Mazda CX-9 TC (2016-2026)
Also referred to as: Mazda CX-9 TC 2025 and Mazda CX-9 TC 2027.57 reviews
A recall notice has been issued for MY2017 CX-9 models. Mazda will contact all affected owners, but to confirm if you are affected check your VIN at https://www.mazda.com.au/recalls/
Mazda CX9 not “saloon” like – We bought a Mazda CX9 to replace our Landcruiser 4WD when we ceased caravanning. The CX9 is an OK car but for the money we paid I expect much more of a “saloon” experience. I hoped it would be a lot quieter inside. Many years ago I used to own a Mitsubishi Magna SE and that is the quietest and smoothest car I have owned. I was hoping for something similar with the CX9 but in this regard it has been a disappointment. Show details
Well priced luxury and comfort – Purchased 2022 Azami-LE from Ringwood Mazda. Stunning vehicle. Amazing interior, we picked the Pure white nappa leather. Likes 1. Gorgeous exterior look, aggressive and edgy. 2. Fog lights 3. Adaptive Headlights work well 4. Multiple reverse and forward cameras. 5. Heated and cooled seating for front and back. 6. Large boot space without rear… Read more
seats 7. Programmable seating in the key fob 8. Very smooth driving experience 9. Adaptive cruise control works really well 10. Lane assist to great. 11. Great fuel economy (but need 98 octane) 12. Comfort, comfort comfort. 13. Comfort
Dislikes 1. No wireless CarPlay 2. Easy scratched piano black on the console 3. Only 4 seats with the LE version 4. Not much space left after rear seats up.
2019 Mazda CX9 Coolant leak/Head Issues – If you are reading this then you are contemplating buying a CX-9. In my ownership I would say it’s a beautiful car with awesome power, silky smooth like a European car and very luxurious with good quality materials. Now I am going to share my personal experience which I hope may help someone contemplating buying this car to avoid a potential… Read more
financial disaster. My car is a 2019 GT Spec with the 2.5T engine with a 5 year manufacturer warranty. Few months before my warranty was due to expire, I noticed coolant level dropping marginally. I checked for potential leaks and could not find any. Coolant levels should not drop and in my mind something was not right. So since warranty was expiring I thought better get this checked. Booked in the car and Mazda dealership reported car was okay however when doing a pressure test they noticed it was not holding pressure however they said drive it for another 1k and monitor.
So for the next 3 weeks I did as they told and yes it was loosing coolant weekly (I marked the correct level as a guide). In the meanwhile googled why CX9 loose coolant and I was shocked to find a Technical Service Bulletin from Mazda North America (bulletin No.01-013/21 issued 12/02/21) whereby US spec models: - 2019-2020 CX-5 SKYACTIV-G 2.5T vehicles with VINs lower than JM3KF******830243 (produced before Jun. 9, 2020) - 2016-2020 CX-9 SKYACTIV-G 2.5T vehicles with VINs lower than JM3TC******422801 (produced before Jun. 9, 2020) - 2018-2020 Mazda6 SKYACTIV-G 2.5T vehicles with VINs lower than JM1GL******523967 (produced before Mar. 25,2020)
Where Some vehicles may have coolant leaks at the cylinder head around the exhaust manifold. There may be cracks at the stud bolt hole or at the outside of the exhaust manifold. Google it and you will find the bulletin on line.
I went back to Mazda when my 1k was up and they quickly booked in the car and acknowledged there may be a serious problem and needs to be investigated further. Long story short, it was identified as a crack in the exhaust manifold, same as the US bulletin like for like. I brought the bulletin matter up but it was brushed aside as a US problem and OZ no such problems. I fail to understand when these cars are produced in Japan, how do exhaust manifolds differ between US/AUS. Anyway since my car has been serviced by Mazda from day 1 and I logged the complaint before the expiry of the Warranty and they had it on record, Mazda authorised the repairs at their cost, thank you Mazda. Now to access the head involved a full engine out, and full tear down of the engine. Its like walking into a loved one having open heart surgery. Had I been like 6-7 months out, I doubt Mazda would have come to the table as they might say its out of warranty and I would have been out of pocket thousands of dollars. These kind of complex repairs can only be done at Mazda dealerships as they have the tools and expertise. Normal garage would not take on such a big job as its time consuming and labour intensive having the car on the hoist for 2 mths plus.
