/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Bought the Sport model during covid when there was only the Touring and Sport models available. LOVE the cloth seats (NOT a leather fan), but black shows EVERYTHING. If you have a pet, or live on a dirt road black cloth seats will not be your best choice. The Sport model handles really well (I take corners a bit fast sometimes and it handles beautifully) with luxury feel, but what I wouldn't give to have the Touring PLUS trim level (which I noticed car mags kept mentioning was the best value, and I would agree), as it adds heated steering wheel, keyless entry, memory seats (hubby drives this car too, and its making me crazy changing seat settings and mirrors). What really sold us on this car other than its great attributes is that ALL of Mazda's safety offerings (except for one) are on ALL their cars. That spoke volumes to us. We couldn't find any other car company that offered all the safety features without going to expensive, high trim levels. The other is that the reliability ratings were just slightly higher than Toyota. Mazda it appears has jumped to the top for reliability. I'd rather cut off my left arm than have to take a vehicle in for a repair, as I pay good money for reliability, not problems. This definitely got our attention. Good job Mazda!
Good but far from great
RZ2023, 11/29/2023
2023 Mazda CX-9 Signature 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
Ride is smooth, but shortness also very obvious: 1. Mileage is even 20% worse than my 2013 Edge which has 3.5L v6 engine 2. No easy entry/exist with memory seat 3. Remote start won’t activate climate control 4. Lane keeping feature sucks, this even shouldn’t be called lane keeping 5. Outside is big inside is so small, glove box is so small, storage box is so small
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It is a nice ride...as long as the engine works
KT, 09/12/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Signature 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
11 of 20 people found this review helpful
It drives great! It is one of the nicer, affordable alternatives to German cars. However, the engine tends to break down around 80-100K miles (search the web!). It is a known issue and Mazda does nothing about it. If you do not have warranty coverage, you are looking at an ~8K engine replacement. The infotainment system is another joke; also a known issue! I like the brand, owned many Mazda, but this one is bad.
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Mamas jitney
Farmboy, 06/28/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Signature 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
Drives like a dream, very quiet. Comfortable and looks great.
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Key Design Gives it 1 Star!!!
Abe Classic, 02/27/2023
updated 03/06/2024
2023 Mazda CX-9 Signature 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
10 of 22 people found this review helpful
Been robbed 3 times so far because of the terrible key design and I even have a silicone cover on it to help stop it from pushing buttons. It unlocks my doors several times throughout the day and the lift gate about 2-3 times a day. Every time I park in a garage it opens the lift gate by itself and then the lift gate gets stuck against the concrete walls damaging it. Lift gate opening as I'm taking my pants off at night results in having it open all night long while I'm sleeping. It happens so often that the MyMazda app stopped sending me notifications that the lift gate is open or the doors are unlocked. I'm actually selling my mazda after months SOLELY because of how horrible the key design is. Lost over $1500 in equipment stolen from me during these thefts. Update: been robbed 2 more times since this post. Mazda still has no alternatives for these terrible key fobs. Update: I’ve given up on using this car. It unlocks all the time. Will never purchase a Mazda again.
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Great option for families
Martin Reviewer, 03/20/2023
updated 03/22/2024
2023 Mazda CX-9 Touring Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
We have got the Touring Plus trim. Great car. The only key missing items are bumper sensors and foldable mirrors. Good and quiet ride, with a luxury environment, and a great balance between performance and space.
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Good car
Joel K, 12/24/2023
2023 Mazda CX-9 Touring Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
We've owned our '23 Cx9 for a year now. It had one issue where the battery died overnight and it turned out to be a module associated with the rear climate system. Mazda issued a recall and fixed it at no charge. The Cx9 is a little softly sprung for my liking, but it's very comfortable and isn't troubled when soft-roading. I like the Mazda infotainment dials and the engine is surprisingly powerful. It isn't very fuel efficient in real world driving. 22mpg average seems about right. If I could go back, I would buy this vehicle again. I paid MSRP and I think it's a good value.
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4th Mazda CX-9
Scotty, 02/17/2024
2023 Mazda CX-9 Signature 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The title says it ALL. Lucky enough to find and purchase a CPO 2023 CX-9 Signature. Except for 2 recall with the prior 3, they never went back to the dealership for maintenance issues. Looking forward to similar reliability with the new one. Not a fan of the CX-90, however I feel Mazda will correct the drive train issues. Grab a CX-9 while your can. ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM from a Porsche 911 owner.
