Why the 2023 Mazda CX-9 Gets the Car Critics Excited

Isn’t it nice to know you can still get a family-sized SUV that gets decent gas mileage and is safe, stylish, fun to drive and has the interior feel of a luxury brand? The 2023 Mazda CX-9 is all that and more.

2023 Mazda CX-9 by the Numbers:

5 trim levels, each with more features: Touring, Touring Plus, Carbon Edition, Grand Touring and Signature
2.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine that gets 227 hp and 310-lb-ft of torque on 87-grade gas or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on 93-grade gas
EPA-rated at 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway
Seats 6 or 7 with mid-row captain’s chairs standard on Touring, Carbon Edition and Signature, optional on Touring Plus and Grand Touring which have bench seating.

Safety Is a Priority
The CX-9 has abundant safety features: adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning, forward collision mitigation and lane keeping assistance. Carbon Edition and above have driver attention warning, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive headlights and rear automatic braking to prevent rear collisions.

21st-Century Technology
A 10.25-inch infotainment system display with smartphone integration. Standard with head-up display on Grand Touring and Signature trims. Traffic-sign recognition added to Grand Touring and Signature trims. Lower levels come with 6-speaker audio system; Carbon Edition and above come with 12-speaker Bose premium audio and satellite radio. Touring and Touring Plus have 1st and 2nd-row USB ports; 3rd-row USB ports on Carbon Edition and above. Mazda’s Connected Services suite gives remote access to helpful features like remote start and locking.

Fun, fun, fun
Critics are unanimous in saying the 2023 Mazda CX-9 is fun to drive. Car and Driver said, “It won’t trick you into thinking it’s a Miata, but the CX-9 embodies the spirit of Mazda’s lovable sports car…” According to kbb.com, “Combine excellent steering feel, standard all-wheel drive, a snappy transmission and myriad other factors … it adds up to a je ne sais quoi not often found in a car — and almost never found in a mainstream 3-row SUV … .”

Comfortable – Even Luxurious
The 2023 Mazda CX-9’s cabin is “luxury-level quiet,” according to Edmunds, and “the interior closely resembles a luxury-class cabin thanks to exquisite materials, uniform gaps and clean elegant design.” Privacy glass is standard, as is leather upholstery and power-adjusted front seats, sunroof, and powered liftgate. On Touring Plus and above you get ventilated front seats and the Signature trim coms with wood trim and quilted leather upholstery with piping.

In short, the 2023 Mazda CX-9 is everything a family wants or needs in a larger SUV. You can see and drive one at Schomp Mazda. We’re always eager to show off why the 2023 Mazda CX-9 is a great choice!