This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.

Key takeaways

  • The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2010 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD at 29 MPG.
  • The Mazda CX-9 4WD has gained 6 MPG since its first rated model year, the 2007 Mazda CX-9 4WD at 17 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car costs around $6,750 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

Combined MPG 17 MPG
City MPG 15 MPG
Highway MPG 21 MPG
Annual fuel cost $3,500
Tailpipe CO₂ 523 g/mi
Fuel type Regular

How the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD compares

The 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD returns 17 combined MPG. Cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year average 18.2 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 7%.

The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2010 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD at 29 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Mazda CX-9 4WD alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2010 model year (across all classes) returns 20.2 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2010 model year is on its own page.

2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD
17 MPG
Class average, 2010
18.2 MPG
Class best, 2010
29 MPG
Average new car, 2010
20.2 MPG

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 882.4 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $1,750
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $3,500
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $5,833

Year-over-year MPG for the Mazda CX-9 4WD

The EPA has rated the Mazda CX-9 4WD across 17 model years, from 2007 Mazda CX-9 4WD through 2023 Mazda CX-9 4WD. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.

The 2007 Mazda CX-9 4WD returned 17 MPG. The most recent 2023 Mazda CX-9 4WD returns 23 MPG. That is an improvement of 6 MPG over 16 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.

Year Combined MPG Open year page
2023 23 MPG 2023 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2022 23 MPG 2022 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2021 23 MPG 2021 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2020 23 MPG 2020 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2019 23 MPG 2019 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2018 23 MPG 2018 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2017 23 MPG 2017 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2016 23 MPG 2016 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2015 19 MPG 2015 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2014 19 MPG 2014 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2013 19 MPG 2013 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2012 19 MPG 2012 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2011 19 MPG 2011 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2010 17 MPG this page
2009 17 MPG 2009 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2008 17 MPG 2008 Mazda CX-9 4WD
2007 17 MPG 2007 Mazda CX-9 4WD

Compare against other Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD for 2010

If you are cross-shopping the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD leads this group at 29 MPG, 12 MPG ahead of the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD.

Specifications

The 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD runs a 3.7-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (s6), sending power through 4-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine
3.7L 6-cylinder
Transmission
Automatic (S6)
Drivetrain
4-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Regular
Annual petroleum use
17.5 barrels per year

Common questions about the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD.

  • Is the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD fuel efficient?
    It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD returns 17 combined MPG, and the average car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year sits at 18.2 MPG.
  • What MPG does the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD get?
    The EPA rates the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD at 17 combined MPG, 15 MPG in city driving, and 21 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
  • How much does it cost to fuel a 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,500 for the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
  • What fuel does the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD use?
    The EPA lists the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity.
  • Has the Mazda CX-9 4WD become more fuel efficient over time?
    Yes. The first EPA-rated Mazda CX-9 4WD, the 2007 Mazda CX-9 4WD, returned 17 combined MPG. The most recent 2023 Mazda CX-9 4WD returns 23 MPG, an improvement of 6 MPG over the run.
  • How much CO₂ does the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 523 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,841 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD?
    City driving returns 15 MPG and highway driving returns 21 MPG, a gap of 6 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise.
  • What engine is in the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD?
    The 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD has a 3.7-liter 6-cylinder engine.
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD have?
    The 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD comes with a automatic (s6) transmission and 4-wheel drive.
  • How does the 2010 Mazda CX-9 4WD compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2010 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD at 29 combined MPG. The Mazda CX-9 4WD returns 17 MPG, a gap of 12 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.