Compare the2023 Mazda CX-9VS 2023 Volkswagen Atlas

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

Safety

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

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 Atlas doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-9 and the Atlas 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, 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 Volkswagen Atlas:

	CX-9	Atlas
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	212	307
Neck Injury Risk	26%	30%
Neck Stress	309 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	59 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 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 Volkswagen Atlas:

	CX-9	Atlas
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.4 inches	.5 inches
Hip Force	195 lbs.	345 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	249	279
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	51 G’s
Hip Force	553 lbs.	800 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 Atlas last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2018.

Warranty

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

The CX-9’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Atlas’ (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 11 points higher than the Atlas.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. With 50 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Volkswagen.

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 Volkswagen 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, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 23rd.

Engine

The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 more horsepower (250 vs. 235) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the Atlas’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 266) than the Atlas’ optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-9 is faster than the Volkswagen Atlas V6:

	CX-9	Atlas
Zero to 30 MPH	2.3 sec	2.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	7.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	19 sec	20.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.5 sec	8.2 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.4 sec	3.9 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.7 sec	5.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	89 MPH
Top Speed	132 MPH	116 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
CX-9
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
Atlas
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/23 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy

The CX-9 has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the Atlas (19.5 vs. 18.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-9 higher (5 out of 10) than the Volkswagen Atlas (3 to 5). This means the CX-9 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Atlas every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-9 stops much shorter than the Atlas:

	CX-9	Atlas
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension and Handling

The CX-9 Signature handles at .85 G’s, while the Atlas SEL R-Line Black 4Motion pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-9 Signature executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Atlas SEL 4Motion (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-9’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Atlas’ (38.8 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas 2.0T (8.8 vs. 7.1 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-9’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the Atlas V6 (8.8 vs. 7.5 inches).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CX-9 Signature is quieter than the Atlas SEL R-Line Black 4Motion:

	CX-9	Atlas
At idle	37 dB	41 dB
Full-Throttle	71 dB	76 dB
70 MPH Cruising	66 dB	68 dB

Towing

The CX-9’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Atlas’ (3500 vs. 2000 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 Atlas doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

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 Atlas doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Atlas only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 Atlas.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-9 is less expensive to operate than the Atlas 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 Atlas, including $320 less for a muffler, $52 less for front brake pads, $438 less for a starter, $301 less for fuel injection, $169 less for front struts, $295 less for a timing belt/chain and $440 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its August 2017 issue and the Mazda CX-9 Signature won out over the Volkswagen Atlas SEL R-Line Black 4Motion.