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SUVs Mazda CX-9 Honda Pilot vs Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander
477 messages, Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 9:54 PM
You are in the Mazda CX-9 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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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Replying to: guy1974 (Nov 26, 2008 5:04 pm)
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Replying to: nxs138 (Nov 26, 2008 9:42 pm) |
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Replying to: citivas (Nov 26, 2008 1:17 pm) Mazda does not have a system that alerts the driver as to when service is needed. My 1991 Accord had a system like that, amazingly. There was a little green square in the gauge cluster, and when service was needed, it turned to red. |
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Can someone tell me about the typical integrated Nav system in one of these cars? How useful are they? If I go with the CX-9 and want the power rear gate, I must buy the Nav system too. So I wonder if I will use it instead of mapquest. Whenever we go on long trips to an unfamiliar destination or just to a local kids birthday party, we just go to mapquest on our home computer and print out the directions and take them with us before we leave. What extra advantages does an in-car Nav system get you? Thanks!
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Replying to: 4kids3dogs2cat (Nov 29, 2008 6:13 pm) The nav in the CX-9 and Toyota are basically the same because each of them source it from the same company. The UI is a little different (I prefer the Toyota's) but that's about it. It is pretty good. It found even reasonably new streets in my test. It is as good as the typical Garmin or Tom Tom at the point it was released for comprehensiveness and accuracy, but those portables have the advantages of easy online updates which the integrated systems do not -- you can get the dealer to update the DVD every year or two but that's not quite the same... All of them integrated systems accept voice commands and in my experience do so even better than the portable units. I was able to get the Toyota to successfully and accurately navigate from the dealership to my house entirely with voice commands, never touching the display, after some trial and error. That's good because the downside of the nav in the Toyota, Mazda and GM, etc. is that it refuses to accept new input while the car is moving 5 MPH or faster, as a safety precaution, and there is no way to legally override this (there are some hacks described online that aren't pretty and invalidate your warranty), even if you have a passenger who could safely operate it. That is not a problem on the portable units. The higher-end portable units also are starting to have great extras line real-time traffic navigation, real-time updates based on conditions reported by other users on the road, real time info from the Internet, etc. The Honda uses the same system in the Acura which is considered one of the best integrated systems available. The only feature the Honda drops from the Acura is real-time traffic, otherwise they are identical. I have owned a Garmin and Tom Tom portable and greatly prefer my Honda system over both, in terms of accuracy, UI, control, voice command, etc. It is the best system I have used from any car or portable in terms of effectively and rapidly re-routing if you go off-route, by accident or on-purpose. And it has a very effective "active lane guidance" system which visually helps you at complete interchanges, etc. know exactly which lane to be in. Works very well. We bought it from a dealer in a part of the state we had never been to before and my wife returned home in our other car using our Garmin. I got home no-problem and she didn't, all because of the lane guidance. It also llists the streets and turns by name, not just "at the next street" etc. which helps. Overall I am very happy with it. Oh, and it works while you drive, unlike the others... Again, none of them are better than the portables for updatability or real-time data (except the Ford cars with Sync, which hopefully will come to Mazda eventually). But they are all way, way better than printing off of MapQuest. Good luck. |
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I was impressed by pictures of the cargo space in the enclave...however this whole GM bailout thing has me at caution. Does anyone have thoughts or experience with looking at the enclave? Thanks - G.
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Replying to: golic (Dec 02, 2008 6:19 am) At first glance, the car is B-E-A-UTIFUL!! It's also huge. Inside in nicely appointed. I liked the look of the wood grain interior, however, touch it and you quickly realize it's thin plastic. I was not overly impressed with the quality of materials, however, they are put together very well. One down side to buying one is that GM does not lease them, and the are expensive compared to the competition. 6 months ago, you could not find one at your local dealer. Now, they are begging you to take one. Actually, we can say that about many of these 7 passenger CUV's right now. First year reliability has not been great, but all issues seem to be the same with everyone. I've seen plenty of issues with squeaks and rattles as well as consistent problems with the steering system. Outside of that, they seem to be ok. |
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Replying to: golic (Dec 02, 2008 6:19 am) the enclave is a wonderful vehicle! I'd b happy to talk to you about all of the features and benefits. talk to you soon. John |
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1st: Highlander: 6980 (+907 hybrids) 2nd: Pilot: 5601 3rd: CX-9: 1716 |
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