Mazda CX-9 Ground Clearance
The 2021 Mazda CX-9 offers an impressive 8.8 inches of ground clearance across all trim levels.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
While it may appear to be a mild-mannered family SUV, the Mazda CX-9 has surprising offroading prowess, boasting 8.8 inches of ground clearance across all trim levels—the Sport, Touring, Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, and Signature trims.
Family-leaning SUVs aren’t necessarily known for their offroading abilities, but the Mazda CX-9 is rather deceptive in that regard. With an SUV like this, odds are you’re more focused on safety, reliability, interior space, cargo storage, and the infotainment system—but don’t forget about ground clearance!
Curious about how high the CX-9 rises above the asphalt? We've got you covered with all the information you need to learn about how high your Mazda CX-9 sits above the roadway.
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2021 Mazda CX-9 ground clearance
The ground clearance of the Mazda CX-9 is standard across every trim:
Not only does the CX-9 offer an engaging drive and agile handling, but its robust engine has enough power to get you up and over steep hills and through reasonably tough terrain. The CX-9’s I-Activ all-wheel drive cleanly distributes power to all four wheels if any slippage is detected. While the CX-9 isn’t meant for heavy-duty off-roading and hauling, it does well over reasonably rough offroading conditions.
Mazda CX-9 ground clearance over the years
The current 2nd generation CX-9 is a very solid choice for some light-to-medium offroading adventures, at least much more so than its 1st generation predecessor. The 1st generation Mazda CX-9 had a ground clearance between 8 and 8.1 inches for the model years 2006 to 2015— significantly less than the current, 2nd generation CX-9.
MORE: The 10 best SUVs for towing
What is ground clearance—and why does it matter?
So, why care about your CX-9’s ground clearance? Well, to start, your vehicle’s ground clearance is the space between the lowest point of its chassis, to the ground. Said in plainer language, your vehicle’s ground clearance is the amount of space (in inches) between the underside of your SUV and the road.
The higher the ground clearance, the more comfortable you should be when attempting to do some off-roading. Experts recommend that you have at least 8.5 inches of ground clearance, and lucky for you, the CX-9 has that and more. With 8.8 inches of ground clearance, you’ll be able to pick the kids up from school and take them on fun off-roading adventures during breaks.
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Is the Mazda CX-9 a good off-road vehicle?
Surprisingly, the Mazda CX-9 is indeed a solid off-roading choice. You might prefer a brawnier SUV such as the Jeep Cherokee for more arduous adventures, but the CX-9 has enough power to handle steep inclines and manage over reasonably rough ground to get you where you want to go. With its capable all-wheel drive system, you should be confident if you need to go off-road in this Mazda.
The base Sport trim starts at $36,855, and all-wheel drive comes standard.
Guard against accidents with the best CX-9 insurance
Whether you need a CX-9 for carpooling, or for some light offroading adventures, protect your SUV with a robust
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