Compare the2023 Mazda CX-9VS 2023 Chrysler Pacifica

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

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 Pacifica doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-9 and the Pacifica 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 and available around view monitors.

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 Chrysler Pacifica:

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 Pacifica has not been fully tested, yet.

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 CX-9’s reliability 26 points higher than the Chrysler Pacifica and 54 points higher than the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.

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 Chrysler vehicles. With 85 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Chrysler.

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 Chrysler 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, Chrysler is rated below average.

The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 58 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 262) than the Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-9 is faster than the Chrysler Pacifica:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-9 gets better fuel mileage than the Pacifica 3.6 DOHC V6 AWD running its gasoline engine (20 city/26 hwy vs. 17 city/25 hwy).

The CX-9 has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.5 vs. 16.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CX-9 stops much shorter than the Pacifica:

For better traction, the CX-9 has larger tires than the Pacifica (255/60R18 vs. 235/65R17). The CX-9 Touring’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pacifica (255/60R18 vs. 245/50R20).

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 Pacifica’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-9 Touring has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Pacifica.

The CX-9 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the CX-9 flat and controlled during cornering. The Pacifica 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the CX-9’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Pacifica’s (38.8 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The CX-9’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Pacifica AWD’s (38.8 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a 3.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pacifica (8.8 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The CX-9 is 4.9 inches shorter than the Pacifica, making the CX-9 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

While the Pacifica Hybrid is not recommended to tow, any CX-9 can tow a minimum of 3500 pounds.

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the CX-9, using 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. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Pacifica and isn’t available on the PacificaHybrid/Touring.

The CX-9 Grand Touring/Signature has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-9’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Pacifica’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

On a hot day the CX-9’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Pacifica can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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. A locking fuel/charge port door is only offered on the Pacifica Hybrid.

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 Pacifica’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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 Pacifica 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. The Pacifica doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-9 is less expensive to operate than the Pacifica because typical repairs cost much less on the CX-9 than the Pacifica, including $361 less for a muffler, $99 less for front brake pads and $151 less for a starter.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-9, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chrysler Pacifica isn't recommended.