The three-row crossover SUV is a popular family hauler. Its primary purpose is to get adults, kids, and their gear from one place to another comfortably and without a lot of fuss. The 2021 Kia Telluride and the 2021 Mazda CX-9 do a great job of stepping out of the family-hauler comfort zone by providing more than just the basics. They have more features and equipment than the average crossover and perform better, but which one should you get? Take a look at this comparison of the award-winning Kia Telluride and the Mazda CX-9.
The Exterior Look
The Telluride and the CX-9 have very different exterior looks. Choose the Kia for a bold SUV facade. The base LX comes standard with 18-inch wheels, while the S adds 20-inch wheels, a sunroof, and roof rails. The EX adds a hands-free liftgate, and the SX comes with dual sunroofs and the option for black-painted 20-inch wheels and black exterior trim elements.
The CX-9 also starts with 18-inch wheels for the base Sport trim. Stepping up to the Touring trim adds the option for a sunroof, while the Carbon Edition has a dark-finished grille and 20-inch wheels. You have to step up again to the Grand Touring to get a hands-free liftgate with the CX-9, and if you bump up again to the Signature, it comes with LED lights and an exclusive grille.
The Power
Power for the Telluride comes from a 3.8-liter V-6 gas engine that puts out 291 horsepower and gets 262 pound-feet of torque. It uses Kia’s eight-speed automatic transmission and comes with front-wheel drive. A capable all-wheel-drive system is optional for any of the trim levels, and if you add the available tow package, the Telluride can pull up to 5,000 pounds.
The CX-9 doesn’t have as much power as the Telluride. It comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbo engine that generates 227 horsepower and gets 310 pound-feet of torque if you use regular gas. With premium gas, it will get 250 horsepower and generate 320 pound-feet of torque. It has a six-speed automatic transmission and also comes with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional for any CX-9 trim level, and when equipped, it can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
The Cabin Features
The Telluride has three rows of seats and room for up to seven or eight people, depending on whether you have the second-row Captain’s chairs. Even with all three rows of seats up, there’s 21 cubic feet of space in the back, and folding the third row down opens up the cargo area to 46 cubic feet. Fold down both back rows, and you’ll get 87 cubic feet of storage space.
The base Telluride has simulated leather upholstery, with heated front seats in the S. Step up to the mid-level EX for genuine leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control, while the top-level SX adds memory settings for the power-adjustable driver’s seat and the option for heated and ventilated second-row seats.
Cargo space in the Mazda is much smaller. It has 14.4 cubic feet of storage behind the third row and 38.2 cubic feet with the third row folded down. Folding down both back rows in the CX-9 gets you 71.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which is significantly smaller than the Telluride.
The standard features in the CX-9 include cloth upholstery in the base trim, along with heated front seats and tri-zone automatic climate control. The Touring model adds leather trim for the seats and a power-adjustable passenger seat, and if you step up to the Carbon Edition, it has heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats.
The Technology
Standard technology and infotainment features in the Telluride start with an 8-inch touch screen, a six-speaker stereo system, HD radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and satellite radio. It also comes standard with five USB ports. A 10.2-inch touch screen comes in the EX along with wireless phone charging, and if you bump up to the SX, it has a 10-speaker stereo system. Integrated navigation is available along with an extra USB port, and you can also get an intercom system so the driver can speak to the rear seat passengers through the speakers.
The CX-9 has a 10.3-inch touch screen, two USB ports, and a six-speaker stereo. It also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a Wi-Fi hot spot. You can step up to the Touring for wireless charging and satellite radio. Extra USB ports are also available in the CX-9, along with navigation.
The Safety Features
Every Telluride trim comes standard with a long list of safety equipment. The systems include adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, automatic braking, and lane-keep assist. It also comes with a rearview camera, a drowsy driver monitor, and a rear-seat alert that provides the driver with a reminder to check the back seats for children or pets. Additional safety features such as automatic windshield wipers are available, along with a surround-view parking camera, front parking sensors, a head-up display, and automatic high beam headlights.
Just like the Telluride, the CX-9 also has several standard safety features. This SUV comes with adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward collision warning with automatic braking, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist. You have to step up to the Touring and add the Premium Package to get front and rear parking sensors. Upgrade to the Carbon Edition for a driver attention warning system that sends the driver an alert if it senses fatigue and a rear automatic braking feature. The CX-9 Grand Touring comes with a surround-view camera and traffic sign recognition.
To find out more about why the Kia Telluride is the best choice, stop by Tom Kadlec Kia. You can take the Telluride out for a test drive and get a firsthand look at its great style and all the features and equipment.
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Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.