Pulse Reviews and Analysis
Best Mazda CX-9 and CX-90 Model Years (Ranked)
Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO, CRO SyndicateBest Mazda CX-9 and CX-90 Model Years (Ranked)
Direct Answer
The Best Overall Mazda three-row pick is the 2022 Mazda CX-9 Signature, the most refined and best-equipped version of Mazda's first-generation three-row crossover, with a 227-hp turbo 2.5-liter four (250 hp on premium fuel), genuine Nappa leather, and a settled, mature chassis after six years of small fixes.
The Best Value pick is the 2020 Mazda CX-9 Touring, which added a standard center display upgrade and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto while sitting in the depreciation sweet spot around $23,000-$28,000 used. This ranking covers both the discontinued CX-9 (2016-2023) and its successor the CX-90 (2024-present), ranked by reliability, drivetrain, value, and how each model year actually drives.
Every pick lists real engines, horsepower, and model-year facts.
How We Ranked These
We weighed each model year on reliability and known issues, powertrain and efficiency, interior quality and third-row usability, safety scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, tech and infotainment, and used-market value. Data comes from Car and Driver, MotorTrend, Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, **U.S.
News, Consumer Reports, the IIHS, the EPA, and Mazda USA**. A strong drivetrain cannot rescue a year plagued by infotainment bugs or a clunky transmission, so each year is judged as a whole package.
1. 2022 Mazda CX-9 Signature 🏆 BEST OVERALL
Engine: Turbo 2.5L I4, 227 hp (250 hp on 93 octane), 6-speed automatic, i-Activ AWD | Best for: Buyers who want a near-luxury three-row without a luxury badge
The 2022 CX-9 Signature is the most polished version of the first-generation three-row. By this point Mazda had ironed out early infotainment quirks and standardized the 10.25-inch center display with wireless Apple CarPlay. The Signature trim adds genuine Nappa leather, real rosewood trim, and LED accent lighting that shames many German rivals.
The turbo four pulls strongly off the line with 310 lb-ft of torque, and the chassis tuning is the sharpest in the class. The catch is a cramped third row and only a 6-speed automatic where rivals use 8- or 9-speeds.
Pros:
- Genuine Nappa leather and premium cabin materials
- 310 lb-ft of torque from the turbo four
- Best-driving three-row crossover under $50,000
Cons:
- Tight third row for adults
- Dated 6-speed automatic
Verdict: The most refined, most reliable CX-9 — the one to buy used.
2. 2024 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus
Engine: Turbo 3.3L inline-six, 340 hp, 8-speed automatic, AWD | Best for: Buyers wanting the newest tech and a bigger third row
The 2024 CX-90 launched Mazda's large-platform replacement with an all-new 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six making up to 340 hp and 369 lb-ft in Turbo S trim, paired with a proper 8-speed automatic and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The cabin grew, the third row finally fits real people, and a plug-in hybrid variant joined the lineup.
As a first-year model it carries some risk, with early owners reporting transmission shift roughness at low speeds that Mazda addressed via software, but the powertrain and space are a clear step up from the CX-9.
Pros:
- 340 hp inline-six with 48-volt assist
- Larger, genuinely usable third row
- Available plug-in hybrid
Cons:
- First-year transmission shift quirks
- Pricier than a used CX-9
Verdict: The most capable Mazda three-row, with first-year caveats.
3. 2021 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring
Engine: Turbo 2.5L I4, 227 hp (250 hp on premium), 6-speed auto, AWD | Best for: Loaded features without the Signature price
The 2021 CX-9 Grand Touring delivers most of the Signature's polish for less money. It includes leather seating, a power liftgate, a 12-speaker Bose system, adaptive cruise, and the same strong turbo four. By 2021 the 10.25-inch display with rotary controller was standard across upper trims.
Reliability for this year is strong, and depreciation has made it one of the smartest buys in the lineup.
Pros:
- Near-Signature equipment for thousands less
- Standard 10.25-inch display and Bose audio
- Proven, reliable turbo powertrain
Cons:
- Same tight third row
- No hybrid option
Verdict: The value sibling to the Signature.
