The Highlander Limited's optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CX-9 doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Highlander has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The CX-9 doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

The Highlander Limited offers optional Pre-Collision System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn't react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The CX-9 doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The Highlander Limited's optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The CX-9 doesn't offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the Highlander and the CX-9 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the CX-9:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Mazda CX-9:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ( IIHS) performs roof strength tests. In that test the Highlander earned the top rating of “Good” because its roof supported over four times the Highlander's weight before being crushed five inches. The CX-9 was rated two rankings lower at “Marginal.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the Highlander is safer then the CX-9:

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

For its top level performance in the IIHS moderate overlap frontal impact, side impact, rear impact, roof-crush crash tests, an “Acceptable” rating in the newer small overlap frontal crash test, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2015, a rating granted to only 64 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CX-9 is not even a standard “Top Pick.”

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-9.

There are over 69 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander's warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without their vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports predicts that the Highlander's reliability will be 45% better than the CX-9.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 9th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 15th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Highlander V6 is faster than the Mazda CX-9:

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better fuel mileage than the CX-9:

For better stopping power the Highlander's front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-9:

The Highlander stops much shorter than the CX-9:

The Highlander's front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the CX-9's (55% to 45%). This gives the Highlander more stable handling and braking.

The Highlander XLE AWD handles at .81 G's, while the CX-9 Grand Touring AWD pulls only .77 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Highlander XLE AWD executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-9 Grand Touring AWD (27.8 seconds @ .62 average G's vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G's).

The Highlander is 9.5 inches shorter than the CX-9, making the Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Highlander has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The CX-9 uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the CX-9 can only carry 7.

The Highlander has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-9 (144.9 vs. 139.4).

The Highlander has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear hip room, .9 inches more rear shoulder room, .5 inches more third row headroom and 1.9 inches more third row hip room than the CX-9.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander's middle and third row seats recline. The CX-9's third row seats don't recline.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Highlander. The CX-9 doesn't offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Highlander's optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The CX-9's rear cargo window doesn't open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Mazda CX-9 is limited to 3500 pounds. The Highlander offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Highlander to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Mazda doesn't offer a maintenance reminder on the CX-9.

The Highlander Limited/Platinum's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The CX-9's rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

Consumer Reports rated the Highlander's headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the CX-9's headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Highlander has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The CX-9 has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Grand Touring.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Highlander Limited detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The CX-9 doesn't offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Highlander's standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda charges extra for heated mirrors on the CX-9.

Both the Highlander and the CX-9 offer available heated front seats. The Highlander Platinum also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren't available in the CX-9.

Standard air conditioned seats in the Highlander Limited/Platinum keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The CX-9 doesn't offer air conditioned seats.

On extremely cold Winter days, the Highlander Platinum's standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The CX-9 doesn't offer a heated steering wheel.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Highlander Limited offers an optional Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The CX-9 doesn't offer an adaptive cruise control.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $635 less than the CX-9 over a five-year period.

The Highlander will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. Kiplinger's estimates that the Highlander will retain a greater percentage of its original price after three and five years than the CX-9.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $3503 to $6525 less than for the Mazda CX-9.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its August 2014 issue and they ranked the Toyota Highlander XLE AWD four places higher than the Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander second among midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner's expectations. The CX-9 isn't in the top three.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Mazda CX-9 by over eight to one during the 2015 model year.