So yes, this is my experience with this car and I narrowly escaped being out of pocket thousands because I picked up the problem immediately when I noticed something not right. Car is repaired now and running normal so far. So guys if you are looking at buying one, please have it inspected by Mazda, pay the inspection fee like $350 and have the car pressure tested as a minimum and or any other test they may want to carry out, small price to pay in consideration that you may have potential catastrophic engine failure and be out of pocket thousands (5-10k easily). Doing a pressure test, the car should hold pressure for more than 24 hrs. If it does not, walk away. If buying at a dealer make it a pre-condition that the car is inspected at Mazda to your satisfaction and don’t trust their 100 point check. It needs to be a 3rd party pre-purchase inspection and not a post purchase inspection. Be mindful extended warranties (check the fine print very very carefully and read the reviews on the net) they don’t cover water contamination. So if anything happens, its on you.
So please do your due diligence before you splash your hard earned cash. I am not rich so 5-10k repair bill would have killed me. Like I said Mazda was very good and repaired the car, only because in my opinion the car was unmolested and fully maintained by them. Had I maintained the car elsewhere, its probably a different story. Hope this helps someone. Don’t be put off with the CX9, it’s a bloody good car only thing I was unlucky to have purchased one with a supposedly know problem.
Reviews with attachments
I’m doubt but CX9 is beautiful to own and drive – We were looking for third row SUV as our family is growing fast. I have drive tested Palisade, Kluger, Sorento and Cx9 before ordering Cx9 in Feb 23 at 73k. One month later, Mazda officially discontinued Cx9, while I still waited for order which was delivered in April 23. I was pretty concerned at that time but after 7 month of owning we love it.… Read more
Cx9 is the best affordable third row Mazda has ever made. They no longer make affordable car as 6 inline hybrid in Cx90 and future Cx80 is way expensive for general Oz. Driving is so comfort and nice. Engine is decent enough and space is generous. In the fact that Cx9 shares some many parts with Cx5 so spare part in future is not really a big problem. Fuel efficiency is extremely good at 9L/100km for 91 fuel and 8L for 98 fuel for mix my daily driving. My kids love this new car so do I.
This is perfect. Cannot live without it – This is is my favourite car at home. I hate the idea my dad got to get a Tesla. Mazda's vroom of petrol is very cool and large seven seater is perfect for long trips with lots of people on board. Show details
In-depth reviews
More bang for the buck than a stick of dynamite – Having owned several Mazda's, including the previous model TB CX9 GT, we really fancied a change. Not that there was anything wrong with the previous model, but a premium car brand was more desirable. We looked at the the Jaguar F-Pace, Land Rover, BMW and Mercedes offerings but actually fell in love with the Volvo XC series more than any of the… Read more
others. Prior to buying the Volvo and being offered a pretty lousy trade in by them, I though I would just check out the new CX9. The CX9 was dramatically cheaper than the Prestige Brands, to the tune of around $50,000 cheaper, but since we have always liked our Mazda's it was worth a quick squizz.
To our complete surprise, the Mazda knocked the socks off most of the prestige vehicles. The build quality and level of equipments was equal to or far outstripped the premium brands. Moreover, the safety features boasted by the Volvo, but not quite reached by the competitors, all seemed to be included in the CX9.
While the build quality of the Mazda is not quite that of the German brands, it is way better than the Jag, Land Rover and even the Volvo. Furthermore the new engine in the CX9 is significantly more powerful than it's juicy V6 predecessor in the TB CX9 .
The car is spacious, quite, super safe and great on fuel.
I seriously could not justify the extra $50,000 on what amounts to a badge. Yes Mazda does not carry the status of a Volvo or Mercedes, but it certainly isn't a Kia or Nissan. The CX9 is everything and often more than the prestige car brand offerings and for that, I am $50,000 richer.