4. 2020 Mazda CX-9 Touring 💎 BEST VALUE
Engine: Turbo 2.5L I4, 227 hp (250 hp on premium), 6-speed auto, FWD/AWD | Best for: Maximum value per dollar on the used market
The 2020 CX-9 Touring sits in the depreciation sweet spot. It gained the larger center display, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a refreshed interior, yet trades around $23,000-$28,000 used. The Touring trim adds heated seats, a power liftgate, and blind-spot monitoring while skipping the priciest luxury add-ons most buyers never miss.
Reliability is among the best of any CX-9 year.
Pros:
- Strong used pricing near $25,000
- CarPlay/Android Auto standard
- Excellent reliability record
Cons:
- Cloth-and-leatherette trim, not full leather
- 6-speed automatic
Verdict: The most car for the money in the entire range.
5. 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium
Engine: 2.5L I4 plug-in hybrid, 323 hp combined, 8-speed auto, AWD | Best for: Commuters who want electric range plus three rows
The 2025 CX-90 PHEV pairs a 2.5-liter four with an electric motor and a 17.8-kWh battery for roughly 26 miles of electric range and 323 hp combined. The 2025 model year benefits from software refinements that smoothed out the launch-year transmission complaints. It is the efficiency play in the lineup, useful for buyers who can charge at home and still want six or seven seats.
Pros:
- Roughly 26 miles of electric-only range
- Smoother than the 2024 launch year
- Federal and state PHEV incentives may apply
Cons:
- Premium over the gas inline-six
- Smaller real-world EV range than some rivals
Verdict: The efficiency choice among new CX-90s.
6. 2019 Mazda CX-9 Signature
Engine: Turbo 2.5L I4, 227 hp (250 hp on premium), 6-speed auto, AWD | Best for: Buyers who want the Signature look on a tighter budget
The 2019 CX-9 Signature introduced standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the top trim and kept the Nappa leather and rosewood cabin. It is older and has the smaller 8-inch display, but mechanically it is the same strong turbo four, and used prices are noticeably lower than 2021-2022 examples.
Pros:
- Nappa leather at a lower used price
- Standard CarPlay/Android Auto added this year
- Same proven turbo powertrain
Cons:
- Smaller 8-inch infotainment screen
- More miles on most examples
Verdict: A budget path into the Signature trim.
7. 2023 Mazda CX-9 Touring Plus
Engine: Turbo 2.5L I4, 227 hp (250 hp on premium), 6-speed auto, AWD | Best for: The newest CX-9 before it was discontinued
The 2023 CX-9 was the final model year of the first-generation three-row. The Touring Plus trim bundled the leather, Bose audio, and driver-assist features into a clean value package. Because it is the last year, it carries the lowest mileage of any used CX-9, but Mazda offered it in a slimmed trim lineup as it wound the model down.
Pros:
- Lowest-mileage used CX-9 available
- Strong final-year build quality
- Well-equipped Touring Plus trim
Cons:
- Highest used price among CX-9 years
- Reduced trim choices
Verdict: The freshest CX-9 if you want the older platform.
8. 2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring
Engine: Turbo 2.5L I4, 227 hp (250 hp on premium), 6-speed auto, AWD | Best for: Bargain hunters who want a loaded older example
The 2018 CX-9 Grand Touring added a standard rearview camera with parking sensors and refined the suspension tuning over the 2016 launch year. It is a genuine bargain now, often trading well under $20,000, while still offering leather, a power liftgate, and the same turbo four.
Pros:
- Often under $20,000 used
- Leather and full feature set
- Suspension refined over the 2016-2017 cars
Cons:
- Older infotainment hardware
- Higher mileage typical
Verdict: A loaded older CX-9 for a small budget.
