Compare the2023 Mazda CX-9VS 2023 Mercedes GLB

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 GLB doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-9. But it costs extra on the GLB.

The CX-9’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLB.

Both the CX-9 and the GLB 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The Mazda CX-9 weighs 518 to 771 pounds more than the Mercedes GLB. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 GLB has not been tested, yet.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-9 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLB. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the GLB ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 41 percent more Mazda dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CX-9’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-9’s reliability 27 points higher than the GLB.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Mercedes.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 24th.

The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 29 more horsepower (250 vs. 221) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-9 is faster than the Mercedes GLB:

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

The CX-9 has 3.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLB (19.5 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CX-9 stops shorter than the GLB:

For better traction, the CX-9 has larger tires than the GLB (255/60R18 vs. 235/55R18).

The CX-9 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the GLB; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the GLB don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-9’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the GLB (115.3 inches vs. 111.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-9 is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than on the GLB.

The CX-9’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.7% to 45.3%) than the GLB’s (57% to 43%). This gives the CX-9 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-9 Signature handles at .85 G’s, while the GLB 250 4MATIC pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-9 Signature executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GLB 250 4MATIC (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLB (8.8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The CX-9 has 2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear legroom, 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .6 inches more third row headroom, .6 inches more third row legroom and 9.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the GLB.

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

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

The CX-9 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The GLB has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the CX-9 uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The GLB doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 GLB doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-9 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLB only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CX-9 has standard extendable sun visors. The GLB doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the CX-9 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GLB doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The CX-9 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the GLB. The CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the GLB.

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the GLB.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-9, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLB isn't recommended.

The Mazda CX-9 outsold the Mercedes GLB by 49% during 2022.