2021 Mazda CX-9 Signature

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 drives smaller than it is. It's genuinely fun to hustle down a back road, with quick steering and a chassis that hides its size better than most rivals. The cabin feels a class above, with soft-touch materials and a clean, driver-focused layout that holds up well against pricier luxury SUVs. The third row is best for kids, but the second row slides and reclines, and cargo space is generous with the rear seats folded. The Signature is the top CX-9 trim, adding genuine wood trim and Nappa leather that give the cabin a near-luxury feel over the Grand Touring. Its 2.5L I4 makes 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, with the turbocharger delivering strong mid-range pull that makes the six-speed automatic feel well-matched. The Signature comes standard with a 360-degree camera and adaptive headlights, plus a seven-inch digital instrument cluster that the lower trims don't get.