Compare the2023 Mazda CX-9VS 2023 GMC Acadia

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

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature has standard Rear Smart City Brake Support that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Acadia doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

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 Acadia doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-9 and the Acadia 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 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda CX-9 is safer than the GMC Acadia:

	CX-9	Acadia
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	40%	43%
Neck Stress	183 lbs.	203 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 GMC Acadia:

	CX-9	Acadia
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	88	125
Chest Movement	.4 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	156 lbs.
Hip Force	195 lbs.	243 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	208	276
Hip Force	582 lbs.	799 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	249	381
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	36 G’s
Hip Force	553 lbs.	760 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 Acadia last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

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

Reliability

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 13 points higher than the Acadia.

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 GMC 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, GMC is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. GMC is ranked 21st.

Engine

The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (250 vs. 228) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the Acadia’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 49 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 271) than the Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-9 gets better fuel mileage than the Acadia 3.6 DOHC V6 AWD (20 city/26 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-9 stops shorter than the Acadia:

	CX-9	Acadia
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-9 has larger tires than the Acadia (255/60R18 vs. 235/65R18).

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 Acadia SLE/SLT’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 Acadia’s optional 55 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 Acadia AT4.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-9’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than on the Acadia (115.3 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

The CX-9’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.7% to 45.3%) than the Acadia’s (56.5% to 43.5%). This gives the CX-9 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-9 Signature handles at .85 G’s, while the Acadia SLT AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia (8.8 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The CX-9 has 1 inch more front hip room and 4.1 inches more rear hip room than the Acadia.

Cargo Capacity

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

	CX-9	Acadia
Behind Third Seat	14.4 cubic feet	12.8 cubic feet

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

	CX-9	Acadia
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	21.5”/50.5”/84.9”	18.5”/48”/83”
Max Width	57.2”	50”
Min Width	40.2”	42.5”
Height	30.3”	33”

Towing

The CX-9’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Acadia’s (3500 vs. 1000 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 Acadia doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

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 Acadia’s 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 Acadia 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. The Acadia 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 Acadia’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 Acadia’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

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 Acadia 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 Acadia.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-9 is less expensive to operate than the Acadia 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 Acadia, including $8 less for a muffler, $103 less for front brake pads, $80 less for a starter, $81 less for fuel injection, $56 less for a timing belt/chain and $412 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its August 2017 issue and they ranked the Mazda CX-9 Signature first. They ranked the GMC Acadia Denali AWD third.

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