Compare the2023 Mazda CX-9VS 2023 Hyundai Palisade

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

Both the CX-9 and the Palisade 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 around view monitors and driver alert 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 Hyundai Palisade:

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 Palisade:

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 Hyundai vehicles. With 5 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Hyundai.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 13th.

The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 58 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-9 is faster than the Hyundai Palisade:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-9 gets better fuel mileage than the Palisade AWD (20 city/26 hwy vs. 19 city/25 hwy).

The CX-9 stops shorter than the Palisade:

For better traction, the CX-9 has larger tires than the Palisade (255/60R18 vs. 245/60R18).

The CX-9 has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Palisade doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-9’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the Palisade (115.3 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The CX-9’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.7% to 45.3%) than the Palisade’s (56% to 44%). This gives the CX-9 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-9 Signature handles at .85 G’s, while the Palisade SEL AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-9 Signature executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Palisade Limited AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Palisade (8.8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CX-9 Signature is quieter than the Palisade Limited AWD:

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

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 Palisade’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Palisade can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Palisade SE/SEL/XRT’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 Palisade doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The CX-9 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Palisade SEL/Limited/Calligraphy.

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. Only the Palisade SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy offers wireless charging.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-9 is less expensive to operate than the Palisade because it costs $454 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-9 than the Palisade, including $103 less for a muffler, $74 less for front brake pads, $113 less for a starter, $166 less for fuel injection, $9 less for a fuel pump and $487 less for a power steering pump.

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