Compare the2023 Cadillac XT6VS 2023 Mazda CX-9

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

Safety

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The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CX-9 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 XT6 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 Cadillac XT6 has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps 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.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Compared to metal, the XT6’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mazda CX-9 has a metal gas tank.

Both the XT6 and the CX-9 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 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 Cadillac XT6 is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

	XT6	CX-9
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	167	212
Neck Injury Risk	25%	26%
Neck Stress	187 lbs.	309 lbs.
Neck Compression	28 lbs.	51 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	161/358 lbs.	107/424 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	305	337
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	38%	40%
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	183 lbs.
Neck Compression	71 lbs.	165 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	9/6 lbs.	376/375 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 Cadillac XT6 is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

	XT6	CX-9
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	180	208
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	54 G’s
Hip Force	249 lbs.	582 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches

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

Warranty

The XT6 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The CX-9’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT6 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.

The XT6’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the CX-9’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the XT6 has a standard 220-amp alternator (155-amp - XT6 V6 and 170 optional). The CX-9’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT6 first among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The CX-9 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mazda is rated lower.

Engine

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 60 more horsepower (310 vs. 250) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6 is faster than the Mazda CX-9:

	XT6	CX-9
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.6 sec	20.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.6 sec	8.1 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	96 MPH	88 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XT6 gets better mileage than the CX-9:

			MPG
XT6
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy
CX-9
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT6’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 XT6’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 XT6 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-9 (22 vs. 19.5 gallons).

The XT6 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.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac XT6 higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-9 (5). This means the XT6 produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-9 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT6, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-9.

Brakes and Stopping

The XT6’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CX-9 are solid, not vented.

The XT6 stops much shorter than the CX-9:

	XT6	CX-9
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	134 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-9 (265/45R21 vs. 255/60R18).

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-9 Touring Plus/Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional 21-inch wheels. The CX-9’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Cadillac XT6’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Mazda CX-9 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The XT6 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.

Suspension and Handling

The XT6 offers an optional 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.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XT6 is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than on the CX-9.

The XT6 Sport AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the CX-9 Signature pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XT6 Sport AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-9 Touring (27.2 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the XT6 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-9 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The XT6 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.

Passenger Space

The XT6 has .5 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more third row headroom and .4 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-9.

Cargo Capacity

The XT6’s cargo area provides more volume than the CX-9.

	XT6	CX-9
Third Seat Folded	43.1 cubic feet	38.2 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	78.7 cubic feet	71.2 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the XT6’s second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The CX-9 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the XT6. 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 XT6 offers up to a 4000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The XT6 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 Cadillac service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 24% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 11th.

Ergonomics

The XT6’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.

The power windows standard on both the XT6 and the CX-9 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the XT6 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-9 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The XT6’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-9’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

When the XT6 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 XT6’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The CX-9 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional Automatic Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The CX-9 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The XT6 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

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT6 is less expensive to operate than the CX-9 because typical repairs cost much less on the XT6 than the CX-9, including $569 less for a water pump, $214 less for a fuel pump, $146 less for front struts and $54 less for a timing belt/chain.