Mazda CX-9 Reliability: 5 Out of 5

The Mazda CX-9 is a three-row SUV that fits up to 7 passengers. It is one of the top-selling larger SUVs in Mazda’s lineup, and the Mazda CX-9 reliability is top-notch.

Keep reading to learn more about vehicle reliability, its importance, and how reliable the 2020 Mazda CX-9 is according to Consumer Reports and the hundreds of drivers this organization surveyed in order to rank the reliability of various vehicles for 2020.

What is Reliability?

In terms of vehicles, reliability has to do with how much trust you can put in your car. Cars that are reliable are less likely to break down without warning or suddenly require repairs or part replacements, whereas vehicles that are less reliable are prone to sudden malfunctions. When you drive a reliable vehicle, you get the peace of mind of knowing that when you try to turn it on in the morning, it would be very rare for it not to start.

Vehicles that are reliable also tend to remain in safe and drivable condition for much longer than less reliable vehicles. More reliable vehicles might be slightly more expensive than less reliable vehicles, but purchasing a reliable vehicle is usually more cost-effective in the long run because you will end up spending less money on maintenance, repairs, and part replacements over time for a reliable vehicle.

Who Determines Vehicle Reliability?

There is no single organization that determines the exact reliability of various vehicles. In fact, the reliability of vehicles and automakers is largely determined by drivers themselves.

However, Consumer Reports is one of the biggest and most trustworthy determinants of vehicle reliability—at least in the United States. Consumer Reports is an American non-profit organization that tests products, does research on consumers and their habits, and advocates for consumers—among other things.

Consumer Reports is widely considered to be a very unbiased organization, so their determination of vehicle reliability is well-trusted among drivers as well as among critics and experts in the auto industry.

Each year, Consumer Reports performs an annual review of the reliability of various vehicles on the market. Their scoring system is a 5-point scale that ranks vehicles’ reliability between 1 and 5. Vehicles that score a 1 out of 5 are considered to be the least reliable vehicles, and vehicles that score a 5 out of 5 are considered to be among the most reliable vehicles on the mainstream auto market.

Consumer Reports gets their reliability data for each model they rank from a widespread survey in which they ask a sample of 200 to 300 drivers to report any problems that they experienced with their vehicle over the past year. Drivers are asked to identify problems

that they consider serious, and they are asked to report all problems—even those covered by their vehicle’s warranty—except for those that are a direct result of a collision or other accident.

Respondents to Consumer Reports’ are prompted to check off whether they experienced any problems with their vehicle’s engine, transmission, climate system, electrical system, power accessories, brakes, etc. and are encouraged to spell out any specific problems they experienced in these areas in more detail in their own words. This helps Consumer Reports get a more accurate picture of the reliability of the different parts and systems of the car models they review.