Las Vegas Car Dealers Provide A Quick Comparison
2019 Mazda CX-9 vs 2019 Honda Pilot
Most three-row crossovers are long on utility and short on styling and drivability. That’s not the case with the 2019 Mazda CX-9. Customers at the Las Vegas car dealership, CardinaleWay Mazda appreciate this isn’t the case with the 2019 Mazda CX-9. This midsize SUV provides plenty of room for passengers and cargo, while also offering excellent handling and head-turning looks. Outstanding fuel economy and fantastic safety scores make the CX-9 an even more rewarding choice.
The 2019 Honda Pilot is a popular rival crossover. We’ll compare the Pilot with the CX-9 to see which one is the best buy.
Las Vegas Car Dealer MSRP
When you examine the starting Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), you’ll find the 2019 Mazda CX-9 and the 2019 Honda Pilot cost about the same, with the Honda Pilot having a slight edge. The CX-9 has a starting MSRP of $32,280, while the Pilot comes in at $31,450. We could argue that at that price, CX-9 buyers get more for their money. When you get to the upper trim level, the difference is more striking. The 2019 Mazda CX-9 Signature trim starts at $45,365, while the Pilot Elite trim has a starting MSRP of $48,020. Keep in mind we use the MSRP as a way to compare the prices of the two vehicles. It’s not the price you can expect to pay at a dealer like your Las Vegas car dealer, CardinaleWay Mazda.
Get More For Less With The CX-9
Engine
Part of getting the most bang for the buck is getting the most powerful engine. The Mazda CX-9’s four-cylinder engine delivers more torque than the Pilot’s V6. The CX-9’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder makes 250 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, while the Pilot’s 3.5-liter V6 unit is only good for 280 hp and 262 lb-ft.
Fuel Economy
The CX-9’s four-cylinder block is more fuel-efficient than the Pilot’s V6. The CX-9 gets EPA-estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway, while the Pilot checks in with 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway
Towing
Anyone planning on doing some towing should choose the 2019 Mazda CX-9 over the 2019 Honda Pilot. They CX-9 has more than double the towing capacity of the Pilot (3,500 pounds vs. 1,500 pounds)
Features
The CX-9 includes standard features that don’t come with the Pilot. The Mazda CX-9 comes with tri-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a blind-spot monitor and rear-cross traffic alert, none of which come standard in the Pilot. The CX-9 also comes with a 7.0-inch infotainment screen. The Pilot only gets a 5.0-inch display.
Safety
The IIHS named the 2019 Mazda CX-9 and the 2019 Honda Pilot as Top Safety Picks. But the Mazda CX-9 got better crash-test scores than the Honda Pilot, with the top score of Good in the passenger-side small overlap frontal test. The Pilot only received a score of Acceptable in that test.
Our Conclusion
The 2019 Honda Pilot is a good SUV, but it just doesn’t hold its own when you compare it with the 2019 Mazda CX-9. When you look at important categories such as price, the engine, fuel economy, towing capacity, features and safety, the CX-9 leaves the Pilot in the dust.