Compare the2019 Infiniti QX60VS 2018 Mazda CX-9

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The QX60 Luxe’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CX-9 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front, middle and rear seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX60 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mazda CX-9 doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle or rear seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The QX60 Luxe offers an optional Backup Collision Intervention that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The CX-9 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The QX60 offers an optional Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The CX-9 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Compared to metal, the QX60’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mazda CX-9 has a metal gas tank.

Both the QX60 and the CX-9 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all-wheel drive and lane departure warning systems.

Warranty

The QX60 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-9’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 24,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX60 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the CX-9. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the CX-9 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The QX60’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the CX-9’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the QX60 has a standard 150-amp alternator. The CX-9’s 110-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the QX60’s reliability 18 points higher than the CX-9.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 14th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2018 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 5 places higher in reliability than Mazda.

Engine

The QX60’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 45 more horsepower (295 vs. 250) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4 cyl.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Infiniti QX60 higher (5 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-9 (3). This means the QX60 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-9 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The QX60 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The QX60’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CX-9 are solid, not vented.

The QX60 stops much shorter than the CX-9:

	QX60	CX-9
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Passenger Space

The QX60 has 13.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-9 (149 vs. 135.1).

The QX60 has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear legroom, 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.1 inches more third row headroom, 1.1 inches more third row legroom, 1.9 inches more third row hip room and 4 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-9.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the QX60’s middle and third row seats recline. The CX-9’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The QX60’s cargo area provides more volume than the CX-9.

	QX60	CX-9
Behind Third Seat	16 cubic feet	14.4 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	40.5 cubic feet	38.2 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	76.2 cubic feet	71.2 cubic feet

The QX60 has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The CX-9 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a switch automatically raises the QX60’s optional third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The CX-9 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the QX60. The CX-9 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the QX60 Luxe’s available liftgate can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The QX60’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-9’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The QX60 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The CX-9 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti first in service department satisfaction. With a 90% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 27th.

Ergonomics

The QX60 Luxe’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-9 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

If the windows are left open on the QX60 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CX-9 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The QX60’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The CX-9’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the QX60’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the CX-9’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The QX60 has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The CX-9 only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The QX60’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda charges extra for heated mirrors on the CX-9.

When the QX60 Luxe is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The CX-9’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The QX60 Luxe offers optional automatic dimming rear and side view mirrors which automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The CX-9 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the QX60 Luxe keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in summer. The CX-9 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The QX60 offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the QX60 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the QX60 with a number “8” insurance rate while the CX-9 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX60 is less expensive to operate than the CX-9 because typical repairs cost much less on the QX60 than the CX-9, including $804 less for a water pump, $13 less for front brake pads, $89 less for a fuel pump and $38 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

The Infiniti QX60 outsold the Mazda CX-9 by 57% during 2017.

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