Great engine and gearbox, internal storage a let down – Great engine and gearbox so smooth and lots of torque. Gearbox shifts so nicely, would be nice if was 8 speed, but seems to work just great as a 6 speed. Interior is nice, however it does lack storage compartments compared to other vehicles in its class. Find receipts, tickets etc, difficult to find a home while driving. The boot is huge, however… Read more
the heavily raked rear window does hold it back when the 3rd row seating is up. It is also a very big car. If you have trouble parking and you park a lot in tight sydney CBD parking, then look for a smaller car, this one will drive you crazy. My one pet hate is the lack of proper day driving led lights. For a 60k car, this should be standard, not something only on the top model, cars in 20k range have led day lights. On the open road it great on fuel for such a big car. i-stop in traffic can sometimes be a bit slow to react. 12 months service @ 15ks would be nice, don't know why mazda refuse to offer this.
Good but not great- Struggling to enjoy and like the car – Went from Kia Sorento to this and after 3 weeks I preferred my KIA Things that annoy me 1/. No road side assistance with new car purchase "unless you pay" 2/. Sun roof makes wind buffering noise as no net at front of sunroof. So very noisy and have to close when over 80kms 3/. No radio station indicator of channel or station when in NAV on… Read more
screen
4/. Very easy to wheel spin front wheels for over 4 seconds. for AWD I expect much better
5/. uses 12-14kms per 100... nowhere near the 8 in brochure
6/. Fuel cap indicator icon around wrong way
7/. Bluetooth on phone gets choppy noise like a popping noise regularly
8/. No cigarette power adaptor in center console or middle.. only on left passenger side.
9/. android auto constantly locks up and freezes for 5-8 seconds when using voice commands.
10/. MP3's always goto next track 2 seconds before end or track.
11/. Heated steering wheel very slow to heat up.. around 4-6 mins. and only very small portion on sides are heated.
12/. No lumbar support
13/. arrangement of lights on dash very hard to see as most below steering wheel line of site
14/. steering wheel very heavy and makes gear noises when turning.
15/. Also had issues with lane keep assist in rain. constantly kept trying to stear the car back into lane and was very unnerving.. until I figured out howto turn off. Even Mazda dealer didn't relise the car did this!
Overall not very impressed and having buyers regret wishing I got the Santa FE or Sorento.
Very thirsty and lacking that design layout thats practical. Find myself getting annoyed by the very front wheel dominance drive and layout and functionality.
I was very excited to get a top of the line Azami but after 3 weeks not feeling enthusiastic for brand.
Im hoping it grows on me.
Edit: 2 months in and still hating the car more than ever.
Things Im hating
* No pollen or air filter in cabin - constant exhaust fumes when stuck in traffic unless you put on recirculate
* Dash / speed surrounds so flimsy
* Cruise control has to be set 2-3 kms above what you want to sit on
* Car uses 12-15 ltrs/100kms nowhere near the 8 in brochure
* back tail gate doesn't open and close smoothly. also sometimes closes as soon as you hit button with no delay
* android auto freezes constantly
* they fixed the little wind buffer thing on sunroof apparently was stuck down
* no roadside assistance
* position of seat buttons in really bad location and also dont light up so very hard to see at night
* many important buttons etc dont illuminate
* no 12v adapter near driver that can easily access..
* Sound through Boss system is horrendous.
* Car stops in traffic and sometimes big delay when starting back up again.. 1-2 seconds if you need to move fast is annoying
Already thinking of selling the car and having buyers regret. Every week something else that annoys me.
