The second-generation Mazda CX-9 has been with us for quite some time, which means an all-new model will soon replace it. In fact, the 2024 CX-90 will serve as Mazda’s flagship in the U.S., and the CX-9 is already slated for discontinuation after the 2023 model year. The Mazda CX-9 is an excellent Mid-size three-row SUV, but in terms of sales, it never really matched the Toyota Highlander or Ford Explorer.
With a focus on sportiness and a luxurious feel, the CX-9 was more of an emotional purchase rather than offering the best in terms of space or practicality. Do you also know what it offers in spades? Reliability The second-generation CX-9 is one of the most reliable midsize SUVs out there, and here’s why it’s worth buying one in 2023.
He stuck with a tried and tested formula
Mazda CX-5 engine battery
The Mazda CX-9 might be new when it came out in 2016, but the transmission and Skyactiv platform had already been in production for a couple of years when it debuted. That 2.5 liter turbo engine? It’s the same engine you’d find in the CX-5, CX-50, Mazda 3 and Mazda 6, albeit with some design tweaks to accommodate a turbocharger. Even the six-speed automatic that comes with it is the same one used since the first generation CX-5.
A 3/4 front studio shot of a 2021 Mazda CX-9 Carbon Edition
So what’s the advantage of using components that have been in production for years? It simply means that at this point, most, if not all, of the potential kinks and production errors in these components have been resolved, and this is reflected in this CarComplaints statistic. The second-generation Mazda CX-9 appears to be more reliable compared to the first-generation model when the Japanese automaker was still owned by Ford. Also, the newer and newer CX-9s experienced far fewer issues compared to the first batch of vehicles, which again isn’t surprising since that’s when many bugs still haven’t been ironed out and potential production errors.
However, there is a recently discovered problem with Mazda’s 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, which is fitted to the CX-9, CX-5, CX-50, Mazda 3 and Mazda 6. Mazda apparently issued a service bulletin. (TSB) to the NHTSA that the 2.5-liter turbo may have a tendency to consume engine oil, although the cause had not been identified at the time of the TSB’s release. The TSB is limited to the 2021 model year of the Mazdas listed above, and because it does not affect the safety or reliability of the vehicle, owners can still drive their turbocharged Mazdas as intended.
Plenty of spare parts
Interior of a 2023 Mazda CX-9 Signature with a driver behind the wheel
There’s also another benefit to sticking to a familiar formula: replacement parts. CX-9 components have been produced for so long that there are already many replacement parts available not only at your local Mazda dealer, but also at other stores in your city. And not only mechanical parts will be in abundance. Mazda is quite slow to produce new infotainment or technology features in their vehicles, which means replacement electronic parts will also be plentiful, as well as being inherently durable.
How does the CX-9 perform in the real world?
A child gets into the third row of the 2023 Mazda CX-9 Signature
It is difficult to measure reliability based on the experience of a single owner. To objectively find out the reliability of the CX-9, we need to look at sources such as Consumer Reports. In 2020 and 2022, Mazda was rated as the most trusted car brand in the United States. Likewise, the 2022 Mazda CX-9 has received a perfect 5 out of 5 for Overall Vehicle, as well as a perfect 5 for Predicted Reliability.
On YouTube, an owner named Chris who has a YouTube channel called GQ37 uploaded a video about his four years of ownership of the Mazda CX-9. He bought a top trim 2016 CX-9 Signature with the tan nappa leather interior, real rosewood trim and other niceties. Depending on the model year, that would mean it’s one of the first batch of CX-9 owners, and typically a newly released car will be the most susceptible to early production issues. In this case, its four-year ownership since the video was posted in October 2020 has been almost trouble-free, with only minor issues such as the paint on the wheels starting to wear off and a noise from click on the rear brakes.
Some of his other gripes revolve around how the Mazda Connect infotainment system isn’t as intuitive when entering a navigation location, and also how he’d rather the touchscreen could be used even while on the move, but as we know Mazda, they would. prefer that you use the rotary controller. Although this is all more about its design than the actual vehicle being problematic.
What do owners think of their CX-9?
Front of the 2023 Mazda CX-9 Signature
Customer satisfaction with the CX-9 is also very high. Of course, it helps that Mazda’s premium push made the CX-9 feel like an affordable luxury car, and that’s reflected in its excellent class-leading interior build quality. More at Edmonds, that same sentiment is largely echoed by real-world CX-9 owners. Someone even wrote that the owner traded in a sleek 2019 Lincoln Nautilus for a 2021 Mazda CX-9 Carbon Edition. The owner had no regrets, and he doesn’t even miss the Lincoln’s bigger V-6.
Interior of the 2023 Mazda CX-9 Signature
Overall, the Mazda CX-9 is worth buying even in 2023. It’s mostly reliable, especially if you avoid the 2021 model year with oil consumption issues. What you get is a mid-size SUV that might not be the best when it comes to practicality, but in return, you get a sporty and luxurious SUV on the inside. The CX-90 may be a big step forward with its plug-in hybrid or inline-six engine, but it also costs a lot more than before. And since it’s also Mazda’s first all-new vehicle, there may be initial production issues that may not yet be resolved.
