Between the subcompact Mazda CX-30, compact Mazda CX-5, and midsize, three-row Mazda CX-9, Mazda has a stable full of crossovers to meet any buyer’s needs. But with so many options, it can be hard to choose the right one for your situation.
We put the CX-5 and the CX-9 head-to-head to see which is the better buy.
See a side-by-side comparison of the CX-5 & CX-9»
What the CX-5 Gets Right
The Mazda CX-5 gets a quick head start on its big brother in base pricing. It costs $26,135 to start, making it $8,700 cheaper than the base CX-9. In fact, you can move all the way up to the midrange CX-5 Grand Touring and still end up cheaper than the base CX-9.
At the Grand Touring level, the CX-5 comes well-equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, a 7-inch LCD cluster screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and more. The CX-9 doesn’t include these desirable features until you reach higher trim levels.
The CX-5’s base engine lacks the pop of the CX-9’s standard turbocharged unit, but buyers can get this 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder in the CX-5 Grand Touring Reserve and Signature models. With up to 250 horsepower on tap, the lighter CX-5 sprints to 60 mph in the mid-7-second range, making it quicker than the CX-9 with the same engine. Plus, the CX-5’s smaller and lighter body makes it nimbler in the corners.
Fuel economy also falls in the CX-5’s win column at up to 25 miles per gallon city, 31 highway, and 28 combined, according to the EPA. These numbers beat the base CX-9 across the board.
Finally, despite being smaller, the CX-5 offers 39.6 inches of second-row legroom, beating the CX-9 by 0.2 inches.
What the CX-9 Gets Right
The CX-9 shows its key advantage the second you step into it, as it features three rows of seats that can handle up to seven passengers. It also hauls cargo like a champ with 21.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 38.2 cubes behind the second row, and 71.2 cubic feet behind the first row. The latter two measurements beat the CX-5 by 7.3 cubic feet and 11.6 cubic feet, respectively.
Under its hood, the CX-9 boasts a standard 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that pumps out up to 250 hp (227 hp on regular unleaded fuel). This beats the base CX-5’s 2.5-liter by up to 63 horsepower. Also, with 310 pound-feet of torque available at 2,000 rpm, it has tons of low-end power for quick launches.
The Mazda CX-9 can also tow up to 3,500 pounds, beating the CX-5 by 1,500 pounds.
Got a Big Family? Opt for 3 Rows
Buyers with a large family or those who frequently run a carpool need all the room they can get, and the Mazda CX-9’s seven-passenger seating should be plenty.
Our Verdict: Mazda CX-5
There's very little that separates the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-9 other than sheer size and passenger capacity, so unless you need the extra room, there's no need to buy the more expensive CX-9. For most families, the smaller, nimbler, more fuel-efficient, and cheaper CX-5 is the better option.
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