Mazda CX-9 vs Honda Pilot
Fuel Economy - The Mazda CX-9 offers the commuter's choice in SUVs for the daily drive in cities like Framingham, MA or Worcester, and can travel an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The Honda Pilot can travel up to an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
Safety - While both of these SUVs offer some high-rated safety and driver-assist features, the Mazda CX-9 goes one step further and provides standard Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) on all trim levels to improve highway driving outside of Auburn, MA. These features exist through Honda Sensing for the Pilot, but only available on other trims for an added fee.
Capability - Looking to take your SUV to the trails for some camping and outdoor fun? You may find the Mazda CX-9 the more preferable choice as its ground clearance is nearly nine inches off of the ground, giving you a better line of sight on your surroundings and keeping the undercarriage from incurring damage. The Honda Pilot stands at a ground clearance of about 7.3 inches.
Convenience - Your comfort should come standard through the air conditioning system, which is why the Mazda CX-9 makes it easy to enjoy the drive, through standard automatically-adjusting climate control with dual-zone controls up front for you and your copilot and rear heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for your backseat passengers. All of these features you will find absent on base trims of the Honda Pilot.
Technology - As you take on road trips out of state, you may wish to know about any drastic temperature changes or keep the visibility of your rear-view mirrors clear from icing or fog. The Mazda CX-9 crossover gives you the tools for success with available heated exterior mirrors, rain sensing wipers, and a standard outside temperature gauge. Most of these features come available on higher trim levels of the Pilot, except rain-sensing windshield wipers wholly unavailable.
Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander
Comfort - The Mazda CX-9 offers a few extra features available to help you and your passengers maintain optimal relaxation and comfort, even for a quick trip to Shrewsbury. This midsize crossover comes standard with dual-zone automatic climate control and available with front power-adjustable heated front seats. These features only come available on higher trims of the Toyota Highlander.
Safety - As with the Honda Pilot, the Mazda CX-9 provides some helpful standard and advanced features which only come available on the Toyota highlander in higher trim levels for an extra fee. Such high-tech safety features include front fog lights, Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
Capability - The Mazda CX-9 stands at a much higher ground clearance and handles a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs., making it at ideal choice for boats, smaller campers, and the like. The standard engine of the Highlander enables it to tow up to 1,500 lbs. while its ground clearance remains unlisted.
Cargo Space - Even without folding in the rear seat backs, the Mazda CX-9 provides ample space for luggage, groceries, and other essentials with a cargo volume of 14.4 cubic feet over the 13.8 cubic feet standard cargo volume of the Highlander.
Fuel Economy - Interestingly, while many Toyota models earn a reputation for their fuel economy, the Highlander crossover SUV stands as an exception and can travel an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The standard engine of the Mazda CX-9 enables this midsize crossover to travel up to 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.