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Get These Cars at 0% APR Right NowBudget Buy: $20,000 for Honda Pilot vs Mazda CX-9
We like both the Honda Pilot and the Mazda CX-9 for a used three-row SUV, but which is the better buy at $20,000? We’ve got the details.
3-Row Go-Tos
From the Ford Explorer to the Kia Telluride, the three-row SUV segment has a lot of quality choices to consider. Two perennial contenders are the Honda Pilot and Mazda CX-9. The former known for its robust practicality, the latter for its engaging driving dynamics in a segment that typically sacrifices them. Comfortable and composed, the Pilot and CX-9 match up closely, but there are clear areas of departure that make choosing between them a little easier.
With a budget of $20,000, we’ll be evaluating the 2014 Honda Pilot and 2015 Mazda CX-9 model years. You can expect to find these model years with between 80,000 and 110,000 miles on them, with the slightly newer CX-9 on the lower end of that spectrum and the older Pilot a bit higher on average.
So, which three-row hauler gets the nod as the better used deal? Let’s find out.
Specs
The 2014 Honda Pilot has just one engine, a 3.5L V6 making 250 horsepower and 253 lb.-ft. of torque and comes paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. The standard front-wheel drive version gets 18 city and 25 highway mpg while the four-wheel drive option gets 17/24 mpg. The Pilot is rated to two up to 4,500-lbs.
The 2015 Mazda CX-9 also featured just a single engine, a 3.7L V6 good for 273 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. This comes mated to a six-speed automatic. Fuel economy comes in at 17 city and 24 highway mpg for the front-wheel drive version and 16/22 for the all-wheel drive version. The CX-9 can tow up to 3,500-lbs.
Driving & Performance
The Honda Pilot may look like a hulking, boxy SUV, but it doesn’t feel like it from behind the driver’s seat. The sharp steering and well-controlled body-roll defy the wallow-y SUV reputation. The 3.6L V6 provides plenty of grunt for most driving situations while doing its best to balance output and fuel economy. The 4,500-lbs. of towing capacity is a 1,000-lbs. more than the CX-9 and could be a deciding factor all on its own for many buyers.
The Mazda CX-9, like the rest of Mazda’s SUV/crossover lineup distinguish themselves largely on two things: interior quality and better-than-average athleticism. In that regard, the CX-9 delivers. Cornering is agile and handling overall is notably more engaging than the Pilot. This also means, however, that the CX-9’s suspension rides a bit more stiffly.
Comfort & Interior
When it comes to interior, the Honda Pilot is a step below that of other Honda products like the Accord, erring on the side of durability (and economy). The dash and center stack layout are a bit funky, but the buttons and controls are logically arrayed and there’s generous amounts of storage and cubby space. The Pilot is one of the few three-row SUV in this mid-size segment to offer a full eight-passenger set up. The Pilot’s boxy design means the typically cramped third row can seat three across, unlike the narrower CX-9. Rear-seat legroom measures a fairly average 38.5-inches.
The Pilot offers a maximum of 87 cu.-ft. of cargo space. That’s behind rivals, including the CX-9, but again, that boxy frame allows for taller and wider items rather than longer ones. Depending on what you might need to haul, this might be an advantage.
Mazda’s other calling card is their high-end interior spaces, and the CX-9 largely delivers on that score as well. The cabin offers high-quality materials throughout, particularly the comfy leather seats that are on par with most luxury brands. Like the Pilot, the CX-9’s center stack is also a mixed bag. The design looks a generation old, even for a 2015 model, but functionality is good. Total cargo space measures 100.7 cu.-ft., beating the Pilot thanks to the CX-9’s longer dimensions. The tight third row, only fitted for two passengers, is best left to kids and pets. Still, for the more upscale interior, the CX-9 is the way to go.
Trims & Features
The 2014 Honda Pilot offers four trim levels: the LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. The LX comes standard with an 8-inch infotainment screen, 17-inch wheels, Bluetooth, tri-zone automatic climate control, a USB port and an auxiliary jack, and a 7-speaker stereo. Standard safety features include a rearview camera and the typical fare of ABS and a bevy of airbags. The EX trim adds larger 18-inch wheels, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and fog lights. The EX-L gets leather upholstery, moonroof, power liftgate, and optional rear-seat entertainment or navigation (unfortunately, mutually exclusive). The top Touring trim comes with both rear seat entertainment and navigation as well as a moonroof, a 10-speaker premium stereo, a 115-volt outlet, and parking sensors.
The 2015 Mazda CX-9 has just three trims: the Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. The base Sport features a 5.8-inch touchscreen, HD and Pandora radio, Bluetooth, tri-zone automatic climate control, remote keyless entry and an optional 8-way power driver’s seat. The Touring trim adds leather and a 10-speaker Bose stereo and options that include proximity keyless entry, navigation, a moonroof, and safety equipment like blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, automatic headlights, and a rearview camera. The Grand Touring gets the Touring’s options along with rain-sensing wipers, push-button start, fog lights, and an optional rear seat entertainment system.
Does Sporty Beat Stout?
Shopping for a used three-row SUV, the 2014 Honda Pilot and 2015 Mazda CX-9 are closely matched. The interiors are comfortable, the drive in either isn’t half bad for an SUV, there are lots of modern conveniences to be had. However, these two SUVs have fundamentally different characters.
The CX-9 is the three-row of choice if you’re main concern is having to plod your way through traffic in an ungainly SUV. The Mazda’s light on its toes and not bad when tossed into a corner, try saying that about nearly anything else with room for seven. The interior quality is impressive (even if the current generation is more so). And yet, as a dedicated family, dog, and boat-hauling do-it-all SUV, the CX-9 comes up a bit short. The lackluster towing capacity, at 3,500-lbs., and the cramped third row mean the CX-9 compares poorly against the Pilot when it comes to the rigors of everyday life with an SUV.
The Pilot may not be as refined as the CX-9 or even the current crop of Hondas (which are generally great), but for a third-row SUV for under $20,000, it offers a lot to like. At that price you can find top trim Tourings optioned to the nines, and those little extras like the onboard 115-volt outlet and tall cargo area go a long way on camping trips and cross-country journeys.
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