The end of an era can be a hard thing to experience sometimes as the forces of change cause things that we have become so familiar with to move away or leave. In the case of Mazda, the arrival of the 2024 Mazda CX-90 is forcing the CX-9 to enter the world of automotive retirement. However, with both the CX-9 and its replacement being sold at the same time for the immediate future in dealer showrooms, is the 2023 Mazda CX-9 still a viable purchase for a growing family? We wanted to find out
CX-9 Simplifies Its Trim Ladder, Embraces The Supporting Role
The CX-9 is going through its final model year with a simplified trim ladder that sees the Sport model axed which caused the Touring model to become the new base model. The exterior styling is still handsome, with our range-topping Signatre model featuring plenty of chrome trim to balance out its design-oriented exterior. The CX-90 has shinier clothes, but the CX-9 has aged gracefully, and it can still draw plenty of stares when gazed upon by curious observers.
Meanwhile, the interior is perhaps where the CX-9 also shows why the company made the decisions it made with the CX-90. The space is still handsome and filled with plenty of high-quality materials; however, the second and third-row seats are cramped for taller passengers, with the seats capable of being folded flat to help improve cargo space, which is woefully inadequate when all two rows are folded. Put them back up, and you’ll be impressed with how much comfort the seats themselves provide for first and second-row passengers. The third row is meant for children, but we’ll give the CX-9 a pass since many other three-row SUVs tend to follow the same script in this regard. A 10.3-inch infotainment screen is standard, but its not a touch unit, and buyers will have to use the large control wheel (for better or worse) to help navigate their way around.
While the exterior and interior of the CX-9 are a noticeable step backward when viewed with the CX-90, they also look relatively modern when viewed alongside some of its rivals. This could please some buyers who want a vehicle that still looks fresh but might not have the budget required to put a CX-90 in their driveway.
Four Cylinder CX-9 Performance Has Charm
Regarding performance hardware, the CX-90 has the edge, especially when specced out with the optional turbocharged inline-six. However, the 2023 CX-9 has familiarity while also displaying some of the risks that Mazda undertook when it came to creating its performance hardware. Unlike other SUV entries, the CX-9 has an all-four-cylinder engine lineup, with our Signature example being powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. Like other Mazda’s equipped with this engine, the power figure will depend on what kind of fuel the CX-9 is given to drink. Give it a steady stream of Premium, and you’ll get the full amount. However, if you give it unleaded fuel, performance will drop slightly to 220 hp.
A six-speed automatic is the lone transmission available on the CX-9, and it did a good job delivering smooth and consistent shifts, with our tester exhibiting plenty of poise when tasked with varying types of driving. We rarely caught it sleeping on the job, though it is a few gears short of matching some benchmarks in the segment. Braking was stable and controlled, but we wish the pedal had more feel, especially in abrupt stopping situations.
Value Quotient
With the 2024 Mazda CX-90 rapidly becoming more prevalent in dealer inventory, it’s becoming harder to find CX-9’s in dealer lots. That said, they are out there, and if you’re willing to put in a good search on Autotrader and even dealer websites, you’ll find that a base 2023 CX-9 Touring will start at $34,672 with a Touring Plus we found in Farmington Hills starting at $44,315. Signature models like our example had a base price of $48,460 when new, with our example ringing in at just under $50,000 due to its optional $595 Soul Crystal Red Metallic paintwork.
This pricing is considerably less than the CX-90, with a comparable Premium Plus model starting at $52,950. That’s a noticeable discount, and it allows the CX-9 Signature to be a great budget play for SUV buyers, especially those who want to try and go for maximum value to go along with their luxury SUV purchase. The CX-9 can also be a good pick for buyers who might not want to buy a first-year CX-90 since the CX-9 will have all the first-year teething pains sorted out by this point while also benefitting from refreshes aimed at keeping it fresh and addressing common issues.
As a result, while the 2023 CX-9 is preparing to play its swan song, it still has plenty of things to offer buyers, and if they are willing to give it a chance, this value-focused CUV play could be a great long-term investment for certain buyers.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.