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Honda Pilot vs Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander

549 messages,  Last post on Feb 11, 2013 at 8:48 PM

You are in the Mazda CX-9 Forum.

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

Messages Page 53 of 55

#519 of 549 Re: If CX-9 is so great, how come.. [luckyseven] by davicho

Jul 06, 2011 (7:55 am)

Replying to: luckyseven (Jul 05, 2011 7:56 pm)
1. Yes it is sporty looking, put a CX9 and an HL side by side covering up the badges (Toyota, Mazda) and I guarantee you the CX9 would render more attention.
 
2. Your 0-60 numbers are meaningless in this category because the last time I checked no one is using these vehicles to drag race, they are family cross-overs. And even if we (you and I) wanted to drag race, my 0.7 deficit (according to you) is hardly anything substantial to make a difference. The 0.7 difference can be void if you have a slow reaction at take-off.
 
3. Your claim that HL is superior in handling to the CX9, is solely your opinion and I disagree. Do some research to back up your statement. CX-9 ran the slalom at 61.4 MPH with minimal body roll, your superior in handling HL ran it at 59 MPH with moderate body roll. Let me know when you want to meet me at the canyons and we can find out for ourselves...
 
4. If you can care less for the 3rd row seating, then why did you pay extra for it? I was in the market for a 3 row 7-8 passenger cross-over and CX-9 took the trophy hands down for accesibility and comfort of the 3rd row, and yes it was one of my deciding factors among all other great things about my CX-9.

#520 of 549 Re: If CX-9 is so great, how come.. [davicho] by citivas

Jul 06, 2011 (8:02 am)

Replying to: davicho (Jul 06, 2011 7:55 am)
Yeah, if I didn't need the third row there are a whole lot of other CUV's I would consider... I get that some people don't need it though, which I guess is the market the Highlander is targeting since their middle second row and third row are pretty bad. For me, I use it literally every day so it is essential.

#521 of 549 Re: If CX-9 is so great, how come.. [davicho] by luckyseven

Jul 06, 2011 (9:09 am)

Replying to: davicho (Jul 06, 2011 7:55 am)
1. I've owned Hondas and Toyotas for long time and can tell you a dirty secret - no one buys these cars for looks.
 
2. 0-60 number tells a lot, if you live in busy city try to merge on the freeway on slower vehicle. 0.7 sec makes a big difference.
 
3. In spite of its sporty persona, the 2008 Mazda CX-9 ends up with the slowest slalom speed (58.4 mph) due to its undefeatable stability control system's relatively low threshold of intervention.
http://www.insideline.com/mazda/cx-9/2008/2009-honda-pilot-vs-2008-mazda-cx-9-vs- - -2008-toyota-highlander.html
 
4. I got a third row in HL since it is nice to have and I used it few times. I have family of 4 and wanted to have third row to carry my kid's friends when needed. If I'd need to carry more then 5 people on regular basis I'd get a minivan, would be much more comfortable then any CUV on the market. Even now I think that HL is bigger then I'd need, I liked first gen HL size more.

#522 of 549 Re: If CX-9 is so great, how come.. [citivas] by luckyseven

Jul 06, 2011 (9:15 am)

Replying to: citivas (Jul 06, 2011 8:02 am)
this is something new to me, what's bad with HL second row? Do you own a HL?

#523 of 549 Re: If CX-9 is so great, how come.. [luckyseven] by citivas

Jul 06, 2011 (9:16 am)

Replying to: luckyseven (Jul 06, 2011 9:09 am)
Our other car is a minivan. But whenever the whole family is traveling anywhere together or on trips, we universaly all prefer the Pilot as the main family vehicle. And we could care less about being seen in a minvan or not, so we don't avoid it for stigma. So I would say it is an opinion that a minivan is more comfortable. That's certainly not our experience.

