Honda Pilot vs Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander

444 messages, Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 12:41 PM

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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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#300 of 444 Re: Another feather in the cap of.... [guy1974] by citivas Nov 18, 2008 (12:18 pm)
Replying to: guy1974 (Nov 18, 2008 11:57 am) In my experience if you have little kids (i.e. pre-teen) it will be hard to keep them from the third row because they will want to be there, assuming its comfortable enough for them (even my 7 year old rejected the third row in the Highlander as too cramped, but I think she would cry if I told her she had to sit in the second row of our Pilot instead of the third). The kids like to climb out of the rear tailgate of the car rather than have slide the second row forward. We don't let our 3 year old back there (despite his wanting to be) because its too hard to strap him into the car seat. By the time they are 4-5, they can do it themselves and its not an issue. These newer cars have full side-impact air bags that extend to the third row and unlike some older or still smaller CUV's the seats are not right up against the rear of the vehicle in the event of a crash. I definitely don't dismiss the American cars out of hand, though I know some do. I've owned a Ford SUV. For me the lack of good tech (like bluetooth) eliminated the GMC line this time. And despite all their supposed incentives and "employee pricing" the deals still were not as good as Honda, Mazda or others were offering off of their MSRP's.
#301 of 444 by guy1974 Nov 19, 2008 (6:37 am)
I noticed that the good tech as you call it are in the 2009 Lambdas - bluetooth, rearview camera in the auto-dimming rear view mirror (a very cost effective option to the usual rear view camera in navigation option), onstar with navigation etc. Replies to this message: thegraduate (Nov 19, 2008 7:18 am) guy1974 (Nov 24, 2008 5:01 pm) thegraduate (Nov 24, 2008 8:53 pm) and 6 more...
#302 of 444 Re: [guy1974] by thegraduate Nov 19, 2008 (7:18 am)
Replying to: guy1974 (Nov 19, 2008 6:37 am) Do they have an actual Navigation system, or the pay-by-month voice guidance, with no actual maps? Replies to this message: guy1974 (Nov 24, 2008 5:01 pm) thegraduate (Nov 24, 2008 8:53 pm) guy1974 (Nov 25, 2008 7:26 am) and 4 more... citivas (Nov 25, 2008 7:35 am)
#303 of 444 by citivas Nov 19, 2008 (9:34 am)
Yeah, I heard the the '09 GM;s were finally going to catch-up with the world on Bluetooth but that didn't work for my buying schedule (and I was already uneasy about GM's future... Unfortuantely, their nav system (like Toyota and Mazra who use the same vendor) still is useless while driving (i.e. can't be programmed by even the passenger). That feature alone may have been the feather that tipped the scales for me to Acura/Honda, which the seating capacity tipping it to Honda. Also, in my case I just didn't get a good vibe from the local dealerships. They didn't seem that interested in selling cars. They weren't eager to offer a test drive or humor me on detailed questions, their pricing wasn't competitive (even when I tried getting Internet quotes from multiple local dealers they were the least responsive or competitive brand), etc. It's really surprising given their market situation that they seemed so complacent, but then again maybe that helps explain their market situation...
#304 of 444 Re: Another feather in the cap of.... [citivas] by 4kids3dogs2cat Nov 19, 2008 (6:47 pm)
Replying to: citivas (Nov 13, 2008 1:57 pm) For us, it was different. We had lots of kids (4) and no grandparents, so we much prefer the captains chairs in the 2nd row instead of the bench seat. For two reasons. First, with the captains chairs it was much easier to get access to the third row. You didn't have to slide any seats or do anything. No pinched fingers or any hassle. Once the kids are big enough to not need car seats, they can just walk between the captains chairs on the way to the third row as long as the minivan or crossover doesn't have a console storage thing in between the captains chairs that can't be removed. The other thing is that with the captains chairs, the kids are seperated in the middle row and can't fight over little things such as touching each other or inane childish activity. Replies to this message: tourguide (Nov 20, 2008 4:03 am)
#305 of 444 Re: Another feather in the cap of.... [4kids3dogs2cat] by tourguide Nov 20, 2008 (4:03 am)
Replying to: 4kids3dogs2cat (Nov 19, 2008 6:47 pm) seperated in the middle row and can't fight over little things such as touching each other or inane childish activity. This is really a false sense of assurance that this type of activity will not occur simply due to the captain's chairs. If you feel better about your choice this way, fine, but there is no difference in vehicle dimensions between the two options of bench or bucket seats back there and the last time I checked, sibling arms do not magically shrink when entering the vehicle. Of course your vehicle may have certain magical properties I am not aware of.
#306 of 444 by 4kids3dogs2cat Nov 20, 2008 (5:41 pm)
You're mistaken. It's not a false sense of anything. Our previous minivan had a middle bench and we had infighting problems that were alleviated when we bought the new minivan with the captains chairs. For example, favorite toys or stuffed animals that slid across the bench seat to the other kid while the car made a turn magically don't slide anymore when there are captains chairs instead. It was a fact for us, not false anything. Of course, that was equalled in importance by the much easier access to the third row. Two important reasons to get the captains chairs, IMO. Replies to this message: tourguide (Nov 21, 2008 4:25 am)
#307 of 444 Re: [4kids3dogs2cat] by tourguide Nov 21, 2008 (4:25 am)
Replying to: 4kids3dogs2cat (Nov 20, 2008 5:41 pm) OK - anything you say. In our experience any horsing around was in no way prevented by captains chairs but then our kids do get along really well. The separation of a few inches may be just the trick some families need to accomplish vehicular eutopia.
#308 of 444 Re: [thegraduate] by guy1974 Nov 24, 2008 (5:01 pm)
Replying to: thegraduate (Nov 19, 2008 7:18 am) No real navigation screens on the higher specs and as an option. I like that on the base Traverse (and no doubt the other lambda's in due course) (<$29K) you have voice navigation which is better than nothing. To get Nav in a Honda or others you need to spend well over $30K (MSRP in all cases). I have three children so am weighing up captains chairs vs bench. One advantage with the bench is you get the full trunk with the third row fully folded down. Whereas if one child in marooned back there the trunk shrinks significantly and double strollers, pack and plays etc take up a lot of space (never mind home depot trips) Replies to this message: thegraduate (Nov 24, 2008 8:53 pm) guy1974 (Nov 25, 2008 7:26 am) thegraduate (Nov 25, 2008 9:14 am) and 3 more... citivas (Nov 25, 2008 7:35 am)
#309 of 444 Re: [guy1974] by thegraduate Nov 24, 2008 (8:53 pm)
Replying to: guy1974 (Nov 24, 2008 5:01 pm) One advantage with the bench is you get the full trunk with the third row fully folded down. Whereas if one child in marooned back there the trunk shrinks significantly and double strollers, pack and plays etc take up a lot of space (never mind home depot trips) You can fold down half the seat in vehicles like the Pilot. Do the GM sisters not have a split-fold rear seat? Replies to this message: guy1974 (Nov 25, 2008 7:26 am) thegraduate (Nov 25, 2008 9:14 am) guy1974 (Nov 25, 2008 4:43 pm) and 2 more... citivas (Nov 25, 2008 7:35 am)