Honda Pilot vs Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander

445 messages, Last post on Nov 11, 2009 at 9:25 AM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda CX-9, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Car Comparisons, SUV

2009 Honda Pilot vs. 2008 Mazda CX-9 vs. 2008 Toyota Highlander - Although we've been hearing about a mad dash to get out of sport-utility vehicles and into fuel-efficient compacts, the reality is that seven- and eight-passenger crossover SUVs like the 2008 Mazda CX-9, 2008 Toyota Highlander and 2009 Honda Pilot aren't going away anytime soon. (more)

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#151 of 445 Mazda service by ceric Jul 30, 2008 (11:01 pm)
Replying to: nxs138 (Jul 30, 2008 6:23 pm) From what I read and what I experienced, if you have a Mazda, I would recommend you to go to independet Mazda dealers for repair/service, not the Ford/Mazda combo ones. The former tend to be more knowledgeable about Mazda vehicles. After all, Ford and Mazda aren't exactly the same vehicles. Honda and Toyota owners don't have such issue since they should all be independent AFAIK.
#152 of 445 Almost true, Toyota/Scion dealers arrived :-) by ch1rravu Jul 31, 2008 (5:40 am)
Many Toyota dealers these days call themselves Toyota/Scion dealers. So, solely Toyota dealers may not hold true these days, but considering the volume and prior knowledge, betcha those dealers are just as capable of servicing Toyotas just as fine prior to Scion arrival. Have anybody compared Navigation systems among these vehicles ? How well they do, how user-friendly these are, and how often company releases map-updates reasonable price ? We have a GARMIN, and are very happy with it, except for the power cable hook-up we oughta do each time we board vehicle (because we take the unit away with us each time we get off) Thanks Replies to this message: citivas (Jul 31, 2008 7:07 am) nxs138 (Jul 31, 2008 2:36 pm) ceric (Jul 31, 2008 2:51 pm) ceric (Jul 31, 2008 10:22 am)
#153 of 445 Re: Almost true, Toyota/Scion dealers arrived :-) [ch1rravu] by citivas Jul 31, 2008 (7:07 am)
Replying to: ch1rravu (Jul 31, 2008 5:40 am) I compared the nav extensively. It was a big part of my test drives as it was one of the deciding factors. I would rank them in this order: 1) Pilot 2) Highlander 3) CX-9 The Highlander and CX-9 both license the same underlying system from the same provider so the physical navigation is almost identical. However, the Highlander has a slightly newer version of the software and each company has its own UI wrapper (menuing look, etc.) and in that category the Highlander's is way ahead of the CX-9 version. They both also have voice command, but the Mazda dealers could not get it to work at all on either of two test drives and two places with two cars. The Toyota one requires you memorize their not so obvious wording sequence but once I did I was able to input my home address by voice and it worked perfectly. It was less successful with things like finding the nearest gas station. However, the system was super annoying in that it required you wait for long, repetitive vocal instructions and hit the talk button twice for each command so it took forever -- about 3 minutes just to enter my address. The main problem I have with both of these is that they disable all user input, except by voice, when you are traveling 5 MPH or greater. This makes them almost useless in my book. Most people I know often travel with a passenger who can program the system while the driver is driving but Toyota, Mazda and the other users of this system seem to have decided that didn't matter. They would rather always have you pull over to the side of the road or off the nearest freeway exit, every time you need to search for something, or use the very iffy voice commands... The Pilot would win automatically in my book because it works while you're moving -- just like the Garmin and all the after-market ones do. But even if it weren’t for this, it would win because it also had the most comprehensive and best working set of voice commands and the most comprehensive control of non-nav functions from the screen. You could, for example, plug in your iPod and control it from the nav screen, seeing playlists, artists, albums, etc. Same for sat radio. Better still the voice commands control al these things too. You can say “passenger temperature 68 degrees” and it works. You can say something like (I forgot exactly what I said but I just did trial and error and it was pretty logical) “audio ipod track 2” and it works… Also, the new Pilot is using the exact same nav as the Acura MDX with just a few things taken out (the live traffic feature and Zagat’s I think), and the Acura nav is considered the best in the industry. My only gripe is I prefer the touch screen to the new “joystick” control that they have copied from BMW and others, but to each their own. It was easy to use, I just like a touch screen. Still, I would take the radical feature improvement over the touch screen any day. All of them navigated OK in my tests. None are remotely as good as the newest high-end Garmin or Tom Tom products, but the integration is important. I have a Garmin now and often don’t bother using it because I don’t like setting it up or having the dangling power cord, etc… Replies to this message: nxs138 (Jul 31, 2008 2:36 pm) ceric (Jul 31, 2008 2:51 pm)
