With lots of style and generous infotainment and safety technology, the 2022 Mazda CX-9 is tough to beat. But in a growing field of mid-size SUVs, the competition is getting stiff and there are plenty of models with comparable quality, performance, and space to stand up to the CX-9.

Take, for instance, the Ford Explorer, which brings more cargo space and a surprisingly powerful hybrid option. It’s appropriately priced and offers more configurations than the Mazda CX-9’s lonely four-cylinder engine that powers all the trims. Or the Kia Telluride, with an interior that’s befitting a luxury vehicle and a price that beats the CX-9 by thousands.

To break down the best of the mid-size SUV lineup that the CX-9 competes against,

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1. Ford Explorer

Starting price: $37,005 to $55,125

Selling points: Nice, smooth ride and comfortable first- and second-row seats

Weak spot: Third-row seats are admittedly tight, the hybrid option is expensive

In classic Ford style, the 2022

Ford Explorer

offers buyers a nice selection of engine configurations, including the base-level 300-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder, a higher-powered 400-horsepower twin-turbo V6, and a 318-horsepower V6 hybrid model.

Along with satisfying each customer’s power preference, the Explorer also satisfies our taste for tech. Its practical and functional infotainment touchscreen offers everything you’d expect in a modern car and more with its stand-out suite of safety technology. You’ll get standard automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning, and more.

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2. Kia Telluride

Starting price: $34,725 to $44,625

Selling points: Luxurious and comfortable interior, surprisingly low price

Weak spot: The ride feels stiff

The Kia Telluride looks amazing inside and out. Its rugged appearance is paired with a plush, opulent interior that feels way more expensive than it costs. While its safety and infotainment technology features are plentiful, the car’s handling could stand to be somewhat more well-mannered.

The stiff ride isn’t a great feature, but it’s part of owning a vehicle capable of light-to-moderate offroading. Don’t expect great efficiency from its V6 engine either—it isn’t shy about burning up fuel. But do expect impressive towing capacity, as the Telluride can pull up to 5,000 pounds.

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3. Hyundai Palisade

Starting price: $34,895 to $48,585

Selling points: Third-row seating that’s actually comfortable for adults, nice interior

Weak spot: Only one engine configuration available, lots of wind noise

The Hyundai Palisade is yet another model that offers a stunning degree of comfort and luxury at bargain prices. Unlike many other mid-size crossover models, the Palisade offers third-row seating that’s appropriately adult-sized. There’s plenty of room for all your passengers in any seat.

The sole engine configuration is adequate but not impressive, with a 291-horsepower V6 that does the job but doesn’t deliver thrills. Still, the crossover is quick enough and can tow a respectable 5,000 pounds.

On the other hand, the Palisade’s safety technology is generous and comes with standard adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist.

4. Nissan Pathfinder

Starting price: $35,970 to $48,435

Selling points: Off-roading capabilities and plenty of cargo space

Weak spot: Steering responsiveness need improvement

The

Nissan Pathfinder

is a pragmatist’s dream come true. It’s great for moderate off-roading and overlanding, though its 7-inch wheelbase inhibits it from true recreational off-roading. Still, it has enough gusto to handle rough roads and rugged conditions, especially when equipped with four-wheel drive, which includes seven distinct driving modes for conditions like mud, sand, and snow.

The Pathfinder comes with one 284-horsepower V6 engine across its four trims and can tow up to 6,000 pounds.

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5. Honda Pilot

Starting price: $39,375 to $53,165

Selling points: Decent fuel efficiency, standard adaptive cruise control

Weak spot: Unfriendly touchscreen interface, boring appearance

With the practicality of a minivan and none of the good looks, the

Honda Pilot

is a great pick for those who know that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. The second-row seats can be captain's chairs or a three-seating bench if you've got an especially long passenger list. It has a massive amount of cargo space and, oddly, 16 cup holders.

Powered by a 280-horsepower V6 engine, the Pilot is quicker than it looks while remaining fairly fuel-efficient for its class.

MORE:

Does Honda have a self-driving car?

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6. GMC Acadia

Starting price: $36,145 to $47,945

Selling points: Handsome exterior, generous tech features

Weak spot: Super-tight third-row seating

The 2022

GMC Acadia

looks big and bulky—until you try sitting in one of the third-row seats. But below-average legroom is nothing new among mid-size crossovers with third-row seating. What is new is the entry-level

SLE trim

, which replaces the old

SL trim

that used to serve as the base. It’s slightly better equipped with rear climate control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

It comes with five USB ports and standard onboard wi-fi, plus a suite of driver-assistance technology that includes standard automated emergency braking and pedestrian detection.

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7. Toyota Highlander

Starting price: $37,070 to $50,725

Selling points: A reputation for longevity, available hybrid

Weak spot: The hybrid is expensive and the seats are a little cramped

If you’re looking for seats for as many as eight passengers, excellent safety ratings, and a warranty that includes complimentary maintenance services, the

Toyota Highlander

needs to be on your shortlist.

It offers a respectable 5,000-pound towing capacity with its base 295-horsepower V6. The hybrid trim, though pricey, is decently powered, too, offering up to 243 horsepower and 36/35 mpg in the city/highway.

The Highlander’s standard safety tech features include adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and a whole lot more.

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Toyota Highlander specs you should know

8. Chevrolet Traverse

Starting price: $35,095 to $52,545

Selling points: Spirited driving combined with decent fuel economy

Weak spot: The base model feels somewhat cheap inside

If quick acceleration, cargo space, and fuel efficiency rank high on your list of wants, then check out the 2022

Chevrolet Traverse

. It delivers in all those areas, beating out much of the competition. Third-row seating is even arguably comfortable compared to what you’d expect from a mid-size SUV.

The Traverse’s quiet cabin is robust, roomy, and loaded with USB ports for the whole family, and the infotainment system is easy to use and well-equipped. The standard safety features aren’t as impressive as some other models in its class, but you can get higher-tech driver assistance systems as available add-ons.

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Mazda CX-9 vs. the competition

If you’d like a visual rundown of how the CX-9 stacks up against these eight contenders, check out the table below:

Model	Starting price range	Engine options	Maximum seating capacity	Maximum cargo volume	Maximum towing capacity	Fuel economy (combined/city/highway)
2022 Mazda CX-9	$36,855 to $48,785	Four-cylinder	6 or 7 seats	71.2 cubic ft	3500 lbs	23/20/26 mpg
2022 Ford Explorer	$37,005 to $55,125	Four-cylinder or V6	7 seats	87.8 cubic ft	5600 lb	13/11/15 mpg
2022 Kia Telluride	$34,725 to $44,625	V6	8 seats	87 cubic ft	5000 lb	21/19/24 mpg
2022 Hyundai Palisade	$34,895 to $48,585	V6	8 seats	86.4 cubic ft	5000 lb	21/19/24 mpg
2022 Nissan Pathfinder	$35,970 to $48,435	V6	8 seats	80.5 cubic ft	6000 lbs	23/21/26 mpg
2022 Honda Pilot	$39,375 to $53,165	V6	8 seats	83.9 cubic ft	5000 lb	22/19/26 mpg
2022 GMC Acadia	$36,145 to $47,945	Four-cylinder or V6	6 seats	79 cubic ft	4000 lb	24/22/27 mpg
2022 Toyota Highlander	$37,070 to $50,725	V6 or hybrid	8 seats	84.3 cubic ft	5000 lbs	23/20/28 mpg
2022 Chevrolet Traverse	$35,095 to $52,545	V6	8 seats	98.2 cubic ft	5000 lb	21/18/27 mpg

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