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Test-drove the 2021 GT, and the 2023 Carbon
Lead Foot Mama, 02/26/2023
2023 Mazda CX-9 Carbon Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 5 people found this review helpful
Test drove a USED 2021 Grand Touring (with about 10k miles), as well as the NEW 2023 Carbon Edition. First thing I noticed, and that nobody has mentioned to date on ANY year cx9: There is a high ledge along the floor. It feels like you are stepping up into a big truck, then you realize it is just a low wall you have to step over. This was the same for the 2023 I drove. I don't like this, and have postponed buying one for this reason. The USED Grand Touring had Navigation, which I think is important, as I hate using my phone for navigation. A car that price should have standard navigation. Also, the Grand Touring has the heads up display...holographic screen in front of you on the windshield so you don't have to look down at the speedometer.. This is also a great extra. The 2021 was SO BOUNCY! I hated driving my husbands 2013 hyundai accent because my head constantly bounced against the head rest....and my neck was sore by the end of this trip. Same goes for this 2021 model cx9. My head was rattled after a 20 minute ride. Also I could hear the tires on every groove on the road through the floor of the CX9. It was distracting and I was so sad, since reviews always say how quiet the road noise was. So sad. I liked how I felt so high up....I have driven a chry pacifica for the past 17 years, and drove hubby's old beater hyundai for the past 2 months until we decided on a new family car....and getting into this made me feel almost like I was in a ford f150...high above the crowds...I loved the way the steering wheel was low and faced upwards toward me. I'm a little short, and feel like I can't see over the steering wheel on my beloved Pacifica...rest it's soul.... Now for the NEW 2023 Carbon Edition CX9: It was a much less bumpy ride. It wasn't as loud, either. The Carbon Edition did NOT have navigation. Nor did it have the holographic heads up display. The seats were as comfortable as the 2021 model. Carbon edition has burgundy leather seats. I loved them. I am still going to test drive a honda pilot, a Kia Sorento and a Telluride, and a Hyundai Palisade before I decide on the Mazda cx9. Maybe my expectations were too high.
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Drives smaller than it looks!
Mike Knibbs, 04/05/2023
2023 Mazda CX-9 Touring Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
About to buy my second CX9. Looked at all the new stuff (Pathfinder 23, Pilot 23 and Jeep GC). But the Mazda just makes more sense if you don’t need the third row regularly. It’s not the most powerful, but the interiors are really great and the ride and handling are both terrific. Yeah, the CX90 is attractive but getting spendy. The older CX9 is excellent value.
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A Japanese BMW
Neal, 04/10/2023
2023 Mazda CX-9 Carbon Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
My 2023 carbon edition… I did two year lease. I can say it handles and brakes like a German suv. The red leather with heat and cooled seats is super nice. Bose radio is amazing. My payment is half the price of a bmw x5. If you want a reliable car and handles and brakes well.. if u looking for something different the carbon edition is it and value is now, before they are all gone…very limited edition
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Too small for 7
Mark, 09/15/2022
2022 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 7 people found this review helpful
Very nice SUV and well equipped. We needed a bigger SUV to haul around grandkids.
Great car if you like close quarters
Josette , 01/02/2025
2023 Mazda CX-9 Signature 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I liked the car- it had a lot of zip and the interior was luxury! I would recommend the signature trim. I enjoyed the test drive, however it felt a little snug. I like more head room and space overall. A taller person might not have enough room for comfort. I only gave 4 stars for this reason. Otherwise I do recommend test driving.
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CX-9
DVC2276, 06/19/2023
2023 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
we love our new CX-9. It handles extremely well and handles rough roads with ease and quietness.
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Happy with my purchase
Dee Rock, 12/19/2022
2023 Mazda CX-9 Carbon Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 4 people found this review helpful
The new 2023 cx-9 carbon edition is fully loaded with all the features I like such as the red leather seats, premium Bose sound system, moonroof, 20 inch rims, turbo 4 engine and more. The truck drives very smooth and comfortable. The turbo 4 cylinder engine is surprisingly fast and gets good gas mileage for a suv. And it cost me less than some used suv's.
luxury interior, quiet, attractive looking,
lubbert, 08/23/2023
2022 Mazda CX-9 Signature 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
better than CX-90