9. 2026 Mazda CX-90 Turbo Preferred
Engine: Turbo 3.3L inline-six, 280 hp, 8-speed auto, AWD | Best for: New-car buyers wanting the six-cylinder for less
The 2026 CX-90 Turbo uses the lower-output tune of the inline-six, 280 hp and 332 lb-ft, which is plenty for most families and runs on regular fuel. By the third model year, Mazda's running updates have settled the powertrain behavior that frustrated early adopters. The Preferred trim keeps the price reasonable while retaining the larger cabin and modern safety suite.
Pros:
- 280-hp inline-six on regular gas
- Most launch issues resolved by 2026
- Modern safety and driver-assist suite
Cons:
- Less standard luxury than top trims
- New-car pricing
Verdict: The sensible new CX-90 buy.
10. 2016 Mazda CX-9 Signature
Engine: Turbo 2.5L I4, 227 hp (250 hp on premium), 6-speed auto, AWD | Best for: Collectors of the launch-year flagship at the lowest price
The 2016 CX-9 debuted the second-generation model and immediately won praise for its styling and turbo powertrain. The launch-year Signature brought the Nappa leather and rosewood that defined the model. It is the cheapest way into a CX-9 today, but it has the oldest infotainment, lacks standard Apple CarPlay, and has the most accumulated miles, so a careful pre-purchase inspection matters.
Pros:
- Cheapest CX-9 flagship available
- Same praised turbo powertrain and styling
- Award-winning launch design
Cons:
- No standard CarPlay/Android Auto
- Oldest tech and highest mileage
Verdict: A budget entry to the line, buy only after inspection.
How to Choose
Start with the platform question. The CX-9 (2016-2023) is a tidy, sharp-driving crossover with a tight third row and a proven turbo four. The CX-90 (2024-present) is larger, more powerful with its inline-six, and finally has a third row adults can use, but the early years carry first-model risk.
If you buy a CX-9, the 2020-2022 cars are the sweet spot: refined, reliable, and depreciated. If you buy a CX-90, the 2026 model year has the fewest growing pains, while the PHEV rewards home chargers. Budget shoppers should target the 2018 or 2020 CX-9, which deliver leather, a turbo engine, and strong safety for well under thirty thousand dollars.
FAQ
Is the Mazda CX-9 or CX-90 more reliable? The CX-9 has a longer track record and its 2019-2022 years are the most proven. The CX-90 is newer with first-year software fixes already applied; by the 2026 model year it has settled considerably, but the CX-9 currently holds the edge on documented reliability.
Does the turbo engine require premium fuel? No. The CX-9 turbo four makes 227 hp on regular and 250 hp on 93-octane premium. The CX-90 inline-six runs on regular, with the Turbo S tune rewarding premium with its full 340 hp.
How many people fit in the third row? The CX-9 third row is best for children or short trips. The CX-90 third row is meaningfully larger and seats adults more comfortably, one of the main reasons to step up to the newer model.
Which year is the best value used? The 2020 CX-9 Touring is the value standout, combining modern infotainment, strong reliability, and used pricing in the mid-twenties, making it the smartest money in the lineup.
Bottom Line
For most buyers, the 2022 CX-9 Signature is the one to own: it is the most refined, most reliable version of Mazda's praised three-row, and depreciation makes a near-luxury cabin attainable. Shoppers chasing the lowest cost should grab the 2020 CX-9 Touring, while anyone needing a roomier third row and the latest tech should look at the 2026 CX-90 Turbo or the 2025 CX-90 PHEV.
Match the platform to your space and budget needs and any of these picks will serve a family well.
Sources
- Car and Driver — Mazda CX-9 and CX-90 reviews and specifications
- MotorTrend — Mazda CX-90 first drive and long-term testing
- Edmunds — Mazda CX-9 model-year comparisons and used pricing
- Kelley Blue Book — CX-9 and CX-90 used values and ownership costs
- U.S. News & World Report — Mazda CX-9 and CX-90 rankings
- IIHS — Mazda CX-9 and CX-90 crash-test ratings
- EPA fueleconomy.gov — CX-9 and CX-90 fuel-economy figures
- Mazda USA — official model-year specifications and trim details