2020 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD

2020 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD

As much as we'd all love to have a Miata for our daily driver, grown-up lives come with grown-up responsibilities—and the 2020 Mazda CX-9 SUV is a great compromise. Its sharp handling and gutsy turbocharged four-cylinder engine helps it channel Mazda's lightweight sports car while hauling the kids or taking home groceries from the supermarket. Swooping exterior styling wraps around an interior that would look at home in a luxury car, and Mazda offers plenty of tech features that SUV buyers want most. A suite of driver-assistance features is standard and a dash-top infotainment display provides access to media, maps, and more. All this comes with a few compromises, though, as the CX-9 has one of the least roomy third rows of seats and a smaller-than-average cargo capacity. As a result, the CX-9 was recently knocked off the pedestal we had placed it on by the Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade . What's New for 2020? Mazda has given the CX-9 several upgrades for 2020, not least of which is a standard suite of driver-assistance features called i-Activsense. The bundle includes automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Also now standard are heated front seats with power adjustments for the driver, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic headlamps, and heated exterior mirrors. Touring, Grand Touring, and Signature models now come with a larger 9.0-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a new key-fob design, and power-adjustable second-row seats. A new Touring Premium package adds second-row captain's chairs to the Touring, a feature that's now standard on the Grand Touring and Signature trims. Grand Touring models also come with heated captain's chairs and a power liftgate. The top-of-the-line Signature trim comes with a center console between the standard second-row captain's chairs and gains two new upholstery colors—Parchment or Deep Chestnut—both made from nappa leather. Pricing and Which One to Buy Sport: $34,835 Touring: $36,655 Grand Touring: $42,495 Signature: $47,160 If you can do without the heated second-row seats, we'd suggest sticking with the Touring trim. It offers plenty of niceties, including the new 9.0-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. To get the CX-9's new second-row captain's chairs—a feature many three-row SUV buyers want—the Touring Premium package costs an extra $2100 and also adds two additional USB ports in the third row, a Bose audio system, SiriusXM satellite radio, fog lamps, front and rear parking sensors, and second-row window sunshades. Engine, Transmission, and Performance In a segment where V-6 power is basic, Mazda took a risk by offering a turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the CX-9's sole powertrain in the hope of gaining a fuel-economy advantage. It sounds gutsy and managed an impressive result in our acceleration testing, where it scooted our Grand Touring test vehicle from zero to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. The 2020 CX-9 is clearly the driving enthusiast's family hauler. Surprisingly light on its feet, it often feels as if you're driving a smaller SUV. The suspension is firm, but it's still supple enough riding over rough stretches of road. While not as communicative as other Mazdas, the CX-9's steering still imparts vigor that's missing from other crossovers. The firm suspension and accurate steering culminate in superior cornering control. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG Apart from its solid acceleration performance, the CX-9 is, according to the EPA, more fuel efficient than many of its rivals. While 2020 figures have not been released, the 2019 model earned EPA estimates of 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive drops both of those figures by 2 mpg. In our real-world highway fuel-economy test, the all-wheel-drive CX-9 matched its 26-mpg rating. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo The CX-9's cabin wows with upscale materials and detailed styling, but compared with other SUVs in the segment, it's short on passenger and cargo space. Open the door and the CX-9's interior welcomes passengers with an upscale cabin that wouldn't look out of place in an Audi . Mazda has tastefully arranged soft-touch plastic with handsome graining, brushed aluminum, and, in our Signature-trim test car, genuine rosewood. The dashboard is handsome and features heavily contoured areas with either a 7.0- or 8.0-inch touchscreen sprouting from the top. The CX-9's smaller measurements mean real-world limitations. We managed to fit just two of our carry-on suitcases behind the Mazda's third row, which one-third of what the Ford Explorer could muster . The CX-9's second and third rows of seats fold easily for quick configuration changes, though, and the resultant load floor is flat, making it easy to load bulky items. With second- and third-row seats down, the CX-9 accommodated 25 of our carry-on cases. Infotainment and Connectivity All CX-9s come with Mazda's user-friendly infotainment system. Sport models have a 7.0-inch screen, while Touring, Grand Touring, and Signature models receive the 8.0-inch unit. The system can be controlled via the touchscreen, a rotary knob, or redundant buttons on the center console near the shifter; it also responds to voice commands. The software is easy to navigate and the graphics are crisp, especially on the larger screen. Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, HD radio, and onboard internet radio apps for Pandora, Stitcher, and Aha are standard. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features A Top Safety Pick+ honor from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is difficult to earn, but the Mazda scored well in its crash tests . The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also gave the CX-9 a five-star result . Key safety features include: Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Standard adaptive cruise control Warranty and Maintenance Coverage Mazda offers an adequate protection plan for buyers of new CX-9s. What it doesn't offer is something that both the GMC Acadia and the Toyota Highlander do: Complimentary scheduled maintenance. Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenance