CX-9

Make
Mazda
Segment
SUV

Japanese automaker Mazda is attempting to push itself upmarket as a more premium offering, a move that includes price increases across the lineup. This is true for the 2023 Mazda CX-9, which sees a price increase compared to the 2022 model. Last year saw the introduction of the Carbon Edition trim level and the Touring Plus, but this year actually sees a reduction in trim offerings.

The base Sport trim is gone, meaning the Touring is now the entry-level version starting at $38,750 (excluding $1,275 for destination and handling). This is a slight increase over the 2022 Touring model, which was priced at $37,430, and a hefty increase over the discontinued Sport at only $35,280.

Every CX-9 trim now comes with captain's chairs in the second row, providing seating for up to six passengers, but a rear bench seat is available if you need room for seven. Stepping up to the Touring Plus for $41,500 adds ventilated front seats, a power memory driver's seat, black 20-inch wheels, gloss black front grille, aluminum roof rails, and a frameless rearview mirror. The Carbon Edition costs $44,780, and includes sport elements such as red leather seats, aluminum interior trim, LED interior lights, and black metallic dash accents.

Moving up to the Grand Touring at $45,640 is where the CX-9 starts to get luxurious with automatic power-folding side mirrors, heated second-row seats, a 360-degree view monitor, Active Driving Display with traffic sign recognition, and navigation. Finally, the top Signature trim for $48,460 includes premium interior includes Nappa leather, Santos Rosewood interior trim, patterned aluminum, a power liftgate, and more.

As we wait for Mazda to reveal more premium hybridized products like the CX-70 and CX-90, the CX-9 soldiers on with a familiar 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Just like last year's model, it produces 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft when running on premium 93 octane gasoline. If you want to save some cash at the pump, the CX-9 runs on 87 octane, though output drops to 227 hp and 310 lb-ft. As of last year, all CX-9 trims send their power out to i-Activ all-wheel-drive.

Every CX-9 from the Touring to the Signature comes with Mazda's i-Activsense driver assist suite of safety features. These include helpful features such as adaptive cruise control with stop and go, smart braking with collision warning, city brake support with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist. With all that safety equipment, the CX-9 is one of only vehicles to score a "Good" rating in the new IIHS side impact test.

Mazda says the 2023 CX-9 will arrive at dealers in the fall of this year.