Compare the2023 Acura MDXVS 2023 Mazda CX-9

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Acura MDX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Mazda CX-9 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the MDX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Acura MDX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The CX-9 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the MDX and the CX-9 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, available all wheel drive and 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 Acura MDX is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

	MDX	CX-9
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Stress	304 lbs.	309 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	288	337
Neck Injury Risk	30%	40%
Neck Stress	122 lbs.	183 lbs.
Neck Compression	75 lbs.	165 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 Acura MDX is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

	MDX	CX-9
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	208
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	54 G’s
Hip Force	168 lbs.	582 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
Hip Force	424 lbs.	553 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, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the MDX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CX-9 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2023.

Warranty

The MDX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-9’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the MDX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the CX-9. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the CX-9 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the MDX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-9.

Engine

The MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 40 more horsepower (290 vs. 250) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The MDX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 105 more horsepower (355 vs. 250) and 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 320) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Acura MDX is faster than the Mazda CX-9:

	MDX V6	MDX Type S	CX-9
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	5.4 sec	7.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	17.6 sec	13.8 sec	20.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.6 sec	5.8 sec	8.1 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	14 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93 MPH	101 MPH	88 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the MDX’s fuel efficiency. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the MDX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CX-9 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The MDX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura MDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-9.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the MDX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-9:

	MDX	MDX Type S	CX-9
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	14.3 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13 inches	12.8 inches

The MDX stops much shorter than the CX-9:

	MDX	CX-9
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the MDX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-9 (275/40R21 vs. 255/60R18).

The MDX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-9 Touring’s standard 60 series tires. The MDX Type S’ tires have a lower 40 series profile than the CX-9 Touring Plus/Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the MDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the CX-9 Touring. The MDX Type S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the CX-9 Touring Plus/Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature.

The MDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The CX-9 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the MDX can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The CX-9 doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

The MDX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The CX-9’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The MDX Type S has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The MDX’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the MDX is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the CX-9.

The MDX Type S handles at .87 G’s, while the CX-9 Signature pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The MDX SH-AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-9 Touring (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the MDX Type S has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-9 (9.4 vs. 8.8 inches), allowing the MDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The MDX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CX-9 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the MDX Type S is quieter than the CX-9 Signature (36 vs. 38 dB).

Passenger Space

The MDX has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-9 (139.1 vs. 135.1).

The MDX has .6 inches more front legroom, 2.6 inches more front hip room, 4 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear hip room, 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .8 inches more third row headroom, .5 inches more third row hip room and 2.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-9.

Cargo Capacity

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

	MDX	CX-9
Behind Third Seat	18.1 cubic feet	14.4 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	38.2 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	95 cubic feet	71.2 cubic feet

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the MDX. The CX-9 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Mazda CX-9 is limited to 3500 pounds. The MDX SH-AWD offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The MDX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The CX-9 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 15% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 11th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat in the CX-9 Touring Plus/Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature, the MDX offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The MDX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-9 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

If the windows are left open on the MDX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CX-9 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the MDX’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the CX-9’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

When the MDX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The CX-9’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The MDX Type S Advance has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the CX-9.

The MDX offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The MDX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the MDX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the MDX will cost $195 to $2080 less than the CX-9 over a five-year period.

The MDX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the MDX will retain 45.63% to 46.51% of its original price after five years, while the CX-9 only retains 42.92% to 44.59%.

Recommendations

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

The Acura MDX outsold the Mazda CX-9 by 34% during 2022.

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