Missing my KIA sorento and thinking probably should have got anything else other than the Mazda CX9 azami le
Disappointing as was really looking forward to getting car but not loving it and dont think I ever will
Positive reviews
Love the quality and after sales service – I bought my CX9 Azami from Edwardtown Mazda. The Vehicle is so much better than my Honda that I pnly use when going shopping. The after sales service has been excellent from Mazda Australia. Issues solved within 48 hours. Still waiting for Formula Honda to fix my third row seat. Show details
Perfect vehicle, Amazing ride! – This SUV seems like made for our family! It gives you the feeling of macho and delicacy at the same time and is made while keeping all the genders in mind! The red and blue colours are quite unique and gives the feeling of epoxy paint in sunlight! All the features are just amazing and I am in love with it. Show details
Love it, super smooth – Love this car, spacey inside and comfortable even with all 7 seats full. Car seats fit all seats. Luxury inside a heap of USB ports and super smooth to drive. The only thing a would say is I liked the “ grab the handle sensor “ better than the button on the handle to open and lock the car. Very minor and probably just a me issue lol all round great vehicle Show details
Negative reviews
Safety failure – I bought a brand new my CX9 Azami in Feb 2018. I did not have much issues initially until I did. The Smart City Brake failed although I was within speed limits and my car crashed. My family and I feel LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. Neither the retailer nor Mazda Australia want to know anything about it. They boast about their safety features in the marketing specs, however, does not deliver what was promised. This car was a huge and EXPENSIVE MISTAKE ! Show details
Unsafe vehicle – The car was purchased brand new in July 2019. There have been numerous issues with the car including: - rear passenger door not closing properly - faulty middle console - interactive display not working properly - ieloop malfunction three times. Each time it has taken over two weeks to rectify and this remains an issue. - electric system… Read more
malfunction in the middle of turning right on a main road, resulting in the car stalling mid turn and my family being stuck in the middle of an intersection whilst three lanes of oncoming traffic have the green light. At this time the ieloop malfunction came on as well as a number of other error messages.
These are major safety issues that should not be expected in any car, let alone a new car. Mazda has refused to replace this vehicle
Find out how Mazda CX-9 TC compares to other Large / 7 Seater SUVs
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Disappointing – I bought mazda cx9 azami in May 2019. After 7000kms i-eloop and i-stop got malfunctioned. I called mazda to rectify this problem. I have to wait 4 weeks to get a date to fix this. In the meantime my car had an accident, hit a kangaroo and damaged front parts. I have been waiting for one month to fix this problem. How come these can go wrong for… Read more
brand new $68k car? Mazda,you have to be bit faster for the parts delivery. I used Mazda 3 before and never had any issues. I recommended Mazda to my friends. But this time I won't recommend Mazda to anyone.
Recent reviews
Until now satisfied! – I bought CX-9 car in 2018 from Brisbane. I am pretty much delighted with the performance of the car and how it treats me, whether it is a plain road or a tough road. It has excellent cruise control and best of best is an adaptive cruise which means it applies to break if the front vehicle slows down or even speeds up when the front vehicle… Read more
moving fast (within the max cruise speed limit).
Also how it projects - Speed details, Road speed limit, Directions (if we turned navigation On), and blind spots on the front screen, where you can adjust brightness and height where it displays on the front screen.
Really, until now no complain, and very much satisfied!
Mazda all the way – Best car, fantastic to drive. Soon as I drove out the showroom floor I felt quality. This car is very powerful and great value For $46,990. Mazda cx9 sport is a whole lotta car for your money's worth these days. For the higher end spectrum azami ect really not interested for the price as the sports just as luxurious plus are we that lazy now we… Read more
need power tailgates. Has the same engine in every model. Very impressive car I highly recommend over my Mazda 6 luxury sport.
My Japanese Cadillac – Just purchased my CX-9 GT AWD in December 2020. While I’m learning to love how it looks, the interior is stunning. Comfortable, great sound system and driving throughout country NSW, it is responsive, handles extremely well for such a large vehicle and has as much “tech” as I need. Since, I purchased it new, I”ll be interested in how it holds up over the coming months and years. Happy to keep you posted but so far, so good. Very happy. Show details
An Awesome Car! – This car is a great pleasure to drive. The interior is high end and luxurious! Been an excellent car, no problems, great value. response from the 2.5 turbo engine, definitely drives like a sports car. Show details
Excellent Family car – This is an excellent family car. If you're looking into a high end design and big space SUV, this is the car for you. The interior of this car is amazing! we love it! I highly recommended Mazda CX-9. You can guys can get a good deal at Australian Motors Mazda - let them know about your budget. Show details
Luxury – I use the car for both personal and work. Love the lux features and safety technology pack. I like the feel of driving this large suv. Even though the dimensions are huge, this doesnt affect my driving at all. I dont feel like driving bigger than the mesium Suv that I was driving for many years! One thing they should have improved-there should be an alarm when the door is left open and you are already driving! Show details
Very good car and looks awesome – Bought it in March 2017. Used as a daily drive to work and interstate drives. 9.2l/100km fuel consumption. Passenger seatbelt alarm kept going off and was fixed under warranty. The speaker cover on driver’s side was bulging, kind of half fixed now by Mazda. Seats leather quality and design questionable. Rust proofing suspect. Steering wheel… Read more
leather scratches easily. Great all round car though.
