Compare the2023 Mazda CX-9VS 2023 Lexus GX

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature has standard Rear Smart City Brake Support that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the CX-9 uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The GX uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the CX-9 and the GX 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, all wheel drive, 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 around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-9 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GX has not been tested, yet.

There are over 2 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-9’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CX-9’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the GX’s camshafts. If the GX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the CX-9 has a standard 150-amp alternator. The GX’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-9 is faster than the Lexus GX:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-9 gets better fuel mileage than the GX (20 city/26 hwy vs. 15 city/19 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-9 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The GX requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-9 higher (5 out of 10) than the Lexus GX (3). This means the CX-9 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GX every 15,000 miles.

The CX-9 stops shorter than the GX:

The CX-9 Touring Plus/Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-9 Touring Plus/Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature has standard 20-inch wheels. The GX’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Mazda CX-9 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Lexus GX has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-9’s wheelbase is 5.5 inches longer than on the GX (115.3 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-9 is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than on the GX.

The CX-9 Signature handles at .85 G’s, while the GX pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-9 Signature executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the GX (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-9’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the GX’s (38.8 feet vs. 41.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GX (8.8 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Mazda CX-9 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus GX.

Unibody construction lowers the CX-9’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The GX uses body-on-frame design instead.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CX-9 Signature is quieter than the GX:

The CX-9 has 5.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GX (135.1 vs. 129.7).

The CX-9 has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 5.3 inches more rear legroom, 2.2 inches more rear hip room, .8 inches more rear shoulder room, .2 inches more third row headroom and .4 inches more third row legroom than the GX.

The front step up height for the CX-9 is 3.4 inches lower than the GX (18.3” vs. 21.7”). The CX-9’s rear step up height is 3.2 inches lower than the GX’s (18.8” vs. 22”).

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-9 easier. The CX-9’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.7 inches, while the GX’s liftover is 33.8 inches.

The CX-9’s cargo area is larger than the GX’s in almost every dimension:

The CX-9’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The GX’s swing out door blocks loading from the passenger’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CX-9 has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The GX doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

The CX-9 Grand Touring/Signature has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-9’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GX’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The CX-9’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The CX-9’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The GX’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-9 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The GX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-9 is less expensive to operate than the GX because it costs $27 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-9 than the GX, including $149 less for a muffler, $489 less for a starter, $206 less for fuel injection, $24 less for a fuel pump, $139 less for a timing belt/chain and $458 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda CX-9 will be $16858 to $18257 less than for the Lexus GX.

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

The Mazda CX-9 outsold the Lexus GX by 15% during 2022.