#524 of 549 Re: If CX-9 is so great, how come.. [luckyseven] by citivas

Jul 06, 2011 (9:26 am)

Replying to: luckyseven (Jul 06, 2011 9:15 am)
I don't own a HL because I didn't like the seating or the nav system. But I test drove one 5 times three years ago, I test drove the current model 2 times this year, my in-laws own one and I have driven it over 1,000 miles, and I have had one twice in the last three years as a rental vehicle.
 
My problem with the middle second row seat (I specified middle seat only in that row) is it’s only half a seat. It's not comfortable for an adult and it is too small for a full car seat and too hard for a little kid to reach under the seat to buckle the seatbelt. In the interest of mimicking a minivan and letting people remove it they sacrificed the quality of the seat (if I had needed that feature I could have gotten another minivan). So it really only becomes useful for a kid who is out of a car seat but not full grown. And because you can only fit full tethered car seats on one of the two side second row seats (too hard to constantly take them in/out of the third row or put the kids in them there and buckle them), that means the middle second row seat is an important location for adults. In our Pilo, we probably have an adult sitting in the middle second row at least twice a week on average plus on long car trips that are hundreds of miles. Just not realistic in the HL.
 
Some people only need limited seating so this is not an issue for them. But for those that need more, the HL seating is much less versatile than the Pilot which can literally seat 8 adults – the third row is night-and-day more roomy than the HL.

#525 of 549 Re: If CX-9 is so great, how come.. [citivas] by luckyseven

Jul 06, 2011 (10:02 am)

Replying to: citivas (Jul 06, 2011 9:26 am)
That's why we have all these choices, get the car that suits your needs the best. Nobody ever complained to me about middle seat on the middle row. Plenty of times I had 3 people seating on the middle row for long duration. Middle seat makes something close to the bench seat out of middle row. I'd say it depends on adult size. 3 normal size adults fit there without a problem or discomfort, pretty much the same as family size sedan second row, even a bit wider.

#526 of 549 Re: If CX-9 is so great, how come.. [luckyseven] by aviboy97

Jul 06, 2011 (10:20 am)

Replying to: luckyseven (Jul 05, 2011 7:56 pm)
HL is also superior in handling to other 2 because it is a bit lighter so I wouldn't call it boring brick on wheels.
 
While the Highlander is slightly faster to 60, it is equal to the CX-9 in the quarter mile. It gets destroyed in the corners. With every media outlet that has tested the road manners of any 3 row crossover, the CX-9 repeatedly beats the Highlander, and every other non luxury 3 row CUV on the market. Nothing has changes in the 4 years the car has been on the market.
 
Here is a quote from a March 2011 comparo from Motor Trend in regards to the Highlanders handling: "The faster you go, the more this thing wobbles."
 
In contrast, the same article praised the CX-9: "As a high speed, canyon-carving seven-seater, the CX-9 is severely gifted. It actually inspires confidence when you push, quite unlike the rest of the field"
 
I'm not trying to bash the Highlander in any way. It is a really good car, but lets not call it what it's not...which is a better handler than the CX-9.

#527 of 549 Re: If CX-9 is so great, how come.. [aviboy97] by davicho

Jul 06, 2011 (11:01 am)

Replying to: aviboy97 (Jul 06, 2011 10:20 am)
Thank you aviboy...precisely my point!

#528 of 549 Re: If CX-9 is so great, how come.. [luckyseven] by davicho

Jul 06, 2011 (11:12 am)

Replying to: luckyseven (Jul 06, 2011 9:09 am)
Luckyseven, let me let you in a dirty little secret too...I have been a Honda Certified Parts Proffesional for about 12 years now and have worked for a few dealers including my current position with an auto group that includes the following:
Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ford, Lincoln, GM, Chevrolet, Buick, Honda, Toyota and Scion.
 
I certainly consider looks for my purchases among other considerations. Did you notice that I own a Mazda CX-9 which we (the Auto Group) do not carry as one of our makes? Precisely my point...I was not impressed witht he offerings all these makes provided in the CUV segment...including (again) the ho-hum boring and ugly looking HL (again, my opinion). However, given that you say that " no one buys these cars for looks" I can see why your choice was to go with an HL.

Messages Page 53 of 55

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