Rust in peace: End of the road for one of Mazda's most popular SUVs

Mazda Australia has confirmed that it's popular CX-9 will be axed in Australia before the end of the year, with the model to be effectively replaced by two new SUVs – the CX-90 and CX-80.

The CX-9 has proven a firm favourite with bigger Aussie families, with more than 6400 examples of the three-row SUV finding homes across 2022.

But plans to remove the CX-9 from sale in the USA at the end of 2023 set a clock ticking on the model's future in Australia, and now we know the SUV won't live on into 2024.

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That's not to say Mazda won't have a comparatively affordable three-row SUV on the market, with the CX-8 set to live on, at least for now, with an update to that model expected this year.

"The Mazda CX-9 became an instant hit and, more broadly, helped to lay the foundations for our 'Mazda Premium' approach," says Mazda Australia Marketing Director Alastair Doak.

"It has left an indelible mark in our line-up and continues to be universally loved for its quality, versatility, timeless design and signature driving dynamics."

After seven years and more than 50,000 total sales, the CX-9 is no more. Effectively replacing it is the CX-90, and the yet-to-be-revealed CX-80, which has now also been confirmed for a local launch.

The CX-9 has proven a firm favourite with bigger Aussie families.

What will change, though, is the cost of entry. The CX-60 kicks off at $59,900 before on-road costs, which means the CX-80 – which is designed to sit above that model – should start somewhere north of that. As it stands, the cheapest CX-9 Sport starts at $47,600, which means trading up to a CX-80 would see a price increase of at least $10,000.

But three-row options abound. Mazda says the idea here is not to lift prices across the board, but to offer choice to customers. With that in mind, the cheapest Mazda CX-8 Sport starts just north of $42,000.

If you have an eye on the Mazda CX-9, get your order in sharpish, with the model expected to be run out before being removed from sale entirely before the end of the year.