Mazda CX-9 updated in the USA; New second-row captain seats, 9-inch infotainment

The 2021 Mazda CX-9 has just been given a facelift in the USA, it now features a brand-new infotainment screen, an updated 2.5-litre turbocharged Skyactiv-G engine, and even more comfort than before.

Headlining the CX-9’s update is the 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The new larger touchscreen will replace the outgoing 7-inch touchscreen and will still be able to support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Other than that, Mazda has also added a new Bose sound system that will play high-quality music across 12-speakers installed evenly across the interior of the car.

The new premium sound system will further enhance the luxury in the newly designed interior, as Mazda engineers have redesigned the second-row captain seats for better comfort for the second-row passengers.

At the same time, more USB ports and cup-holders have also been added to the interior for better convenience and to ensure everybody stays connected in the car. 

Other updates include a retuned Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine that crunches out 434 Nm of torque and 254 PS. Based on the previous spec sheet, the new engine is at least 10 Nm up from the pre-tuned 2.5-litre turbocharged engine's 423 Nm while power output remains the same.

Power is transferred to all four wheels via a conventional 6-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission. Of course, the CX-9 will still come with the G-Vectoring Control Plus as standard across the variants.

Safety-wise, the CX-9 will maintain its full suite of advanced i-Activsense safety technology that earned it its 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. So the CX-9 will still get Dynamic Stability Control with Traction Control System, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert just to name a few.

What’s most important is that updates done to the Mazda CX-9 in America will likely also make it to Malaysia when the time comes to update the 7-seater SUV. Which update will you be most excited to receive on the CX-9?