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The CX-9’s lowest Sport trim level is gone, leaving the $40,025 Touring as the cheapest version of the three-row SUV you can buy.

• The 2023 Mazda CX-9 is dropping the base Sport trim, making the Touring trim its new entry model.
• New for the 2023 model year, the Touring trim will offer second-row captain’s chairs as standard; they were previously optional.
• The 2023 CX-9 Touring will start at $40,025 and will begin arriving at dealerships later this fall.

The Mazda CX-9 three-row SUV enters 2023 without the previous entry-level Sport trim. The Touring will be the base model, meaning the CX-9 now starts above $40,000. As a reward for the increased barrier of entry, Mazda is offering new standard features for the Touring, including second-row captain’s chairs, a sunroof, LED fog lights, black- or sand-colored leather seats, and a wireless phone charger. Upgrading to the Touring Plus trim level, at $42,775, switches the second-row seat back to a three-place bench, though customers who won’t make use of the seventh seat can still opt for the captain’s chairs.

Prices are going up slightly for other models, too, as the top Signature trim now starts at $49,735. Mazda offers three premium paint options for the CX-9: Soul Red Crystal Metallic and Machine Gray Metallic both cost $595, while Snowflake White Pearl Mica is $395.

Across all trim levels, the 2023 CX-9 will still be powered by the same turbocharged 2.5-liter engine from the previous model. Unlike other models equipped with this engine that recently upped output to 256 horsepower, the CX-9 retains its 250-hp figure. All CX-9s still feature a six-speed automatic transmission and Mazda’s i-Activ AWD system.

According to Mazda, the CX-9 will begin arriving at dealerships sometime this fall.