Though there are plenty of three-row midsize family SUVs on the market, the 2023 Mazda CX-9 is a strong contender. Despite having only one powertrain (a 227-hp 2.5L turbo inline-four), the CX-9 has athletic driving dynamics. And despite its price, its interior is unbelievably upscale.

More importantly, as a family hauler, it can accommodate up to seven passengers—just make sure to save the third row for the smallest ones.

For an overview of all your seating options in the 2023 CX-9, look no further than

Jerry

, the

trustworthy super app

for cheap

car insurance

! We show you how to keep yourself comfortable and your Mazda insurance costs below.

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

How many seats does the 2023 Mazda CX-9 have?

The Mazda's 2023 CX-9 can seat six to seven people, depending on what you put in the second row. A pair of bucket seats reduces the number of seats to six, while a 60/40 split bench increases the number to seven. The options alternate as you move up in price.

Here’s every trim and what it adds to the previous level:

Touring

(six seats; $40,025): leather upholstery, heated front bucket seats, eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, six-way power front passenger seat with lumbar support, second-row manually folding bucket chairs, third-row manually folding 50/50 split bench

Touring Plus (seven seats; $42,775): driver’s seat memory settings, front-row ventilation, second-row 60/40 manually folding split-bench

Carbon Edition (six seats; $46,105): second-row heating, second-row manually folding bucket chairs

Grand Touring

(seven seats; $46,965): second-row heating, second-row 60/40 manually folding split-bench

Signature

(six seats; $49,735): Nappa leather upholstery, diamond-quilting pattern, second-row manually folding bucket chairs

If you don't like Black or Sand, you'll have to upgrade to get fancy upholstery colors like Red (Carbon Edition only), Deep Chestnut (Signature only), or Parchment (Signature only). Apart from that, the first two trims offer most of the CX-9's best seating features. The downside is that Mazda offers very few packages, standalone options, or accessories, and none of them touch on seating.

Do all CX-9s have three rows of seats?

Yes. All 2023 CX-9 models feature three rows of seats, but the second row can be either a pair of bucket chairs or a 60/40 split bench, depending on what trim you choose. The Touring, Carbon Edition, and Signature trims offer seating for six, while the Touring Plus and Grand Touring have room for seven.

2023 Mazda CX-9 interior

Even though the CX-9 hasn't been redesigned since 2016, it still holds up thanks to its timeless materials. The generously bolstered seats come standard with leather upholstery. If you need to jazz up the chunky dash and door panels, you can add aluminum or genuine wood inserts and interior lighting options.

Dimensions

If you sat in all three rows of the CX-9, you might feel short-changed by the time you reached the rear. Moving between the three is easy, but whereas the front and second-row bucket seats are comfortably curved, the third-row bench is flat and boxy. Adults might also find it cramped, so it’s best suited for kids.

Whatever trim you choose, the space available remains the same:

Dimensions	Touring, Carbon Edition, Signature	Touring Plus, Grand Touring
Total seats	Six	Seven
Passenger volume	135.8 cubic feet	135.8 cubic feet
Front-row headroom	40.1 inches	40.1 inches
Front-row leg room	41.0 inches	41.0 inches
Front-row shoulder room	57.9 inches	57.9 inches
Second-row headroom	38.5 inches	38.5 inches
Second-row legroom	39.4 inches	39.4 inches
Second-row shoulder room	58.1 inches	58.1 inches
Third-row headroom	35.4 inches	35.4 inches
Third-row leg room	29.7 inches	29.7 inches
Third-row shoulder room	53.1 inches	53.1 inches

Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds

Find Savings!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

MORE:

How to protect cloth car seats

Cargo space

Large families usually bring a lot of luggage, so they might be disappointed with the lack of space in the back of the CX-9. You'll find a below-average 14.4 cubic feet behind the third row, which grows to 71.2 cubic feet when the seats are folded away. On the plus side, the second and third rows create a perfectly flat cargo floor once they’re stowed, which is easy to reach at 30.3 inches.

You're going to have to get creative to replace the cargo space. There's no way to increase the 3,500-pound limit on the

Mazda CX-9 towing capacity

, but you can buy a Class II trailer hitch and wiring harness. Or, check out the official Roof Rack & Cross Barspackage ($715) or an aftermarket equivalent so you can lash stuff to the roof.

The cargo area also has mats, trays, nets, and a retractable cover ($325) available.

MORE:

How to protect, clean, and organize your car trunk

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

How many seats do other Mazda vehicles have?

If you’re looking for the top of the lineup, you’ve already found it—the CX-9 is the largest Mazda SUV. However, you have plenty of options if you're looking for something smaller. After dropping the

CX-3

, the

2023 Mazda CX-5

and its rugged twin, the CX-50 ($28,825), became the company’s smallest SUVs. Both offer enough seating for five.

Drop down a weight class and not only does the price fall, but so do the

insurance costs for the Mazda 3

($23,615). Available as either a compact sedan or hatchback, the former has a trunk capacity of 13.2 cubic feet and the latter has a cargo capacity of 20.1 cubic feet. If you’re looking to save on fuel as well as

California car insurance costs

, look out for the MX-30. The five-seat EV will launch exclusively in The Golden State next year.

MORE:

Are Mazdas good cars?

How to save on Mazda CX-9 insurance costs

Finding a licensed and reputable insurance broker isn't always easy, but we know of an expert with thousands of five-star reviews who’s just a download away. We’re talking about

Jerry

, of course, the App Store’s #1 insurance super app!

Jerry's also the fastest broker around. Tell him about your current coverage and he'll find quotes from over 55 top insurance companies across the country, like

, and

. You'll have five to seven plans to choose from in less than a minute. Feel free to call Jerry's friendly customer service team with any questions—like how to cancel your old policy!

“When using
Jerry
, I was impressed at how their representative took care of my situation. He was so knowledgeable about my state’s insurance laws!” —Rabi B.