What is Mazda’s Biggest SUV? (Solved!)
Mazda is a Japanese auto manufacturer that is the fifteenth largest automaker in the world. Mazda currently makes 9 different models of vehicles is a variety of styles like sports car, sedan, and SUV.
Mazda’s biggest SUV is the CX-9. This is Mazda’s only SUV with three row seating. The Mazda CX-9 is taller, wider, and longer than any of Mazda’s other SUV models. The Mazda CX-9 also has more ground clearance and larger wheels than any other Mazda SUV.
The Mazda CX-9 is the only full size SUV that Mazda produces, and for that reason is bigger than all other SUVs the company produces. Keep reading to learn more about this model of SUV from Mazda.
CX-9 Dimensions
Both the interior and exterior dimensions are important when looking at a full size SUV. Both the interior and exterior dimensions of the Mazda CX-9 are bigger than all other Mazda vehicles, including its other SUV models.
Exterior Dimensions
The Mazda CX-9 SUV is visibly larger than the three other SUV models offered because of the larger exterior dimensions. These exterior measurements include the length, width, height, wheelbase, and ground clearance measurements.
The Mazda CX-9 is 199.4 inches long, 77.2 inches wide (excluding the wheel arch moldings), and 67.6 inches tall (without the antenna). The Mazda CX-9 gets 8.8 inches of ground clearance. And the final measurement, the wheel base, or the space between the front and rear tires, is 115.3 inches long. The length of the wheel base is a good predictor for the amount of space inside the vehicle.
Interior Dimensions
The interior dimensions are important to look at as well. They will give you a good idea of how much space you will have when driving or riding in the SUV. These dimensions include headroom, hip room, shoulder room, and legroom. We will look at the average dimensions of all three rows.
The average headroom is 37.7 inches, the average hip room 51.4 inches, the average shoulder room 56.4 inches, and the average legroom 36.7 inches. The driver and passenger seats have the most room overall, the middle row has less, and the back row has the least of all. This progressively smaller seating arrangement is typical for most SUVs.
CX-9 Specs
When looking at any vehicle, it is important to consider the other specs besides dimensions. Becoming familiar with how the engine functions, and the gas mileage will help you get a better idea of how the SUV will function. The engine on the CX-9 is equipped to handle a larger load than the engines of the other Mazda SUV models, and it has gas mileage to match the demands of the engine.
CX-9 Engine

Because of the larger size and weight of this particular SUV, it has to have a more powerful engine than the other models.
The CX-9 uses a SKYACTIV-G 2.5 Liter, dynamic pressure turbo, 16 valve, 4 cylinder engine. With regular fuel, it gets 227 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 310 pounds per foot of torque at 2,000 rpm. That is already very powerful, but with premium fuel, it gets 250 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 320 pounds per foot of torque at 2,500 rpm.
CX-9 Mileage
Such a powerful engine is necessary for such a large vehicle, but that combined with the weight of the SUV makes for less than ideal gas mileage. When in front wheel drive, the CX-9 gets 22 miles per gallon on city streets and 28 miles per gallon on highway streets.
When in all wheel drive, this SUV gets 20 miles per gallon on city streets and 26 miles per gallon on highway streets. With a fuel capacity of 19 gallons in front wheel drive and 19.5 gallons in all wheel drive, the FWD Mazda CX-9 can go up to 532 miles, while the AWD Mazda CX-9 can go up to 507 miles on just one tank!
How it Compares to the CX-5
Now that you know about the dimensions and specs that make up the Mazda CX-9, we can see how it compares to the other Mazda SUV models. In particular, we will compare it to the Mazda CX-5. The Mazda CX-5 is a mid-size SUV, but it is very popular and gives good insight into just how different the CX-9 is.
The main difference in these two models is their size. Right off the bat, there is a difference in the amount of seats. The CX-5 only has two rows of seats while the CX-9 has three rows of seating. This factor drastically alters the two vehicle’s length. The CX-9 is 199.4 inches long, while the CX-5 is only 179.1 inches from bumper to bumper.
Another good comparison to look at is the difference in height. This is less obvious than the length difference, but is is still an important part of the vehicle. The Mazda CX-5 is only 65.3 inches tall compared to the 67.6 inches of the CX-9. This is not that big of a difference, but it does allow for a little extra headroom or extra cargo space.
Finally, a big difference in the sizes of each model is the width. In this case, the CX-5 actually has a larger width than the CX-9. The Mazda CX-5 is 83.3 inches wide while the CX-9 is only 77.2 inches wide. The slimmer width of the CX-9 attempts to compensate for the extra length.
When parking the vehicle, it is already difficult with how long it is, and does not need to be any wider. This also means that there is less hip room inside the CX-9 than there is in the CX-5. This dimension is especially impactful if you drive multiple adults around frequently.
Conclusion
The CX-9 is the one and only full-size SUV made by Mazda. Naturally, the CX-9 is also the biggest SUV model the company makes. The powerful engine, extra cargo room, and extra row of seating make this SUV a great option for people with bigger families who need extra space.