Compare the2023 Nissan PathfinderVS 2023 Mazda CX-9

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Pathfinder 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 Pathfinder 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 Nissan Pathfinder 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.

The Pathfinder Platinum has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The CX-9 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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

Compared to metal, the Pathfinder’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 Pathfinder 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.

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 Pathfinder 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.

There are almost 2 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pathfinder’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated lower.

The Pathfinder’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 34 more horsepower (284 vs. 250) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Pathfinder Rock Creek’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 45 more horsepower (295 vs. 250) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine) is faster than the Mazda CX-9:

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Pathfinder’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 Pathfinder 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.

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

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

The Pathfinder’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 Pathfinder stops shorter than the CX-9:

The Pathfinder 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.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pathfinder is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the CX-9.

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

The Pathfinder has 12.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-9 (148 vs. 135.1).

The Pathfinder has 3 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.4 inches more third row headroom, 6.6 inches more third row hip room and 5.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-9.

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

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Pathfinder easier. The Pathfinder’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.5 inches, while the CX-9’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

The Pathfinder has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The CX-9 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Mazda CX-9 is limited to 3500 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Pathfinder Platinum’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and 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 Pathfinder and the CX-9 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Pathfinder 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 Pathfinder’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 Pathfinder Platinum 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 Pathfinder Platinum 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.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Pathfinder owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pathfinder will cost $685 less than the CX-9 over a five-year period.

The Nissan Pathfinder outsold the Mazda CX-9 by 67% during 2022.