To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-9. But it costs extra on the RXL.
Both the CX-9 and the RXL have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda CX-9 is safer than the Lexus RXL:
|
CX-9 |
RXL |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
3 Stars |
Neck Injury Risk |
26% |
33.2% |
Neck Stress |
309 lbs. |
412 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
51 lbs. |
60 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
107/424 lbs. |
433/719 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
Chest Compression |
.6 inches |
.7 inches |
Neck Injury Risk |
40% |
40.1% |
Neck Stress |
183 lbs. |
267 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
376/375 lbs. |
403/457 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda CX-9 is safer than the Lexus RXL:
|
CX-9 |
RXL |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Chest Movement |
.4 inches |
.7 inches |
Abdominal Force |
98 lbs. |
110 lbs. |
Hip Force |
195 lbs. |
214 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Hip Force |
582 lbs. |
594 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
249 |
275 |
Spine Acceleration |
35 G’s |
44 G’s |
Hip Force |
553 lbs. |
685 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-9 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RXL is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.