2014 Mazda CX-9 Reviews

The top-of-the-line model for Mazda's largest SUV is a stunning entry and showcases serious style in a market where SUVs can lean towards boxy and rugged. For those wanting the practicality and space of an SUV but something that feels elegant, this might just be the ticket.

A big family means lots of kids, lots of friends, and lots of activity. We've lined up two of the best three-row SUVs on the market to assess their relative merits, and hopefully make your next transport decision easier.

The difference in looks between the Toyota Kluger GXL Hybrid and Mazda CX-9 GT SP is like chalk and cheese, day and night, Morrison and Keating... but which is better for your family in terms of practicality, safety, efficiency and daily driving?

The Mazda CX-9 scored a minor update for 2021 and the most surprising part of that facelift was the Azami LE. The top-of-the-range Azami does well for Mazda but obviously someone asked customers some questions relating to the middle seat in the back and the company discovered some people are willing to pay more for less. Seats, that is.

The Mazda CX-9 has had a slight makeover, and it's turned an already family friendly car into something even better. Will this propel it far above the rest of the field or has the field caught up?

The Mazda CX-9 is a stalwart in the Large SUV segment, with its seven-seat versatility helping it to become a true family favourite. But, it's getting older, so it's been given an update for 2021, one which has ushered in the surprise option of six seats. Yep, it just got even more luxurious.

The seven-seat GT sits above the entry-level Sport and below the flagship Azami in the Mazda CX-9 range, with it priced from $62,990 plus on-road costs with front-wheel drive, or $66,990 with all-wheel drive.Standard equipment includes dusk-sensing LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, 20-inch alloy wheels, a hands-free power-operated tailgate, a sunroof, keyless entry, push-button start, paddle-shifters, a 9.0-inch central display, satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, digital radio, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a head-up display, a wireless smartphone charger, three-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats with heating, heated outboard rear seats and 'Natural Stone' or black leather upholstery.New for 2021 is the GT-based GT SP, which bundles in black 20-inch alloy wheels and side-mirror caps as well as burgundy leather upholstery and red stitching for $500 more.ANCAP awarded the CX-9 its maximum five-star safety rating in 2016. Advanced driver-assist systems in the GT extend to front and rear autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, traffic sign recognition, high-beam assist, driver attention alert, a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.All grades are powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, which produces 170kW of power and 420Nm of torque. With a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission as standard, Mazda claims the CX-9 consumes 91 RON petrol at 8.4L/100km (FWD) or 9.0L/100km (AWD) during a combination of urban and highway driving.

The seven-seat Sport is the entry-level grade in the Mazda CX-9 range, with it sitting below the Touring and priced from $45,990 plus on-road costs with front-wheel drive, or $49,990 with all-wheel drive.Standard equipment includes dusk-sensing LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, 18-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, a 7.0-inch central display, satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, digital radio, a six-speaker sound system, a head-up display, three-zone climate control and black cloth upholstery.ANCAP awarded the CX-9 its maximum five-star safety rating in 2016. Advanced driver-assist systems in the Sport extend to front and rear autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, traffic sign recognition, high-beam assist, driver attention alert, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors.All grades are powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, which produces 170kW of power and 420Nm of torque. With a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission as standard, Mazda claims the CX-9 consumes 91 RON petrol at 8.4L/100km (FWD) or 9.0L/100km (AWD) during a combination of urban and highway driving.

The seven-seat Touring sits above the entry-level Sport and below the mid-range GT in the Mazda CX-9 range, with it priced from $53,490 plus on-road costs with front-wheel drive, or $57,490 with all-wheel drive.Standard equipment includes dusk-sensing LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, push-button start, paddle-shifters, a 9.0-inch central display, satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, digital radio, a six-speaker sound system, a head-up display, three-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats with heating, and black leather upholstery.ANCAP awarded the CX-9 its maximum five-star safety rating in 2016. Advanced driver-assist systems in the Touring extend to front and rear autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, traffic sign recognition, high-beam assist, driver attention alert, a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.All grades are powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, which produces 170kW of power and 420Nm of torque. With a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission as standard, Mazda claims the CX-9 consumes 91 RON petrol at 8.4L/100km (FWD) or 9.0L/100km (AWD) during a combination of urban and highway driving.

The seven-seat Azami is the flagship grade in the Mazda CX-9 range, with it sitting above the GT and priced from $66,190 plus on-road costs with front-wheel drive, or $70,625 with all-wheel drive.Standard equipment includes dusk-sensing adaptive LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, Bright 20-inch alloy wheels, a hands-free power-operated tailgate, a sunroof, keyless entry, push-button start, paddle-shifters, a 9.0-inch central display, satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, digital radio, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a head-up display, a 7.0-inch multifunction display, a wireless smartphone charger, three-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats with heating, heated outboard rear seats and 'Pure White' or 'Walnut Brown' quilted Nappa leather upholstery.New for 2021 is the Azami-based Azami LE AWD six-seater, which replaces the middle bench with two power-adjustable captain’s chairs with heating and cooling plus a dedicated centre console for $3250 more.ANCAP awarded the CX-9 its maximum five-star safety rating in 2016. Advanced driver-assist systems in the Azami extend to front and rear autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, traffic sign recognition, high-beam assist, driver attention alert, surround-view cameras and front and rear parking sensors.All grades are powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, which produces 170kW of power and 420Nm of torque. With a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission as standard, Mazda claims the CX-9 consumes 91 RON petrol at 8.4L/100km (FWD) or 9.0L/100km (AWD) during a combination of urban and highway driving.