2019 Mazda CX-9

With each successive model year, the second-generation Mazda CX-9 midsize crossover SUV has benefited from refinements, technology updates and performance improvements. The 2019 Mazda CX-9 is no different, with a host of improvements led by the availability of Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™. Additional updates include ventilated front seats, 360° View Monitor and a refined, retuned suspension. Mazda’s engineers could have left well enough alone for their award-winning family vehicle but instead continue to make meaningful improvements to benefit drivers and passengers in all three rows.

Mazda’s flagship, three-row crossover SUV, the 2019 CX-9, continues to deliver a premium, stylish driving experience for those wanting an award-winning family vehicle.

Over the years, the CX-9 has collected a long list of accolades; being lauded as a Car and Driver “10 Best” winner in its trucks and SUVs competition, North American Utility of the Year finalist, World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year finalist and WardsAuto “10 Best Interiors” and “10 Best Engines” awards recipient.

The 2019 CX-9 brings numerous, meaningful improvements to benefit the driver and passengers in all three rows. Headlining those changes are the available, factory-equipped Apple CarPlayTM and Android AutoTM infotainment technologies in CX-9 Touring trim levels and above, a reconfigurable 7.0-inch TFT gauge display, 360° View Monitor and ventilated front seats. Every aspect of this vehicle is designed with the driver in mind, from the technology to the interior ergonomics to the i-ACTIVSENSE safety features.

Exclusive to the top-trim CX-9 Signature is available Auburn-colored Nappa leather seating surfaces, Santos Rosewood interior trim from Japanese premium guitar-maker Fujigen and aluminum interior accents. The focus for CX-9 continues to be authenticity; an experience rather than simply another commodity conveyance.

Living a busy life, balancing work and family, is common for those striving for the best of the best. Likewise, Mazda designers and engineers, uphold high standards when showcasing the attentions to details on the CX-9. Not merely a people-mover, design elements inside and out work harmoniously to create an alluring environment that entices the feeling of getting in and driving. Match that with the turbocharged SKYACTIV-G 2.5T engine, G-Vectoring Control vehicle dynamics enhancements and available predictive i-ACTIV all-wheel drive and the CX-9 is a vehicle ready to deliver a thrilling driving experience – for the whole family.

 

WHAT’S NEW?

Here’s an at-a-glance list of what’s new for the 2019 Mazda CX-9

– New Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ infotainment technologies on Touring trim level and above

– SiriusXM® 3 Year Traffic and Travel Link Subscription level and above Includes information for:

– Traffic

– Weather

– Sports Scores

– Fuel Prices

– Parking

– New reconfigurable 7.0-inch TFT gauge display on Grand Touring trim level and above

– New 360° View Monitor on Grand Touring trim level and above

– New ventilated front seats on Grand Touring trim level and above

– New frameless rearview mirror on Touring trim level and above

– New power-folding door mirrors on Grand Touring trim level and above

– Updated Santos Rosewood interior trim on Signature trim level

– New Signature trim level badge

– Retuned suspension and chassis for improved performance and ride comfort

– Touring Premium Package now includes SiriusXM® 3 Year Traffic and Travel Link Subscription

 

PREMIUM STYLING

A treat to drive and a treat to ride in. Since the second generation CX-9 made its debut, it has been positioned to provide the utmost in premium driving experiences. Mazda has continually looked to refine and introduce more features to heighten the ambience. From a turbocharged engine to a sophisticated interior, Mazda designers and engineers infuse their passions with every attention to detail, achieving the level of craftsmanship that can be appreciated by all.

The fluid exterior lines of the CX-9 give it an appearance of movement, even while standing still. This is an example of Mazda’s KODOSoul of Motion design philosophy, which focus on creating a aesthetically pleasing emotions that entices the CX-9 to be driven. Mazda vehicles are more than a means of transportation, they are a work of art.

Once seated, passengers notice a vertically stacked center console with details that wrap around from the dashboard to the rear seats, designed to envelop passengers in comfort and serenity. A sweeping single piece of aluminum adorns the dashboard and helps emphasizing the cabin’s width. Satin and polished finishes on the aluminum plinth evoke Japanese craftsmanship and are inspired by Japan’s famous hand-made knives.

