The crossover SUV is the golden goose in the automotive industry. As a result, every manufacturer has been producing ever-expanding numbers of them. But where others seek to expand, Mazda seeks to refine. The CX-9 has been around for a few years now, and it’s gotten better with every passing year. The results are vehicles like the award-winning CX-5 and CX-9, which critics tout as the best in their respective classes.
So how has Mazda CX-9 achieved the title of “10Best: Best SUV of 2020?” Let’s take a look.
Similar to past model years, the 2020 CX-9 comes in four trims. Each trim has an AWD variant, although the Signature trim only comes in an AWD version, foregoing the FWD option.
The CX-9 still has spacious three-row seating, a highly sought-after feature for car shoppers. Add to that the Captain’s Chair for the middle row that takes the seating capacity up from six to seven, and you’ve got yourself a dynamite contender. You won’t always be using those rear seats for seating, however. When folded down, cargo space is more than adequate. Behind the second row, there’s about 38.2 cubic feet available. Behind the first, you can expect 71.2 cubic feet of space. Family road trips are just as easily accommodated as that new fire pit and set of sinks are. If you need to move it, the CX-9 can do it.
The Mazda i-Activsense safety suite and driver assistance packages have both upgraded. Now included, standard, are: automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure-warning with lane-keeping assist. For more comfort, standard features include heated front seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic headlights, and heated exterior mirrors.
Schedule a test drive for the CX-9.