Service done as per recommendation, 6 months/10,000km.
over all happy but few annoyances – Overall great spacious car. Comfy drive, less noise, fuel consumption is impressive. We drove from Adl to Melb largely on cruise with full tank ans still 60 km fuel left. We are happy for the choice we made.Nice interior as compared other suv in this category. Few problems: Gps system is a wreck despite updates chooses longest and unpractical… Read more
route, keep google as back up. I felt the car third row area less illuminated when boot is opened automatically. Infotainment system is very basic , but love bose sound system. I am curious to know if anyone has driven both Awd and Fwd to share difference.
Find out how Mazda CX-9 TC compares to other Large / 7 Seater SUVs
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I love this car – My second Cx-9. Wouldn’t buy any other brand of car. So happy with Mazda quality and service. This car is packed with all the safety features as well as the luxury items at reasonable price. Show details
Perfect Family SUV – This is our 2nd Mazda CX9 and still loving it for our family of 5. Perfect for school/ sports runs and fabulous for road trips along the coast. Smooth, light ride and great turning circle. Stylish with all of the extra luxury features as standard. Great value and very comparable with high end European cars that come double the price tag. Show details
Excellent car cx9 – I love mazda cx9 am using if from last 6 months . It s reliable and it got more advanced features. Am getting 10l/ 100km. Good customer service and good value for tge money Show details
Happy with it – We've owned this car for over 2 years and it's been a great car considering it was a completely new model from Mazda. It goes great and has plenty of torque for a petrol engine thanks to the turbo charger. Apart from replacing one tailgate strut under warranty, we've done nothing but service it. It has so much room for a seven seater which is what we needed. Highly recommended. Show details
great family car – we purchased this car last month as our Commodore no longer suites our growing family and it has been good. Very comfortable to drive and has heaps of safety features such as lane depart and a feature to slow you down if you are coming too close. it looks really lovely too, with the sunroof and leather interior and maps are very clear. fuel… Read more
economy isn't fantastic as a downside (about 13 l/100) and boot size is tiny with the 7 seats up (which is why we bought it) but overall I am happy
Love our 7 seater – I bought this car in May 2018 and can say this is the best car in the market. Use this car everyday for dropping kids to school and commute to work. Car body looks great, it's very comfy , has lots of leg space, big boot, classy interior and excellent for long drive. Love the sun roof feature.good fuel economy for this size of car and cheap service compare to others. Show details
Amazing car! – Spacious car for a growing family! Drives well, looks great and has plenty of power! The mod cons are spot on and make driving, parking and reversing a breeze! Annual service costs are fixed and afford able. All rear seats have anchor points as well!! I absolutely love this car!! Show details
Okay - stay away from Melville Mazda – Car is okay - have had it for nearly a year now. Navigation system is a nightmare. I no longer use it as it often takes you the longest route possible. It is frustrating and difficult to programme so I am back to the google maps on the phone. Bluetooth feature works well. It picks up a paired phone easily. Visibility is limited. Lots of blind… Read more
spots and it feels dark and close. If you are tall make sure you sit and test drive. We didnt have my 6ft 3" husband test drive and he feels quite restricted in the drivers seat.
All in all an okay car. Do not buy from Melville Mazda. Worst customer service. The manager was unbelievably rude and unhelpful and if I could have pulled out of the sale I would have. I will never buy another Mazda again after dealing with him.
