Compare the2023 Dodge DurangoVS 2023 Mazda CX-9

The Dodge Durango 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.

The Durango has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Compared to metal, the Durango’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 Durango 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, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and front parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Dodge Durango is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

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 Dodge Durango is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

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

There are over 4 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Durango has a standard 160-amp alternator (180-amp - Durango optional and 220 optional). The CX-9’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 37 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 long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in long-term dependability. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mazda is rated lower.

The Durango’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 43 more horsepower (293 vs. 250) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Durango’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 45 more horsepower (295 vs. 250) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Durango’s optional 5.7 V8 produces 110 more horsepower (360 vs. 250) and 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (390 vs. 320) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango V8 is faster than the Mazda CX-9:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango V8’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 Durango V6’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.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Dodge Durango uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The CX-9 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

The Durango has 5.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-9 (24.6 vs. 19.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

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

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the CX-9 (265/60R18 vs. 255/60R18). The Durango R/T’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-9 (295/45R20 vs. 255/60R18).

The Durango R/T’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.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Durango can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The CX-9 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Durango 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 Durango 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 a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the CX-9 (119.8 inches vs. 115.3 inches).

The Durango’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the CX-9’s (54.7% to 45.3%). This gives the Durango more stable handling and braking.

The Durango R/T 4x4 handles at .80 G’s, while the CX-9 Touring pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Durango has 6.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-9 (141.4 vs. 135.1).

The Durango has .6 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more third row headroom, 3.8 inches more third row legroom and 2.3 inches more third row hip room than the CX-9.

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

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

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-9’s (6200 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Mazda CX-9 is only 3500 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Durango V8 4WD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Durango can be unhitched and driven around locally. The CX-9 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Durango 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.

The engine in the Durango is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the CX-9. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Durango has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The CX-9 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The Durango (except SXT)’s optional 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 Durango’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The CX-9 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Durango and the CX-9 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Durango 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.

Consumer Reports rated the Durango’s headlight performance “Good” to “Very Good” (depending on model and options), a higher rating than the CX-9’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

When the Durango 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 Durango’s standard rear view mirror and optional 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 Durango (except SXT) 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 Durango is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Durango owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Durango will cost $965 less than the CX-9 over a five-year period.

The Durango will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Durango will retain 51.72% to 54.97% 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 Durango is less expensive to operate than the CX-9 because typical repairs cost much less on the Durango than the CX-9, including $788 less for a water pump, $74 less for a muffler, $52 less for a fuel pump, $170 less for a timing belt/chain and $31 less for a power steering pump.

The Dodge Durango outsold the Mazda CX-9 by 80% during the 2022 model year.