Mazda CX-9 Pros and Cons: What To Know When Weighing Your Decision

in Car Comparisons
white Mazda CX-9

Mazda CX-9 by Ethan Llamas – CC BY-SA 4.0

The Mazda CX-9 is the adult version of the two-door sports car, offering a sleek and sporty ride in the body of a practical family SUV selection. It’s satisfying and offers some speedy perks to keep everyone happy. Of course, the Mazda CX-9 isn’t without its issues. Is it a good idea to invest in the Mazda CX-9, or should you look elsewhere? 

If you’re hunting for your next car and seriously thinking about the Mazda CX-9, let us help you with some of the prominent Mazda CX-9 pros and cons. These bring a complete image of the car, the good and bad, to help you make the best decision. Once you’re done reading, you should know if it’s your dream car or something to skip.

What We Love: Mazda CX-9 Pros

It’s always fun to dive into the best aspects of a car, so let’s examine the best in the Mazda CX-9 pros and cons. These help the family-oriented vehicle stand out from the competition. 

Excellent Acceleration and Sporty Feel

One of the best aspects of the Mazda CX-9 is the easy acceleration and overall sporty feel that comes with driving it. It’s very light on the road and will feel like you’re driving a much smaller machine than you are. The suspension is relaxed enough to get over bumpy roads yet firm enough to keep everything in one piece.

The steering does lack in some areas, but it offers unique control many competing crossovers do not offer. It’s enthusiastic and will practically glide around corners, which is great for speed and for keeping the entire family safe along the way.


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Fancy Interior

It’s easy to be impressed with the interior of the Mazda CX-9. It’s designed with upscale materials and created in a way that adds a significant wow factor. You’ll find additions like brushed aluminum, soft-touch-grained plastic, and genuine rosewood in the higher trims. It isn’t anything too far off of what you might see in a Mazda CX-9.

The appearance of the interior of the Mazda CX-9 isn’t too far off from what you might find in a fancier car like an Audi. It’s built to impress and that’s apparent, even though the inside is a bit smaller than other competitors.

Comfortable, Quiet Ride

You’ll find a ride that’s not only comfortable in the Mazda CX-9 - it’s also quiet. Although this feature seems like it should be a given in a vehicle, it’s rarer than you might think. Once the Mazda CX-9 reaches cruising speed, it will be quiet and enjoyable for the entire riding experience.

Comfortable second and third-row seats might not have the most room for passengers, but they are comfortable and offer just enough room for carry-ons. It will be an enjoyable experience for all.

Professional Stylings

Finally, the Mazda CX-9 offers an upscale design that is sure to turn heads down the road. It looks like a fancy vehicle, even if you have car seats and booster seats packed inside. The timeless design is sure to impress again and again, even as the years go by.

The sleek lines of the exterior aren’t a mistake and are intended to provide the Mazda CX-9 with a feeling of class. It’ll feel worth every single dollar spent.


HOW LONG DO MAZDA CX-9s LAST?

If you’re interested in this vehicle, it’s helpful to know what a typical lifespan looks like for this Mazda standout. You might wonder - how long do Mazda CX-9s last?


What We Dislike: Mazda CX-9 Cons

Of course, we can’t go through this piece without talking a little about the downsides of the Mazda CX-9 pros and cons. Let’s gloss over some items that might make some hesitant about the Mazda CX-9. 

Limited Accommodation in the Third Row

The Mazda CX-9 offers a comfortable interior, but it is a little smaller than other competitors. Unfortunately, that means the third row gets the short end of the stick. According to auffenbergmazda.com%3A%2041.0%20%2F%2039.4%20%2F%2029.7%20inches>), the third row provides 35.4 inches of headroom, 29.7 inches of legroom, and 40.1 inches of hip room for passengers.

These numbers are nearly 10 inches less than what is offered in the second and first rows. If you have kids in the back row, they should be okay. If you try to fit in full-sized adults, you will run into more trouble.

Lower Cargo Capacity Than Competition

Thanks to the smaller size of the car and the choice to add a third row, the cargo capacity of the Mazda CX-9 struggles. It provides a mere 14.4 cubic feet behind the third row - barely enough room to fit a few small suitcases.

It gets a little better when you fold down the second and third rows. The storage behind the second row is 38.2 cubic feet, while the area behind the first row is 71.2 cubic feet. Unfortunately, these options mean nothing if you need to fit a complete car of people. 

Lacking Horsepower

Finally, there could be a little more push in the horsepower of the Mazda CX-9. While it is sporty, it still doesn’t provide as much power as it feels like it should. Family drivers who want a little more speed will find themselves wanting a little something more.

According to caranddriver.com, the Mazda CX-9 can hit 0-60 mph in about 7.1 seconds. It hits a top speed of 155 mph. While these numbers are decent, there is a little left to be desired.


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Should You Buy a Mazda CX-9?

We’ve woven through some prominent Mazda CX-9 pros and cons, so now it’s time to answer one more question - should you get the Mazda CX-9 for yourself?

If you want a family car but want to disguise the vehicle’s purpose inside a sleeker body, the Mazda CX-9 is an excellent choice. It has a pep and offers the drive to prove it. However, it doesn’t have the most room inside and won’t get the power of a machine that cannot fit the entire family.

If you purchase the Mazda CX-9, avoid the 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012 years. They have serious issues and will cause more harm than good in your time as a driver.



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