Compare the2022 Honda PilotVS 2022 Mazda CX-9

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Pilot deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Pilot’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The CX-9’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Compared to metal, the Pilot’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 Pilot and the CX-9 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 all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Pilot is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

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, results indicate that the Honda Pilot is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are almost 2 times as many Honda dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pilot’s warranty.

The engine in the Pilot has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the CX-9 has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Pilot has a standard 130-amp alternator. The CX-9’s 110-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. With 13 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Honda higher than Mazda.

The Pilot’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 30 more horsepower (280 vs. 250) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Honda Pilot is faster than the Mazda CX-9:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Pilot’s fuel efficiency. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Pilot’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CX-9 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Pilot uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-9 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Pilot has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Pilot, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-9.

The Pilot stops much shorter than the CX-9:

The Pilot has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The CX-9 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Pilot (except LX)’s optional drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The CX-9 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Pilot is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the CX-9.

The Pilot Elite 4WD handles at .83 G’s, while the CX-9 Touring pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Honda Pilot may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 350 pounds less than the Mazda CX-9.

The Pilot uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CX-9 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Pilot Elite 4WD is quieter than the CX-9 Signature (37 vs. 38 dB).

The Pilot has standard seating for 8 passengers; the CX-9 can only carry 7.

The Pilot has 16.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-9 (151.7 vs. 135.1).

The Pilot has .2 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front hip room, 4.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.5 inches more third row headroom, 2.2 inches more third row legroom, 4.5 inches more third row hip room and 4.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-9.

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

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

The Pilot 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.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Pilot. The CX-9 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Maximum trailer towing in the Mazda CX-9 is limited to 3500 pounds. The Pilot 4WD offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Pilot has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The CX-9 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The Pilot’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, 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 Pilot 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 close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Pilot’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-9’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

When the Pilot 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 Pilot’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to 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.

The Pilot Touring/Elite/Black Edition has a 115-volt a/c outlet, 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.

The Pilot is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Pilot is less expensive to operate than the CX-9 because it costs $273 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Pilot than the CX-9, including $553 less for a water pump, $20 less for front brake pads, $96 less for front struts, $692 less for a timing belt/chain and $41 less for a power steering pump.

The Honda Pilot has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2020 issue and they ranked the Honda Pilot Black Edition 4WD four places higher than the Mazda CX-9 Signature.

The Honda Pilot outsold the Mazda CX-9 by over four to one during the 2021 model year.