Compare the2023 Mazda CX-9VS 2023 Toyota Sequoia

Full-time four-wheel drive is standard on the CX-9. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Sequoia. Four-wheel drive of any type costs extra on the Sequoia.

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 Sequoia doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the CX-9 uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Sequoia uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the CX-9 and the Sequoia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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.

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 Sequoia has not been tested, yet.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-9 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Sequoia requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The CX-9 stops much shorter than the Sequoia:

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 Sequoia’s standard 70 series tires.

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

The CX-9 Signature handles at .85 G’s, while the Sequoia Capstone 4x4 pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-9’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Sequoia’s (38.8 feet vs. 40.2 feet). The CX-9’s turning circle is 5.8 feet tighter than the Sequoia TRD Pro’s (38.8 feet vs. 44.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sequoia (8.8 vs. 8.6 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Mazda CX-9 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1200 to 1800 pounds less than the Toyota Sequoia.

The CX-9 is 8.7 inches shorter than the Sequoia, making the CX-9 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the CX-9’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Sequoia uses body-on-frame design instead.

The CX-9 has .1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear legroom than the Sequoia.

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

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 Sequoia’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 Sequoia 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 Sequoia and isn’t available on the Sequoia SR5.

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

The Mazda CX-9 outsold the Toyota Sequoia by almost seven to one during 2022.