Compare the2023 Hyundai PalisadeVS 2023 Mazda CX-9

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

Safety

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Both the Palisade and CX-9 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Palisade has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The CX-9’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 Palisade 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 Hyundai Palisade 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Palisade 4WD’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The CX-9 doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Palisade and CX-9 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Palisade has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic.

Compared to metal, the Palisade’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 Palisade 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 Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

	Palisade	CX-9
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	160	212
Neck Injury Risk	19%	26%
Neck Stress	161 lbs.	309 lbs.
Neck Compression	42 lbs.	51 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	94/151 lbs.	107/424 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	333	337
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	40%
Neck Stress	132 lbs.	183 lbs.
Neck Compression	43 lbs.	165 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	351/306 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 Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

	Palisade	CX-9
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	88
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	189	208
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	54 G’s
Hip Force	189 lbs.	582 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	223	249

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 Palisade 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 Palisade comes with a full 5-year/60,000-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 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Palisade 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the CX-9. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CX-9 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Palisade’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the CX-9’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Palisade for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-9.

There are over 52 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Palisade’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Palisade has a standard 180-amp alternator. The CX-9’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 12th.

Engine

The Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 41 more horsepower (291 vs. 250) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Palisade is faster than the Mazda CX-9:

	Palisade	CX-9
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	7.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.2 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	88 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Palisade’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 with its optional disable switch. The CX-9 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Palisade uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-9 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Hyundai Palisade, 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 Palisade’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-9:

	Palisade	CX-9
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.6 inches

The Palisade stops shorter than the CX-9:

	Palisade	CX-9
70 to 0 MPH	177 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	132 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Palisade offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Palisade is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than on the CX-9.

The Palisade Limited AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the CX-9 Signature pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Hyundai Palisade may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Mazda CX-9.

Passenger Space

The Palisade has standard seating for 8 passengers; the CX-9 can only carry up to 7.

The Palisade has 20.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-9 (155.3 vs. 135.1).

The Palisade has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 3.1 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room, 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.4 inches more third row headroom, 1.7 inches more third row legroom, 3.6 inches more third row hip room and 2.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-9.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Palisade’s middle and third row seats recline. The CX-9’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Palisade	CX-9
Behind Third Seat	18 cubic feet	14.4 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	45.8 cubic feet	38.2 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	86.4 cubic feet	71.2 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Palisade easier. The Palisade’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.6 inches, while the CX-9’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

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

Towing

The Palisade’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-9’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The Palisade 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.

Ergonomics

The Palisade (except SE)’s optional Easy Access Seat glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, 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 Palisade and the CX-9 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Palisade 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 Palisade’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.

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

When the Palisade with available tilt-down mirrors 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 Palisade’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 Palisade SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy has standard heated front seats and second and third row heated seats also avaiable, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Mazda doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the CX-9.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Palisade’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The CX-9 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Palisade Calligraphy 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 Palisade (except SE) 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.

The Palisade Calligraphy’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The CX-9 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Palisade 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 Palisade owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Palisade will cost $880 less than the CX-9 over a five-year period.

The Palisade will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Palisade will retain 53.3% to 53.86% of its original price after five years, while the CX-9 only retains 42.92% to 44.59%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Palisade is less expensive to operate than the CX-9 because typical repairs cost much less on the Palisade than the CX-9, including $582 less for a water pump, $34 less for front struts and $142 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Palisade will be $3387 to $6564 less than for the Mazda CX-9.

Recommendations

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

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its November 2019 issue and they ranked the Hyundai Palisade Limited AWD higher than the Mazda CX-9 Signature.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Palisade first among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The CX-9 isn’t in the top three.

The Hyundai Palisade outsold the Mazda CX-9 by over two to one during 2022.

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