2018 Toyota Highlander vs 2018 Mazda CX-9

There are a ton of crossovers on the market in all different shapes and sizes, but our favorite midsize crossover is the 2018 Toyota Highlander. Perhaps the steepest of all crossover segments, we thought we’d see how the Highlander compares to one of its biggest midsize crossover competitors. To do this, we decided to compare the 2018 Toyota Highlander vs 2018 Mazda CX-9. As you can see in the table below, the two vehicles are quite comparable to one another, but the Highlander has quite a few advantages that lead to it edging out the competition.

Advantages of the 2018 Highlander

Starting in the first row, we looked at power and the advantages kicked off right away for the Highlander. Able to generate 295 horsepower, it offers 68 HP more than its Mazda counterpart. But the advantages don’t stop there, as the second row compares transmissions and the Highlander offers one with 2 extra gears, which translates to a smoother ride.

The Mazda CX-9 does fire back in the third row, where we looked at fuel efficiency. It isn’t a big surprise that the Highlander isn’t quite as efficient as the Mazda crossover, considering its sizeable power advantage. If anything is surprising, it’s that the Mazda’s advantage is only by 1 mile per gallon. And unfortunately for the Mazda, its advantages to keep up from there as the four row looks at seating capacity, in which the Highlander offers an extra seat.

If you’re interested in making a 2018 Toyota Highlander your own, be sure to get in touch with us right here at Arlington Toyota.