Further heightening its elegancy is the 2019 CX-9 Signature trim level that features a new Signature badge located on the rear liftgate. This top-trim level features premium elements such as an updated Santos Rosewood trim on the center console and front of the cabin, supplied by premium guitar-maker Fujigen. Supple Auburn Nappa leather covers seating surfaces with a modern design that is also evocative of bespoke horse saddles—a subtle nod to Mazda’s Jinba Ittai—“horse and rider as one”— philosophy. Jinba Ittai represents the notion that drivers should have utter confidence and control in their vehicles.

 

HIGH QUALITY TECH

With today’s ever-more-connected lifestyles, information flows faster than ever and a little electronic device that can fit into one’s pocket can unlock the answers to so many unknowns, from directions to dinner plans.

A component to streamlining these experiences has come with the advent of smartphone mirroring—Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™. New for the 2019 CX-9 Touring trim levels and above, these two platforms integrate smartphones into the MAZDA CONNECT™ infotainment platform to help minimize distraction and amplify fitting the needs of a busy lifestyle. In the latest version of MAZDA CONNECT™, Mazda’s engineers have combined the functionality of Apple CarPlay™ or Android Auto™ to complement the multi-function Commander scroll knob and shortcut buttons. By adhering to Mazda’s Proactive Safety Philosophy, the system is designed with the intention of minimizing distractions, maximizing attention to the road and allowing drivers and passengers to enjoy the apps their phones have to offer.

MAZDA CONNECT™ is featured on the available 8-inch, fullcolor touchscreen display and adds a few more additions to the 2019 CX-9. The new 360° View Monitor, first seen in the 2018 Mazda6 Signature midsize sedan, is available to help with parking situations. Also available is SiriusXM® 3 Year Traffic and Travel Link Subscription, which is provides subscription-based connected data services for traffic, local and national weather, fuel pricing, sports scores and nearby parking.

Grand Touring and Signature trim levels are equipped with a windshield-projected Active Driving Display with Traffic Sign Recognition. Information projects directly onto the windshield, one to four degrees below the driver’s immediate line of sight and with an 8.5 feet focal distance, to allow the driver to keep his or her focus on the road. It can display information such as navigation directions, lane guidance, street names, prevailing speed limits, braking warnings, advanced Blind Spot Monitoring and Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop and Go function. A new 7-inch TFT reconfigurable gauge cluster display provides even more vehicle information that the driver can easily view.

The BOSE® Premium Sound 12-speaker system was custom-engineered for the second-generation CX-9 and delivers outstanding clarity, image and range. Having been benchmarked against stereos from ultra-premium crossover utility vehicles using several different audio formats, the speaker system includes radio and both full and compressed digital formats.

The BOSE® system in CX-9 was optimized to complement compressed audio formats—often the go-to for many people— and transmit it with fuller sound to better demonstrate how the artist meant for their music to be heard, regardless of audio format. BOSE® sound engineers worked with Mazda’s development team to acoustically tune the CX-9’s interior, even collaborating on the design of the speaker grilles on the instrument panel so that they optimized the audio dispersion of the BOSE® silk-domed tweeters behind them.

Altogether, the technologies allow an unfettered driving experience while still allowing for the needs and wants of today’s drivers and passengers.

SAFETY AND CONFIDENCE

Especially when precious cargo is on board, focusing on the road and avoiding potential hazards becomes even more important. To help ensure the entire family remains safe, Mazda takes a serious role in building safe vehicles to enjoy on the road.

Mazda’s Proactive Safety Philosophy is based around empowering the driver with a nimble, stable, intuitive vehicle to help avoid accidents. From there, i-ACTIVSENSE safety systems provide assistance, such as Smart City Brake Support and Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, which are standard on all CX-9 models. A new feature for the 2019 CX-9 is the addition of seat belt reminders and passenger detection sensors for the second and third row seats.

