Compare the2024 Subaru AscentVS 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
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Ascent 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 Ascent 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 Subaru Ascent 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 Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

Compared to metal, the Ascent’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 Ascent 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

	Ascent	CX-9
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	190	212
Neck Injury Risk	21%	26%
Neck Stress	229 lbs.	309 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	51 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	159/292 lbs.	107/424 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	337
Neck Injury Risk	33%	40%
Neck Compression	156 lbs.	165 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 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 Subaru Ascent is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

	Ascent	CX-9
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	88
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	98 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	208
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	54 G’s
Hip Force	346 lbs.	582 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	249

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

The Subaru Ascent has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The CX-9 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Warranty

There are over 18 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Ascent’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Ascent has a standard 190-amp alternator. The CX-9’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 1 place higher in reliability than Mazda.

Engine

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (260 vs. 250) than the CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Ascent is faster than the Mazda CX-9:

	Ascent	CX-9
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	15.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.5 MPH	87.3 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-9 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The Ascent has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CX-9 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Ascent	CX-9
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.8 inches

The Ascent’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 Ascent stops much shorter than the CX-9:

	Ascent	CX-9
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Ascent Touring 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 Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-9 Touring (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the CX-9’s (38 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Ascent Limited is quieter than the CX-9 Signature (70 vs. 73 dB).

Passenger Space

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

The Ascent has 18.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-9 (153.2 vs. 135.1).

The Ascent has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .8 inches more third row headroom, 2 inches more third row legroom, 5.8 inches more third row hip room and 4.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-9.

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

Cargo Capacity

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

	Ascent	CX-9
Behind Third Seat	17.8 cubic feet	14.4 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	43.5 cubic feet	38.2 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	75.6 cubic feet	71.2 cubic feet

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

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Mazda CX-9 is limited to 3500 pounds. The Ascent offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Ascent 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 Ascent 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.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). The CX-9 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the Ascent’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the CX-9’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Ascent’s optional rear and 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 Ascent Touring has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the dashboard, 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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ascent will cost $1500 to $3330 less than the CX-9 over a five-year period.

The Ascent will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Ascent will retain 54.18% to 55.67% of its original price after five years, while the CX-9 only retains 47.66% to 48.67%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Ascent is less expensive to operate than the CX-9 because typical repairs cost much less on the Ascent than the CX-9, including $628 less for a water pump, $295 less for a muffler, $121 less for a fuel pump, $830 less for a timing belt/chain and $435 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Ascent will be $5733 to $8271 less than for the Mazda CX-9.

Recommendations

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

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2020 issue and they ranked the Subaru Ascent Touring five places higher than the Mazda CX-9 Signature.

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Mazda CX-9 by over three to one during 2023.

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