Compare the2023 Kia TellurideVS 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 Telluride and CX-9 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Telluride 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 Telluride are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Kia Telluride 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 Telluride’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The CX-9 doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

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

Compared to metal, the Telluride’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 Telluride 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 Kia Telluride is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

	Telluride	CX-9
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Stress	275 lbs.	309 lbs.
Neck Compression	32 lbs.	51 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36%	40%
Neck Stress	131 lbs.	183 lbs.
Neck Compression	91 lbs.	165 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	351/369 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 Kia Telluride is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

	Telluride	CX-9
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	41	88
Abdominal Force	93 lbs.	98 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	208
Spine Acceleration	47 G’s	54 G’s
Hip Force	449 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.

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 Telluride 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 Telluride 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.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Telluride 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.

There are over 42 percent more Kia dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Telluride’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride second among upper midsize 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 Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 15th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 12th.

Engine

The Telluride’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 Kia Telluride is faster than the Mazda CX-9:

	Telluride	CX-9
Zero to 30 MPH	2.7 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.2 sec	7.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.1 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93 MPH	88 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Telluride 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 Kia Telluride, 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 Telluride’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-9:

	Telluride	CX-9
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.6 inches

The Telluride stops much shorter than the CX-9:

	Telluride	CX-9
70 to 0 MPH	162 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Telluride has a standard automatic 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 Telluride is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than on the CX-9.

The Telluride SX 4x4 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 Kia Telluride may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 300 pounds less than the Mazda CX-9.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Telluride SX 4x4 is quieter than the CX-9 Signature:

	Telluride	CX-9
At idle	36 dB	38 dB
70 MPH Cruising	63 dB	66 dB

Passenger Space

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

The Telluride has 19.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-9 (155 vs. 135.1).

The Telluride has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front hip room, 3.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom, .6 inches more rear hip room, 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.7 inches more third row headroom, 1.7 inches more third row legroom, 3.6 inches more third row hip room and 2.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-9.

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

Cargo Capacity

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

	Telluride	CX-9
Behind Third Seat	21 cubic feet	14.4 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	46 cubic feet	38.2 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	87 cubic feet	71.2 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Telluride’s second 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 Telluride. The CX-9 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

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

Servicing Ease

The Telluride 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 power windows standard on both the Telluride and the CX-9 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Telluride 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 Telluride’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 Telluride’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the CX-9’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

When the Telluride SX 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 Telluride EX/SX has standard front air conditioned seats and the Telluride SX Prestige also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The CX-9 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Telluride SX Pro/SX Prestige has a 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 Telluride 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 Telluride owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Telluride will cost $760 less than the CX-9 over a five-year period.

The Telluride will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Telluride will retain 54.84% to 55.57% 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 Telluride is less expensive to operate than the CX-9 because typical repairs cost much less on the Telluride 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 Kia Telluride will be $5127 to $6203 less than for the Mazda CX-9.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Kia Telluride as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2020 issue and they ranked the Kia Telluride SX 4x4 first. They ranked the Mazda CX-9 Signature seventh.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride second 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 Telluride was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 3 more times in the last 4 years. The CX-9 hasn’t been picked since 2019.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The CX-9 was Sport Utility of the Year in 2008.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Telluride as the 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The CX-9 was last chosen as a North American vehicle of the year in 2008.

The Kia Telluride outsold the Mazda CX-9 by almost three to one during 2022.

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