Great 7 seater – This is the first Mazda we brought and we will never regret it not only do you get a great drive but you feel like your in a top of the range car. The space for kids is great the boot space is very large in fact better then others. Safety gear is on point to Show details
Not a flagship car – Over this car. The car looks good and the engine although thirsty is actually quite good and the safety tech and heads up display are great and that is where the praise ends. Paint if you look at it wrong scratches and we paid for the Soul Red, Interior surfaces scratch far too easy and they look cheap and unsightly. MZ Connect is the worst… Read more
infotainment system we have had it firmware updated and reset and still it freezes and does not sync contacts until halfway to your destination. "Where the heck is Carplay Mazda" . The front passenger seat rubs on the centre console and we have been waiting at least 6 months for an idea of a fix, Sungalsses holder has rattled since day one and they state it has been fixed twice but still rattling and now has scratches from their fixes. In terms of the Kodo design practical design would have been much better. They cabin is quiet and they state this and they are correct however you hear every rattle including the loud metallic clang and knock in the front end. This was apparently identified as in the front right hand brake area and the caliper was replaced. but noise came back a day later louder. Issue still not fixed after going in again and Technical request has been sent to Mazda. I do not think we will hear anything back as we are still waiting on the seat issue. In terms of service its first 10k service the dealer reversed a BT-50 ute into the front of the car and stated they would fix it. We had to chase for 6 weeks to get this done and even when the bumper was fitted they removed paint from the freshly painted bumper refitting it which should have been picked up on inspection; We are so very over this car and regret buying it we very much want to get rid of it but have a fair amount to payout over the trade in or private sale cost of the vehicle due to Mazda releasing a new model with more features a few more months after this car was purchased. I will be talking with consumer affairs in regards to what can be done eg Mazda footing some of the payout as this car is not a the quality for the price. I would advise to look at other cars out there first as we will hopefully be getting one of the new Volvo SUV's as the quality is much better.
I LOVE OUR CX-9 MAZDA! – Our Mazda CX-9 is a great-looking, comfortable, and well-built seven-seater that feels better to drive than any other big SUV near its price. Its turbo-petrol engine is economical and feels surprisingly sporty. What we like! FOUR STARS Safety, value & features, FOUR STARS Comfort & space, FOUR STARS Engine & gearbox, FOUR STARS Ride & handling,… Read more
FOUR STARS Technology, FOUR STARS Shrink-wrapped dynamics, FOUR STARS Perky engine, FOUR STARS User-friendly cabin.
Excellent 7 Seater with great styling at a good price – I love the styling, interior comfort/space, fuel economy and the quietness of the car. There is decent space behind the third-row seat which can even fit a pram. The boot space beat other people mover like Toyota Tarago, Honda Odyssey because this car is more than 5m long. The second row can fit 2 children car seats and an adult in the middle. The… Read more
2.5L petrol turbo engine is decent and quiet, but it will be better if there is a diesel engine option.
If you want a good looking and comfortable 7 seater SUV at a great price, go check out this great car. I highly recommend it.
Great car overall but there are some small problems – Performance is good with 3 adults and 2 kids. You can feel the car is working very hard when adding 2 more adults to the back. It is not a proper people mover with . Handling and corning ability are great for its size and height. Mazda did a good job here. If people are aftering real handling car they shouldn't buy any SUV. Mazda did a good job… Read more
with road noise and it is very quiet inside. Much better than the new Mazda 6
It is very reliable and mechnical sound. It is also cheap to run. Much cheaper than the 2015 Toyota Kluger we replaced.
Bad things:
Centre console gets really hot when 2nd air-con for the back is not turned on which is rubbish engineering. Tempertare can reach up to about 50 degrees depending on length of driving time. Mazda's fix is very rubbish by puting better heat shield. 2nd air-con should not generating heat when it is not in use. 2nd air-con should have cooling when geting hot. Mazda doesnt have a proper solution yet.
Piano black interior panels are bad and so easy to scratch.
Problematic NAV / multimedia system before the software updates.
Rear power door is very noisy to open and shut. More noisier when the weather is hot.
Steering wheel plastic fitting is very rubbish and so easy to move the centre picece plastic (loose). But they fix the problem in the new CX-5.
Blind spot monitoring system is not 100%. It works most of time and it wont work properly sometimes. Keep the head checking.
Driver side sunvisor rattles when it is down.
Overall it is a great car for family. But Mazda Australia is not very prompt to fix problems they created at the first place just like the disel problems.
Extra Information
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