2019 CX-9’s i-ACTIVSENSE suite of safety features include:

– High Beam Control

– Hill Launch Assist

– Lane-Keep Assist

– Lane Departure Warning

– Mazda Radar Cruise Control with new Stop and Go function Smart City Brake Support

– Smart Brake Support

– Distance Recognition Support System and Forward Obstruction Warning

– Adaptive Front-lighting System

– High Beam Control

– Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross

-Traffic Alert

TURBOCHARGED DRIVING EXPERIENCE

A smooth driving experience helps make the vehicle feel like an extension of the driver. When a driver puts his or her foot down on the accelerator, a vehicle should do what the driver expects, harmoniously working to find the right gear at the right engine rpm to deliver the performance called upon for a given situation.

Throughout the SKYACTIV engine family, Mazda aims to offer a combination of performance and fuel efficiency. And Mazda’s engine development philosophy is to offer both by combining the right engine size with technologies that best suit each vehicle. Mazda continues this combination of performance and efficiency with the turbocharged SKYACTIV-G 2.5T, which was developed to provide ample acceleration from just off idle all the way to redline—without having to hunt through the gears, designed around effortless acceleration from a standstill on American roads.

Turbocharged engines often promise both effortless acceleration and high fuel efficiency, but oftentimes, in the real world, their efficiency is not much better than a largerdisplacement engine. Turbocharged engines can also “lag” before their turbocharger spools up, creating a sluggish, disappointing driving sensation when power is called upon. However, Mazda’s SKYACTIV-G 2.5T is a realization of a combination of performance and fuel efficiency. as well as spry acceleration, featuring a host of technological advancements to achieve this goal.

One novel piece of technology is Mazda’s Dynamic Pressure Turbo, which has the ability to vary the degree of exhaust pulsation depending on engine speed. The system routes engine exhaust to the turbocharger’s turbine through smaller ports at low rpm. It works similarly to when one might place his or her thumb on a garden hose, creating a strong amount of pressure through a smaller outlet. This allows the turbocharger to spool up quickly, creating boost—up to 1.2 bar (17.4 psi) of pressure. Mazda engineers have found the Dynamic Pressure Turbo to demonstrate a 20- to 25-percent quicker response than a twin-scroll turbocharger at engine speeds below 1,500 rpm, helping create a sensation of effortless power delivery not unlike a much larger, naturally aspirated engine.

When the engine is in the heart of its rev range, it opens up secondary valves, allowing for greater amounts of exhaust gas to pass through the turbocharger. The system is complemented by the 2.5-liter engine that already benefits from more torque at atmospheric pressure than a comparable 2.0-liter by virtue of its size.

Further assisting CX-9 to maximize turbocharger efficiency is a 4-3-1 exhaust. With this setup, the exhaust from the middle two cylinders (2 and 3) is joined into a single port, while the exhausts from the outer cylinders (1 and 4) each have their own ports. These three ports come together at the entrance to the turbocharger’s exhaust side, where there is always one exhaust pulse arriving every 180 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Not only does this very compact manifold keep the exhaust pulses separate for maximum energy extraction, it also harnesses each exhaust pulse to suck the residual exhaust from the adjacent ports.

In other measures to increase fuel-efficiency, SKYACTIV-G 2.5T employs the efficient combustion of Mazda’s SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine and marries it to a cooled exhaust gas recirculation system, which helps prevent burning excessive amounts of fuel when the engine is running at higher temperatures. In many turbocharged cars, heat is controlled through adding more fuel to the combustion chamber—called fuel enrichment. Mazda’s cooled exhaust gas recirculation reduces the need for that, lowering exhaust temperatures by as much as 212 degrees F, with cooled air comprising as much as 15 percent of the fuel mixture. That, in turn, allows Mazda to run its 10.5:1 compression ratio— among the highest of any turbocharged vehicles on sale today. The cooler exhaust gases also help maintain catalytic converter long-term durability.

The SKYACTIV-G 2.5T is a technological tour de force that produces 310 lb-ft of torque at a low 2,000 rpm and 250 horsepower at 5,000 rpm on 93-octane gasoline (227 horsepower on 87-octane gasoline).

When coupled with a weight reduction of approximately 200 lbs. versus the first-generation, the 2019 CX-9 boasts improvements in driver control, chassis dynamics and performance—all leading to a greater sense of confidence from behind the wheel.