#154 of 445 Re: AWD [ceric] by cx7lover Jul 31, 2008 (7:11 am)
Replying to: ceric (Jul 30, 2008 4:52 pm) The AWD on the CX-7/9 works with throttle and G-Force readings from the DSC system, engine status as well. During a parking lot crawl below 10mph, the AWD is in total 100% FWD mode, above, it's in 90/10 split. Heavy throttle, snow, rain, cornering, and it can go as high as 50%, it all depends, but it is NOT a reactive system, it diverts torque BEFORE wheel spin, A highly common misconception of Mazda's AWD system is that it reacts and only diverts power only when wheel spin is present, not true in the slightest. There is a Normal, Sport, and Snow setting, all not controllable by the driver. Replies to this message: ceric (Jul 31, 2008 10:16 am) aviboy97 (Jul 31, 2008 2:03 pm) ceric (Jul 31, 2008 2:43 pm) and 10 more...
#155 of 445 Re: [citivas] by cx7lover Jul 31, 2008 (7:15 am)
Replying to: citivas (Jul 30, 2008 1:08 pm) If you want the other two, go get either Replies to this message: citivas (Jul 31, 2008 10:47 am) cx7lover (Aug 01, 2008 2:43 am) citivas (Aug 01, 2008 9:17 am)
#156 of 445 Re: AWD [cx7lover] by ceric Jul 31, 2008 (10:16 am)
Replying to: cx7lover (Jul 31, 2008 7:11 am) It sounds to me that the AWD system in Mazda is superior to that of Pilot or Highlander. I wonder why Mazda literatures don't "sell" it in more details and more aggressively. I know VTM-4 of Pilot is passive (reactive) and lockable (good for some people who need it). Not sure about the Toyota system. SH-AWD of Acura is very advanced but its cost prohibits it to be installed on Hondas. Maybe because of the 90%/10% torque split (above 10mph), the AWD system is always working on CX9. That might explain the worse MPG with AWD on CX9 than that of Pilot or Highlander. The FWD models of CX9 seems to be doing well as far as MPG is concerned. Replies to this message: aviboy97 (Jul 31, 2008 2:03 pm) ceric (Jul 31, 2008 2:43 pm) aviboy97 (Jul 31, 2008 3:41 pm) and 9 more...
#157 of 445 Re: Almost true, Toyota/Scion dealers arrived :-) [ch1rravu] by ceric Jul 31, 2008 (10:22 am)
Replying to: ch1rravu (Jul 31, 2008 5:40 am) ... Many Toyota dealers these days call themselves Toyota/Scion dealers. So, solely Toyota dealers may not hold true these days, but considering the volume and prior knowledge, betcha those dealers are just as capable of servicing Toyotas just as fine prior to Scion arrival. ... Scion is 100% owned by Toyota and only offer 3 vehicles (if my memory serves me well). Mazda is only 30+% owned by Ford and offer many more vehicles than Scion. So, I consider Scion is part of Toyota. Scion vehicles are sold as Toyota in Japan. Mazda/Ford relationship is more distant. My nearby Ford/Mazda combo dealer only has 1 master technician for Mazda. When he is off, there is no Mazda repair scheduled.
#158 of 445 Re: [cx7lover] by citivas Jul 31, 2008 (10:47 am)
Replying to: cx7lover (Jul 31, 2008 7:15 am) cx7lover wrote: If you want the other two, go get either This was listed as a reply to one of my posts but I have no idea what you are referring to. What "other two"? I haven't expressed an overall preference for any of the three vehicles discussed in this thread. I've listed pros and cons to each (way back in this thread). Someone asked today for an analysis of the navigation systems and I ranked the cars for that specifically, but that is hardly the only factor in an overall vehicle decision. Replies to this message: cx7lover (Aug 01, 2008 2:43 am) citivas (Aug 01, 2008 9:17 am)
#159 of 445 Re: AWD [ceric] by aviboy97 Jul 31, 2008 (2:03 pm)
Replying to: ceric (Jul 31, 2008 10:16 am) I would not call Mazda's AWD "superior" to Honda's VTM-4 or Toyota's full time AWD system. I would say Toyota's is better because it uses a static torque split AWD that is 50/50 all the time. The Mazda CX-9 mpg's vary only 1 mpg from AWD and FWD applications. Also, it is 100% FWD until slippage occurs, and then up to 50% can be distributed to the rear as needed. Replies to this message: ceric (Jul 31, 2008 2:43 pm) aviboy97 (Jul 31, 2008 3:41 pm) cx7lover (Aug 01, 2008 2:33 am) and 8 more...
#160 of 445 Re: Almost true, Toyota/Scion dealers arrived :-) [citivas] by nxs138 Jul 31, 2008 (2:36 pm)
Replying to: citivas (Jul 31, 2008 7:07 am) The Mazda and Highlander NAV systems are not game changers by any means. The Pilot system sounds neat, almost like the Ford Sync system--too bad the Sync system was not installed in the Mazdas. I would have loved a system like the Pilot's...but we didn't like the look of the Pilot at all, and it lacks a bit in power, imo...... Replies to this message: ceric (Jul 31, 2008 2:51 pm)