2021 Mazda CX-9: Expectations and what we know so far

2020 has been quite the year for Japanese carmaker Mazda due to numerous milestones it has achieved. Mazda celebrated its 100^th year anniversary this year after it started as a cork manufacturer in 1920. To celebrate its milestone, Mazda launched 100^th Anniversary Special Editions of its vehicles such as the Mazda3, CX-3, and MX-5.

Interior | 2020 Mazda CX-9 | Mazda USA*

* This video is the latest Mazda CX-9 in the market

Mazda is not done surprising loyal customers as it will welcome the New Year with an updated 2021 CX-9. The Mazda CX-9 is the largest Mazda vehicle you can get in the country, seating up to 7 people complemented with a stylish interior.

The new updates for the 2021 Mazda CX-9 are quite subtle, yet enough to make the premium 7-seater crossover standout from its outgoing model. The new CX-9 is not sold in Japan so we would probably get the one offered in the US.

As of this writing, Mazda Philippines hasn’t released any word regarding the plans for the 2021 PH-spec Mazda CX-9. So for now, let’s take a look at the changes on the interior and exterior of the 2021 Mazda CX-9 crossover and what we can expect from it.

2021 Mazda CX-9: Exterior

Up front, the 2021 CX-9 is fitted with a new grille design that with the same six slat configuration. However, the slats are punctured which creates a less bland appearance. The large chrome trim around the grille is still carried over to the 2021 model.

Aside from the new front grille, no changes are made throughout the entire exterior. The only highlight in terms of the exterior feature of the new CX-9 is the new Carbon Edition appearance package that is also available to other select Mazda vehicles.

The new 2021 Mazda CX-9

The 2021 Mazda CX-9 Carbon Edition is finished with a polymetal grey exterior paint scheme with black trims. The Carbon Edition’s paint finish contrasts well with the black trims such as the wheels, mirrors, and more. In the US, the CX-9 Carbon Edition is the model’s mid variant with a starting price at $41,080 (or around Php 1,973,000 excluding local taxes).

As for the color options, the 2021 Mazda CX-9 is still offered with the same options such as the machine grey metallic, sonic silver metallic, jet black mica, deep blue crystal mica, and snowflake white pearl mica. The only addition for 2021 is the polymetal grey which is standard for the Carbon Edition.

2021 Mazda CX-9: Interior

The top-spec CX-9 Signature variant is offered with a more luxurious interior feel thanks to its redesigned seats for the front two rows. Mazda shared that the seats on the Signature variant are using quilted leather and new piping.

No significant changes are made in the interior

On the other hand, the Carbon Edition gets a red leather interior layout that comes with red stitching and black trims. These black trims go hand-in-hand with the red interior finish as the combination provides a bit of sportiness to it.

Aside from the two said notable interior features for the 2021 model of the CX-9, no significant changes are made.

>>> Related: Mazda looking to expand lineup with more SUVs

2021 Mazda CX-9: Engine and performance

Under the hood, the Mazda CX-9 is carrying over the same 2.5-liter SkyActiv-G 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine capable of producing 227 hp and 420 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission.

The 2021 model will still be running with the same engine

There are two variants of the CX-9 that are offered in the local market, namely the base Sport Touring and top-of-the-line Signature. The Sport Touring variant is designed with a front-wheel-drive configuration, while the Signature variant is designed with an all-wheel-drive configuration.

2021 Mazda CX-9: On-board tech and safety features

The biggest updates of the 2021 Mazda CX-9 are seen in its technology features. The 7-seater crossover gets a new and larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen with the latest version of Mazda Connect. The new infotainment screen also supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

However, Philippine customers may still expect the same 8-inch touchscreen LCD monitor from the current model in the base variant as other markets configure their CX-9 this way. According to Mazda, the new 10.25-inch infotainment screen has been updated to boot up way faster as compared to the outgoing system.

The current Mazda CX-9 offered by Mazda Philippines

In addition, the 10.25-inch infotainment screen is complemented with a wireless smartphone charging pad, the first time for the model. All these small updates provide the new CX-9 a more innovative driving experience while keeping its award-winning design language.

As for safety, the 2021 Mazda CX-9 is installed with adaptive cruise control, forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, push-button start, tire pressure monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and more.

2021 Mazda CX-9: Final thoughts

With the Mazda3’s accomplishment of winning the design car of the year for 2020, it is great to see that the award-winning design language is still retained in the 2021 Mazda CX-9. Although, it is good to note that the new grille design is a good addition by Mazda so the CX-9 can showcase its large proportions in a brighter fashion.

The carbon editions for the 2021 Mazda models

As said earlier, Mazda Philippines hasn’t released any word regarding the upcoming PH-spec CX-9 model.  However, one can expect that the said changes in the exterior and interior of the premium crossover from other markets will be brought in the country as well.

2021 Mazda CX-9: Expected pricing

The 2021 Mazda CX-9 is installed with new technologies and kits. With that being said, a price bump is highly expected. Mazda seems to go for a more premium interior to what has been quite premium already. All these changes do come with a price.

The base model of the CX-9 offered by Mazda Philippines is priced at Php 2,380,000, while the top-of-the-line Signature CX-9 variant is priced at Php 2,950,000.

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