PREDICTIVE i-ACTIV AWD

Mazda’s predictive i-ACTIV AWD implements a host of sensors that were already integrated into vehicles for other functions and channeling the information they presented such as ambient temperature, steering wheel angle, longitudinal grip, brake fluid pressure and even windshield wiper movement. In all, i-ACTIV AWD brings sensors calculating 27 different factors together to paint a picture of road conditions and direct torque to the rear wheel as necessary, feeding the information through two processors at more than 200 times per second to predict what the driver may face on a slick road in the winter or in heavy rain.

In fact, the whole system works so quickly that changes in power distribution are almost imperceptible. Because of its processing power, i-ACTIV AWD can even adjust power distribution to account for wheel slip in dry conditions. It can even route power to limit understeer during spirited driving, sending as much as 50 percent of CX-9’s power to the rear wheels through Mazda’s proven six-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission.

PACKAGING AND PRICING

With each successive model year, the second-generation Mazda CX-9 midsize crossover SUV has benefited from refinements, technology updates and performance improvements. The 2019 Mazda CX-9 is no different, with a host of improvements led by the addition of factory-equipped Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ infotainment technologies as standard equipment in Mazda CX-9 Touring trim level and above.

Mazda’s engineers could have left well enough alone for their award-winning family vehicle but instead continue to make meaningful improvements to benefit drivers and passengers in all three rows. Among the updates are a refined, retuned suspension that offers a smoother, quieter and more natural ride and greater sound suppression by way of a thicker headliner and thicker floor mats, which aid in ease of conversation and enjoyment.

The entry 2019 Mazda CX-9 Sport continues to offer strong value, with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, 7-inch MAZDA CONNECT™ infotainment screen with revised Commander control knob, cloth seats, LED headlights and tail lights, onetouch front and rear power windows, rear privacy glass, threezone automatic climate control, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio pairing, keyless entry and push-button start, Smart City Brake Support automatic emergency braking, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Available for CX-9 Sport is the Sport Package that includes a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, heated door mirrors, automatic headlights, High Beam Control, Lane-Keep Assist, Lane-Departure Warning, full-speed Mazda Radar Cruise Control, rain-sensing wipers and Smart Brake Support automatic emergency braking.

Upgrading from Mazda CX-9 Sport to the CX-9 Touring model adds standard automatic headlights, heated front side mirrors, power liftgate with adjustable height, rain-sensing windshield wipers, leather-trimmed seating surfaces, Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry, a power driver’s seat, 8-inch MAZDA CONNECT™ infotainment screen, two second-row USB ports (each 2.1 amps), HomeLink, High Beam Control, Lane-Keep Assist, Lane-Departure Warning, full-speed Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Smart Brake Support and Smart City Brake Support with Pedestrian Detection. New-for-2019 Mazda CX-9 Touring features include factoryinstalled Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ infotainment technologies and a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Optionally available, CX-9 Touring’s Premium Package equips the three-row crossover SUV with a power moonroof, BOSE® Premium 12-speaker audio system, SiriusXM with a threemonth trial subscription, LED fog lamps, Mazda Navigation, front parking sensors and a second-row retractable sunshades.

New for 2019, SiriusXM also comes with SiriusXM® 3 Year Traffic and Travel Link Subscription, which enables live traffic updates, weather, sports scores, fuel prices and nearby parking information.

Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring builds upon those features and adds a new 7-inch TFT reconfigurable gauge cluster display first seen in the 2018 Mazda6 midsize sedan, ventilated front seats, new power-folding door mirrors and a new 360° View Monitor.

These new features supplement Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring’s standard Adaptive Front-lighting System, chrome exterior accents, roof rails, windshield wipers de-icer, 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, Active Driving Display with Traffic Sign Recognition, heated steering wheel, LED door-pocket and overhead illumination and front and rear parking sensors. Mazda CX-9 Signature represents the flagship of the range with new rear exterior badging, LED grille accent lighting, Auburn Nappa leather seating surfaces, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with unique stitching, new Santos rosewood interior trim and supplemental interior lighting around the transmission shifter.