End of an era for the Mazda CX-9. Still need a towbar for your Mazda CX-9. Maximum towing capacity?

End of an era for the Mazda CX-9. Still need a towbar for your Mazda CX-9. Maximum towing capacity?

The three-row SUV, which served out two generations: the TB chassis and TC from 2016, will be discontinued as Mazda introduces its new longitudinal platform and inline-six engine. Mazda confirmed that the CX-9 SUV will be discontinued after the last 2023 models run off the production line.

Let's have a closer look at the last 2023 CX-9 still currently available.

The CX-9 has long been the flagship of Mazda’s SUV lineup, the CX-9 is billed as Mazda’s largest, most luxurious and most practical vehicle designed to meet the needs of customers demanding a comfortable and spacious platform for their growing families.  The second-generation CX-9 demonstrated that Mazda could take on more expensive luxury SUVs, giving the brand confidence to move more upmarket.

With the choice of six or seven seats and petrol or diesel power, the CX-9 is a flexible family SUV perfectly suited to busy and varied lifestyles. Classic design, the choice of all-wheel-drive or front-wheel drive, and a spacious cabin round out this appealing all-rounder for larger families.

The CX-9 is one of the best-looking three-row SUVs out there. It has slim headlights and a shapely grille, which affords it a sporty look up front, and a body that isn't too boxy.

The adjustability of the front row is made easy with electric seat controls and memory recall, while controls fall neatly to hand. The gear selector is propped up on the centre console.

In the back, there’s also plenty of room, while the second row can slide forward and recline. There are three steps of outboard seat heating and air controls are found in the back of the centre console.

Further back, you press a one-touch button to fold and slide the second row forward for third-row access. There is a decent amount of room to squeeze through, even for adults. Mazda CX-9's interior still presents as a modern and upmarket space and it’s very comfortable. The seats are big and bulky with plenty of plush comfort for the whole family.  Once seated, the third row offers a comfortable amount of room, and there’s no doubt this is one of the more comfortable seven-seat SUVs on the market.

In terms of boot space, Mazda says the CX-9 offers 230L with the third row in play, which can expand to 810L once it’s folded flat to the second-row seat backs.  Need to tow extra gear or take your bikes along on the next family getaway?  Why not fit our Invisible Mazda CX-9 towbar? Mazda has rated the CX-9 for a maximum of 2000kgs capacity.

The latest Mazda Connect infotainment software is employed inside the CX-9 and it’s displayed on a 10.25-inch screen. Layouts are easy to follow and information is displayed in a clear and easy-to-see format.

Mazda continues to use a rotary dial to navigate the system, but it runs both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – both systems are far easier to use with your hand rather than a controller.

Despite its size, the CX-9 driving dynamic is remarkably smooth and goes to prove that large people movers can be exciting, too. Most notably, the 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine offers 170kW/420Nm of torque, which is more than enough to get you off the line and up to speed, with the six-speed automatic providing a silky-smooth driving quality. 

Around town, the CX-9 remains every bit as easy to pilot as a midsize or even compact SUV from Mazda’s lineup. This is down to the sturdy suspension system that manages to minimise body roll while ironing out severe bumps on the road, and the lightweight steering rack that makes low-speed manoeuvres and parking a simple task. 

The Mazda CX-9 was last safety-tested by ANCAP in 2016, which means its five-star rating is set to expire at the end of 2023.
The CX-9 boasts Smart Brake Support for drive and reverse (autonomous emergency braking), traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a rear-view camera. While the adaptive cruise-control system works well and responds quickly to what the car in front is doing.

The Mazda CX-9 is proof that families don’t need to make any major sacrifices when it comes to opting for a seven-seat SUV. Featuring some sleek styling inside and out, Mazda has designed the CX-9 to make each and every journey comfortable and refined, and as a complete package, it performs flawlessly. 

The CX-9 ticks the important boxes of space, practicality, safety, entertainment features and comfortable driving dynamics, all in a stylish package.  Considering the last few, Cx-9s left or already own the largest Mazda?  Why not increase its practicality by fitting an Invisible towbar, that will not detract from the CX-9s sleek looks?  Order your CX-9 towbar today.