Compare the2023 Mazda CX-9VS 2023 Audi Q7

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q7 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-9 and the Q7 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, all wheel drive, 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 and available around view 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 Audi Q7:

	CX-9	Q7
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	40%	44%

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Mazda CX-9 is safer than the Q7:

	CX-9	Q7
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	158	225
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	27 cm	30 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	4%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.37/.44	.57/.7

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 Audi Q7:

	CX-9	Q7
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	88	187
Chest Movement	.4 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	128 lbs.
Hip Force	195 lbs.	350 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	208	337
Spine Acceleration	54 G’s	62 G’s
Hip Force	582 lbs.	888 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	249	290
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	553 lbs.	557 lbs.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-9 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q7 last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-9 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q7. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q7 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 78 percent more Mazda dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-9’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 59 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

Engine

The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 47 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 273) than the Q7 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-9 gets better mileage than the Q7:

			MPG
CX-9
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
Q7
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/25 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6 Hybrid	18 city/22 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-9 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Q7 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Tires and Wheels

The CX-9 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q7; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Q7 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

Suspension and Handling

The CX-9 Signature handles at .85 G’s, while the Q7 Premium Plus pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-9’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Q7’s (38.8 feet vs. 41 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q7 (8.8 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Mazda CX-9 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 650 pounds less than the Audi Q7.

Passenger Space

The CX-9 has .6 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more third row legroom and 3.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the Q7.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-9’s cargo area provides more volume than the Q7.

	CX-9	Q7
Third Seat Folded	38.2 cubic feet	37.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	71.2 cubic feet	69.6 cubic feet

The CX-9’s cargo area is larger than the Q7’s in almost every dimension:

	CX-9	Q7
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	21.5”/50.5”/84.9”	19.5”/44.7”/80.7”
Max Width	57.2”	52.5”
Min Width	40.2”	42.6”
Height	30.3”	30”

Towing

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the CX-9 uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q7 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-9 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q7 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CX-9’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Q7’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Q7 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-9 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q7.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the CX-9 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CX-9 will cost $1620 to $4420 less than the Q7 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-9 is less expensive to operate than the Q7 because it costs $291 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-9 than the Q7, including $397 less for a muffler, $95 less for front brake pads, $751 less for a starter, $553 less for fuel injection, $419 less for front struts and $323 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda CX-9 will be $19843 to $23912 less than for the Audi Q7.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-9 and the Audi Q7, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-9 outsold the Audi Q7/SQ7 by 79% during 2022.