While some drivers like loud cars, if you’re driving around with a bunch of noisy kids in the back of your SUV, you don’t necessarily want a lot of vehicle noise adding to the sounds. A quiet SUV can be more difficult to find. Due to their boxy shape and height off the ground, SUVs get more wind noise and are less quiet inside than other vehicles. If you’re considering buying a new SUV, it can be hard to tell right away which ones are quietest inside. There are options though, and the 2020 Mazda CX-9 is a great quiet midsize SUV to consider.

The quietest midsize SUVs

To help buyers, Consumer Reports has evaluated different sizes of SUVs to see how much wind noise, road noise, and engine noise makes its way into the cabin. The six quietest midsize SUVs are all recommended by Consumer Reports. They did well on the Consumer Reports road tests, plus they have good reliability, advanced safety features, and crash test results.

Usually, luxury vehicles are known for being quieter. Auto manufacturers achieve a quieter cabin through the design of the exterior and the interior. The exterior design can be made more aerodynamic. Any mechanical moving parts can be designed to reduce vibration and unnecessary noises. And, sound-deadening materials and noise-canceling features can be added around the cabin.

The 2020 Mazda CX-9

Mazda doesn’t generally focus on a quiet cabin, but the 2020 Mazda CX-9 is one exception. The comfortable three-row SUV has a “sleek” look and comes with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It generates 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque with regular gas or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque with premium gas.

The engine may have less horsepower than some competitors, but it provides about 50 lb-ft more torque and is great to drive. This smaller engine also offers better fuel efficiency than many competitors. Consumer Reports does point out that while the CX-9 generally is “well-hushed,” its engine “can sound a bit gravelly when pushed hard.”

Its quiet interior gives the Mazda CX-9 an air of luxury. While a bit snug for third-row passengers and cargo, the cabin finishes are high-quality. Car and Driver describes the dashboard as “handsome.” The second row also has available captain’s chairs. The top trim includes a second-row console between the seats.

Mazda’s “Zoom-Zoom” and “Feel Alive” campaigns

Mazda has used the marketing slogan of “Zoom-Zoom” for almost 20 years, along with other campaigns. “Zoom-Zoom” emphasizes the love of driving and is intended to create an emotional connection with the Mazda brand. It should suggest the “emotion of motion first felt as a child.” 

The 2020 Mazda CX-9 is currently being marketed with the “Feel Alive” campaign, which shifts attention to Mazda’s luxury feel. The campaign keeps the emotion of driving while drawing attention to its human-centered design. While the quiet cabin hasn’t specifically been a central focus for marketing, the shift last year to “Feel Alive” brings an awareness of luxury to the Mazda brand.

The other quiet midsize SUVs besides the Mazda CX-9

The 2020 Mazda CX-9 isn’t the only SUV to offer an upscale quiet cabin. Here are the other five midsize SUVs that Consumer Reports recommended for their quiet interiors:

• 2020 Kia Telluride
• 2020 Hyundai Palisade
• 2020 Ford Edge
• 2020 Subaru Ascent
• 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

In addition, another Mazda made Consumer Reports’ list of quietest compact SUVs: the 2020 Mazda CX-5.

If you’re looking for a quiet SUV, they do exist. And, although it may be surprising, Mazda has one of the quietest midsize SUVs. Buyers should test out the 2020 Mazda CX-9 and enjoy its peaceful ride.