Mazda has been putting out some top-of-the-line, near-luxury vehicles over the past few years. They’ve been competitive in the market and are starting to give drivers even more options when it comes to trims, and the 2022 Mazda CX-9 has quite a few to choose from. Since we’re looking at the Mazda Menu, and the CX-9 combo is looking particularly appealing, we want to know which trim of the six that are available offers the best flavor for the price.
The Basics
For the Mazda CX-9, there are a few things that don’t change, no matter what trim you order. These are like the fries and drink of the meal. You can expect every trim to come with the 2.5-liter turbo engine that gets 250 horsepower. The 10.25-inch infotainment screen is standard, along with the 3,500 lbs of towing capacity. If you’re ordering for more than one, the cargo capacity can go up to about 71 cu.ft. For three-row SUVs, the CX-9 comes with quite the package, so now let’s look at the main dish.
The CX-9 Sport
The Sport trim for the Mazda CX-9 is your number one combo meal on any menu. It’s basic and sure to please just about everyone, plus it’s cost-friendly and offers everything you would expect in a combo meal. It’s typically pretty popular, and it’s a safe bet for anyone who hasn’t purchased off the Mazda Menu before. It gets the standard safety features like lane keep assistance, lane departure warnings, and automated emergency braking. It’s priced at $35,280, which is great compared to other three-row SUVs. The Sport also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. Surprisingly, the Sport trim gets heated seats and proximity keyless entry, which is a lot like when you order a small combo meal and find that you’ve been given a large fry. It’s a deal so good that it almost seems like it was an accident that they included that. The turn signals are integrated into the mirrors, and it gets a 6-way power driver seat. All in all, the Sport trim offers everything but the pickles, and some of us don’t like pickles anyway, so it’s a great choice.
The CX-9 Touring
The next option on the Mazda menu when it comes to the CX-9 is the Touring trim. This is a slightly more expensive meal, but that’s because it’s more like a specialty burger that comes with bacon. The Touring gets all the fixings of your Sport trim but adds onto it a bit more. This trim has the option of a moonroof and comes standard with a power lift tailgate. It also gets its seats upgraded to leather, while the passenger seat gets a 6-way power adjustment capability, second-row seats have power-folding capability, and a programmable garage door opener. Since it is the specialty and gets bacon, it does cost a little bit more, coming in at $37,430. Those extra dollars go quite a long way, though, because with everything else, you get an auto-dimming rearview mirror, the ability to upgrade your radio system, and includes satellite radio and USB ports in both the front and rear seats.
The CX-9 Touring Plus
As the name suggests, our next menu option is the supersized version of the Touring combo. A supersized meal tends to cost a little bit more; in this case, it costs $41,660. So what does that extra cash get you for your Mazda CX-9? For starters, some of the non-standard features, such as the moonroof, are now standard and included. Your wheels get upgraded to 20 inches instead of 18 inches. The Touring Plus combo comes with upgraded fog lights, and roof rails are now included. The front seats can be heated or cooled, in case you prefer your buns cold. The driver’s seat gets memory capability for the seat and mirror settings. You also get 6 additional speakers for the sound system in the SUV, and it is upgraded to a BOSE system. Front and rear parking sensors are standard in the Touring Plus, making this not just a supersized meal but a burger with extra bacon!
The CX-9 Carbon Edition
If the other vehicles are the burgers on the menu, then the Carbon edition is the greasy, fried goodness of a chicken sandwich with all the toppings. If you ordered this meal, you’d be getting quite a bit for your $43,580. Like the Touring Plus, this trim builds off the ones before it to offer you everything they did and then some. For the shiftable automatic, the Carbon edition gets the super fun and easy-to-use steering wheel paddle shifters. This option also gets side mirrors with the distinction of not having to match the exterior color of the SUV.
The tailgate is power-operated and can be set up to be opened by your proximity to it. The driver’s seat gets upgraded to 8-way power-adjustable instead of 6, giving you more options to help you be comfortable while driving. Your rear passengers also get some additional comforts by having the heated and cooled seats, and that second row is no longer a bench but the super fancy captain chairs. You also get the addition of ambient lighting, a wireless charging station, and a rear sunshade. Yeah, this is definitely a meal with a lot to offer, and Mazda packed it full to make it worth the price.
The CX-9 Grand Touring
So we’re back to burgers now, and this is a supersized, extra bacon, triple-decker burger with special sauce on the Mazda Menu. They packed more than a mouthful or two into the Grand Touring. It builds off the other trims and offers a couple of extra things for a price of $44,440. The Grand Touring goes back to the bench seat for the second row, which is ok because it gives you an additional seat. The interior trimmings get upgraded to metal, and drivers of the Grand Touring get navigation, and a heads-up display included.
The CX-9 Signature
The last option available for CX-9 combo meals is the Signature trim. The price of this trim is like buying Lobster, so it could be considered the more expensive fish dinner on the menu. The CX-9 Signature trim costs drivers $47,210 and gets them just a couple of additional things. The interior of the CX-9 gets upgraded to metal and wood for the Signature trim, fancying it up quite a bit. This trim also gets adjustable ambient lighting.
What Should You Order?
Everyone has different tastes, and the CX-9 has trim to fit everyone’s needs. We really like our burgers with bacon, so we lean a bit towards the Touring Plus trim. It only costs around $6,000 more than the Sport trim, and you get all the perks of the previous two trims plus quite a few exterior upgrades. The addition of temperature controls for hot and cold weather helps make spending a little more worth it, and there’s no denying the importance of a quality sound system. If we were to order off the Mazda CX-9 Menu, we’d be asking for the supersized, extra bacon Touring Plus.
