Mazda updates CX-9 range for 2020, new entry price

MAZDA has given its flagship CX-9 SUV an update for 2020, one that brings extra equipment and some subtle price tweaks across the range with the entry level Sport FWD and Sport AWD now $500 cheaper at $45,920 (plus on-road costs) and $49,920 respectively.

That is where the price reductions stop however, with the rest of the range going the opposite direction and rising in price with bigger jumps the higher up the range you go.

Both the FWD and AWD versions of the Touring model have risen by $350 to $53,310 and $57,310 respectively, while the GT variants have gone up by $600 to now cost $61,720 for the FWD and $65,720 for the AWD.

The biggest increase however belongs to the range-topping Azami variants – the Azami LE has been dropped – which are up more than $2100 to now cost $64,893 (FWD) and $69,303 (AWD) before on-road costs.

For the extra cash (or less in the Sport variants’ case) Mazda has upped the CX-9’s comfort, safety and dynamics, having added the latest generation G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC-Plus) system and the AWD versions also get the latest Off-Road Traction Assist to improve cornering and maximise grip.

The GVC-Plus system gently brakes different wheels during cornering to help bring the car back into a straight line when exiting a turn which Mazda says gives more feedback to the driver and puts them at ease.

The CX-9’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) game has also been stepped up with what Mazda calls “an advanced automatic braking system”, able to detect pedestrians and other objects in the dark of night.

On the subject of darkness, the adaptive LED headlight system has been revised to now emit more light without dazzling other drivers.

Practicality has also taken a step forward with a new kick-action power tailgate while access to the third row of seating has been improved via a new, easy-to-reach switch which tilts the second-row backrests forward.

Other updates across the range include a new, bigger infotainment screen (9.0 inch) as well as new badging and key fob to bring the CX-9 into line with other Mazda models.

At the top of the range, the Azamis score new leather upholstery available in a pair of two-tone colour options (Walnut Brown and black or Pure White and black) as well as new finishes for the 18- and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Mechanically the big SUV remains unchanged, still making do with the familiar turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 170kW of power and 420Nm of torque with drive still going to the front or all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

Last year Mazda sold 7168 CX-9s, accounting for a 6.8 per cent share of the market though sales were down 11.4 per cent on 2018 when it sold 8094 examples.

The Toyota Prado was the runaway sales winner in 2019 with Toyota shifting 18,335 vehicles, accounting for more than 17 per cent of the market share – the only other sub-$70,000 large SUV to reach a double-digit percentage was the Toyota Kluger which claimed 10.8 per cent of the market.

2020 Mazda CX-9 pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs