2023 Mazda CX-9 Review: Still Great After All These Years

Very little is new for the 2023 Mazda CX-9 SUV as the Japanese automaker seems to be consolidating the range for what might very well be its last model year on the market. With the smart new six-cylinder CX-90 now at the top of the Mazda lineup and the base Sport CX-9 trim dropped, Mazda now has two mid-size three-row SUVs starting at just under $40k, so the CX-9 is unlikely to be long for this world, considering the car was first launched in the USA in 2015 as a 2016 model. It still has a lot to offer, with an impressively upmarket interior and genuinely fun handling. The rewarding driving experience is still one of its highlights, and an area where it beats newer rivals such as the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. Every safety review of the Mazda CX-9 also still produces impressive ratings, despite its age. But although perfectly adequate, its 250-horsepower (on premium gas) four-cylinder engine is now outclassed by its bigger CX-90 sibling's excellent mild-hybrid six-cylinder that offers superior power, performance, and gas mileage, for not much more money. Does it render the CX-9 obsolete?

What's The Price Of The 2023 Mazda CX-9?

The price of the Mazda CX-9 Touring is $38,750, followed by the Touring Plus at $41,350, the Carbon Edition at $44,780, the Grand Touring at $45,690, and the Signature at $48,460. These prices for the Mazda CX-9 are MSRP and adding the destination fee will cost you an additional $1,375.

2023 Mazda CX-9 Handling And Driving Impressions

Slot the CX-9 into Drive and you might forget that this car is now already seven years old. Unlike so many other SUVs of its ilk, it's not cumbersome to drive and exhibits an athleticism that missing from most similarly priced rivals except ones with Mazda badges. The steering doesn't chatter away like that of a Miata, but exhibits an alertness and accuracy that makes piloting the CX-9 fun, a welcome surprise in an era when so many SUVs' steering wheels seem to be connected to the front wheels more by luck than linkage. The suspension initially feels firm and this aids cornering composure and mitigates body roll, but it rarely lapses into harshness, even on badly scarred roads. The driving experience alone will endear the CX-9 to enthusiastic drivers and we applaud Mazda for offering fun and comfort in a single package. The engine is average for the class and not all that powerful, but it has a nice wedge of turbocharged mid-range torque that motivates it with perfectly adequate vigor.

Verdict: Is The 2023 Mazda CX-9 A Good SUV?

Considering its advanced age, the CX-9 is still an excellent SUV and the new Touring spec is especially attractive at the price. It still offers a vastly more rewarding driving experience than many of the SUVs in this class and ranks among the best in terms of safety as well. Add to these pluses an upscale interior made from top-class materials and the CX-9 hides its age very well. Its biggest stumbling block is its bigger CX-90 sibling. It does everything the CX-9 does, but with better performance and economy thanks to its buttery-smooth hybridized six-cylinder engine, while offering a smidge more space too. Except for the very attractive way the Touring trim is now specced compared to the base CX-90, the CX-9 has now been outclassed by one within its own family.

What 2023 Mazda CX-9 Model Should I Buy?

The CX-9 makes perfect sense in its new entry-level Touring format. Although it comes within $1k of the price of the base six-cylinder CX-90 Turbo Select, it's still cheaper, and its new features this year mean that it is better equipped than the base CX-90 too. For example, it comes with a power sunroof, leather upholstery, and a wireless charging pad, none of which are standard on the CX-90 Turbo Select. It's harder to make a case for the more expensive models and, at its 2023 spec level, the Touring is the pick of the bunch, or we'd rather go for a CX-90.