2023 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring

The CX-9 is Mazda's three-row family SUV, the one you cross-shop with the Highlander and Pilot when you want something that feels less like an appliance. It steers with a directness most rivals don't bother with, and the ride stays composed over broken pavement without feeling floaty. Inside, the cabin is trimmed with soft-touch materials and a clean dash layout, though the third row is best left to kids for shorter trips. Cargo space behind the third row is tight, but fold those seats flat and you get a generous, square load bay for hauling gear. The Grand Touring sits above the Touring Plus and adds ventilated front seats, a 360-degree camera, and a Bose 12-speaker system you won't find on the trims below it. Under the hood is a 2.5L I4 making 227 horsepower, routed through a six-speed automatic to four-wheel drive that returns 23 mpg combined. You can skip the standard power moonroof and opt for a cleaner roof line, though the fixed glass panel does brighten the cabin nicely.