Compare the2023 Mazda CX-9VS 2022 Toyota Highlander

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
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 Highlander.

The CX-9 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-9 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers rear cross-path warning.

Both the CX-9 and the Highlander 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, rearview cameras, available around view monitors and driver alert 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 Toyota Highlander:

	CX-9	Highlander
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	212	292
Neck Injury Risk	26%	38.2%
Neck Stress	309 lbs.	347 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	55 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	107/424 lbs.	321/243 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	376/375 lbs.	545/323 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 Toyota Highlander:

	CX-9	Highlander
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	195 lbs.	300 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	15 inches	15 inches
HIC	249	366
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	553 lbs.	664 lbs.

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

Engine

The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 57 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 263) than the Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-9 is faster than the Toyota Highlander:

	CX-9	Highlander
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	15.7 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

The CX-9 has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander (19.5 vs. 17.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-9 stops shorter than the Highlander:

	CX-9	Highlander
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-9 has larger tires than the Highlander (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 Highlander L/LE/XLE’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 Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

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 Highlander doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-9’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Highlander (115.3 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The CX-9 Signature handles at .85 G’s, while the Highlander Platinum AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-9 Signature executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Highlander Platinum AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander (8.8 vs. 8 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The CX-9 has .4 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more third row legroom than the Highlander.

Cargo Capacity

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

	CX-9	Highlander
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	21.5”/50.5”/84.9”	17.8”/48”/80.7”
Max Width	57.2”	50”
Min Width	40.2”	45.8”
Height	30.3”	31”

Ergonomics

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 Highlander’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Highlander XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers wireless charging.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-9 is less expensive to operate than the Highlander because typical repairs cost much less on the CX-9 than the Highlander, including $206 less for a starter, $229 less for fuel injection and $668 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

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

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