2023 Mazda CX-9 vs. Volkswagen Palisade

If you’ve got a lot of passengers and places to go, you may be looking for a three-row SUV that has high-quality features to keep you safe and comfortable. The 2023 Hyundai Palisade and the 2023 Mazda CX-9 are two SUVs that many drivers deliberate over. Learning more about each model can help you determine which is best for your lifestyle. Here’s everything you need to know about how the CX-9 and Palisade stack up.

Trims and Pricing

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade comes in five trims, including SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. The SE is the lowest trim, with a starting MSRP of $35,550, and the Calligraphy trim is the highest, with a starting MSRP of $49,460. There are several differences between the SE and the Calligraphy, as the Calligraphy trim has many features that aren’t available for the lowest trim. These include larger wheels, door handle welcome lights, and leather seats.

The 2023 Mazda CX-9 also comes in five trims, including Touring, Touring Plus, Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, and Signature. The Touring trim is the lowest and has a starting MSRP of $38,750, while the Signature is the highest trim and has a starting MSRP of $48,460. Like with the Palisade, there are many differences between the highest and lowest trims, with the Signature having several features that aren’t available for the Touring. These include adaptive lighting, rain-sensing wipers, folding mirrors, and larger tires.

Though the CX-9 is more expensive for the entry trim, it’s also less expensive for the highest trim. This means if you value quality, you can get the most for your money by getting the Signature trim of the CX-9 over the Calligraphy trim of the Palisade.

Exterior

The Palisade is bold and bulky, with a somewhat cluttered exterior. The CX-9, however, prioritizes simplicity and elegance in its design. If you prefer a more streamlined and modern exterior, the CX-9 might be the right choice.

The Hyundai Palisade comes in seven colors, including Abyss Black Pearl, Sierra Burgundy, Typhoon Silver, Moonlight Cloud, Hyper White, Steel Graphite, and Robust Emerald. The last color is only available for the Calligraphy trim, meaning you can’t select it for any of the more affordable trims. 

There are seven colors for the Mazda CX-9, including Machine Gray Metallic, Soul Red Crystal Metallic, Snowflake White Pearl Mica, Deep Crystal Blue, Sonic Silver Metallic, Jet Black Mica, and Polymetal Gray Metallic. The last color is only available on the Carbon Edition trim, which also comes with an exclusive Red Leather interior.

Interior

The Hyundai Palisade comes with adjustable seating so you can fold the second and third rows down for more cargo space. It also comes with a unique Passenger Talk feature that allows you to speak to the passengers in the back of the vehicle without raising your voice.

The Mazda’s interior prioritizes luxury, communication, and enjoyment, with a signature Nappa leather trimming and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The CX-9 is also unique because it features second-row captain’s seats with a center console. This makes it easy for passengers in the back to store their belongings, charge their devices, and keep their drinks upright in cup holders. You can also fold down the second and third seats in the CX-9 for more space.

To keep the interior clean, the CX-9 also comes with a pollen filter that’s integrated into the three-zone automatic climate control system. If you or any of your passengers have allergies, you can stay sneeze-free within the CX-9. To keep organized, the CX-9 has an overhead sunglasses holder, a cargo area with storage boxes and underfloor storage, and seat back pockets.

Both of the SUVs come with three rows of seating and standard features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Mazda’s interior is all about luxury and elegance, making your experience as enjoyable as possible. Though the Palisade does have a conferencing feature, it doesn’t outperform the CX-9 in any other area.

Performance

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade comes with a 3.8-liter 6-cylinder engine that produces up to 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The Palisade gets 19 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway. 

The engine for the CX-9 is a SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter Dynamic Pressure Turbo engine that produces up to 320 lb-ft of torque and gets 20 miles per gallon in the city and 26 miles per gallon on the highway, making it the better choice for both power and fuel economy.

It might not seem like this is a big difference in performance, but the slight advantage in efficiency can result in a lot of savings, especially on road trips or other long drives. The difference in torque can also be substantial when you’re trying to haul something like a small trailer.

Safety

The 2023 Palisade has a safety suite called SmartSense that includes features like Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Parking Distance Warnings, and Safe Exit Assist. You can also get Remote Smart Parking Assist, a feature that makes it easier to park the Palisade, with the Calligraphy trim.

The Mazda CX-9 comes with an integrated safety and technology system that protects you inside and out. The CX-9 comes with a Lane Departure Warning System to help you stay in your lane when driving on the highway and a 360º View Monitor to give you ultimate visibility. These are some of the features in the CX-9’s safety suite:

• Advanced front air bags.
• Dynamic Stability Control.
• Lane-keep Assist.
• Anti-lock Brake System.
• Engine-immobilizer anti-theft system.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
• Front and rear parking sensors.
• Driver Attention Alert.

When it comes to getting the best bang for your buck, the CX-9 pulls ahead. If you want to get behind the wheel of the CX-9 to experience the drive yourself, swing by the dealership and check out our new inventory. For more information about our vehicles or to start the financing process, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our friendly team members today.