Compare the2023 Mazda CX-9VS 2023 Buick Enclave

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-9 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 Buick Enclave doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-9. But it costs extra on the Enclave.

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 Enclave doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-9 and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 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 Buick Enclave:

	CX-9	Enclave
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.9 inches

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 Buick Enclave:

	CX-9	Enclave
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.4 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	161 lbs.
Hip Force	195 lbs.	204 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	582 lbs.	716 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	249	251
Hip Force	553 lbs.	554 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-9 is safer than the Enclave:

	CX-9	Enclave
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	106	141
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	446 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	45 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.71 in	1.3 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.14 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	647 lbs.	1116 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	134 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.22 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	625 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

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 Enclave has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The CX-9’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Enclave’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Buick is ranked 11th.

Engine

The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
CX-9
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
Enclave
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/25 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-9 stops much shorter than the Enclave:

	CX-9	Enclave
70 to 0 MPH	178 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The CX-9 Touring’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Enclave’s standard 65 series tires. The CX-9 Touring Plus/Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Enclave’s optional 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The CX-9’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.7% to 45.3%) than the Enclave’s (57% to 43%). This gives the CX-9 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-9 Signature handles at .85 G’s, while the Enclave Essence pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-9 Signature executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Enclave Avenir (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Enclave (8.8 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The CX-9 is 5.4 inches shorter than the Enclave, making the CX-9 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CX-9 Signature is quieter than the Enclave Essence:

	CX-9	Enclave
At idle	37 dB	38 dB
Full-Throttle	71 dB	78 dB
70 MPH Cruising	66 dB	67 dB

Towing

The CX-9’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

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 Enclave doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The CX-9’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The CX-9 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Enclave doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The CX-9’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Enclave’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Enclave doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the CX-9 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Enclave doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-9 is less expensive to operate than the Enclave because it costs $418 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-9 than the Enclave, including $26 less for a muffler, $113 less for front brake pads, $104 less for a starter, $198 less for fuel injection, $16 less for a fuel pump and $507 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda CX-9 will be $4478 to $6963 less than for the Buick Enclave.

Recommendations

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

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its November 2019 issue and they ranked the Mazda CX-9 Signature two places higher than the Buick Enclave Essence.

The Mazda CX-9 outsold the Buick Enclave by 13% during 2022.

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