2020 Mazda CX-9 vs. 2020 Subaru Ascent

Are you looking to upgrade your vehicle? A midsize SUV is a great option because it gives you plenty of passenger and cargo space, so it can take on the many different aspects of your life. The Mazda CX-9 and Subaru Ascent are two midsize SUV options.

Below, you can check out a comparison of the 2020 Mazda CX-9 and the 2020 Subaru Ascent. We will take a closer look at what these vehicles offer you, including the performance, exterior, technology, interior, and safety features that you can find on these vehicles.

PERFORMANCE AND ENGINE OPTIONS

First, let’s take a look at how these two vehicles are going to perform for you. The 2020 Mazda CX-9 comes with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This engine produces 227-horsepower, and it is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This is powerful enough to take on your everyday driving, but you also get good fuel efficiency with 22 city and 28 highway miles per gallon.

Overall, the Mazda CX-9 is a very enjoyable vehicle to drive. This vehicle has good handling and steering, and it pays attention to driving dynamics to make it a fun driving experience.

In the 2020 Subaru Ascent, you get a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine. This engine is a four-cylinder engine that is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. It produces 260-horsepower. You also get about 21 city and 27 highway miles per gallon in terms of fuel efficiency.

EXTERIOR

The exterior of the Mazda CX-9 offers you beauty and function. This vehicle was designed to show life in motion, but also to convey the idea that less is more. With smooth lines and beautiful sculpting, this design is eye-catching and sleek. The exterior of this vehicle also has some very functional features like the adaptive front-lighting system where the headlights pivot in the direction you are turning so that you are better able to see and be seen around corners.

The Subaru Ascent exterior was built to help you get the job done. This vehicle has a high-strength steel body structure to provide you with better crash safety. You also get 8.7-inches of ground clearance with this vehicle to make it possible to take on tough terrain. You also have the option for features like a power rear gate and raised roof rails to add even more versatility and function.

INTERIOR AND TECHNOLOGY

The interior of the Mazda CX-9 feels very high-end. This vehicle feels near-luxury, and it provides you with seating for six or seven people, depending on whether or not you opt for the available second-row captain’s chairs. In this vehicle, you also have standard tri-zone climate control, a push-button start, and proximity keyless entry to give you comfort and convenience.

When it comes to technology, the 2020 CX-9 gives you standard features like a Mazda Connect infotainment system, a 7-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, Bluetooth, and voice recognition. There are also available technology features like a 9-inch display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 12-speaker Bose stereo, additional USB ports, and a navigation system.

When it comes to cargo space in the Mazda CX-9, you have 14.4 cubic feet of trunk space behind the third row of seating. However, you can fold down this third row to get 38.2 cubic feet. Also, if you fold down the second and third rows of seating, you can get up to 71.2 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2020 Ascent is also a three-row SUV, but it has seating for eight people in its standard configuration. You do have the option of changing the seating capacity to seven if you want the second-row captain’s chairs. This vehicle comes standard with cloth upholstery, but you have the option to upgrade to leather upholstery and heated seats. You also get tri-zone automatic climate control standard.

The standard technology in the Subaru Ascent is a Starlink infotainment system, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, four USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. You will have to pay extra for upgrades like an 8-inch touchscreen, a Wi-Fi hotspot, remote start, a premium audio system, and additional USB ports.

For interior cargo space, the Ascent gives you 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row. If you fold down the third row of seats, you get up to 47.5 cubic feet of space, and you get a total of 86.5 cubic feet of cargo space if you fold down the second and third rows of seating.

The interior of the Mazda CX-9 feels a little bit more high-end than the Subaru Ascent, and it offers you quite a bit of technology and features standard. However, the Ascent does give you more cargo space.

SAFETY

Both of these vehicles also offer you safety technology features to look out for you. In the Mazda CX-9, you have a standard suite of safety features called the i-Activsense safety suite. These standard safety features include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, a rearview camera, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a traffic sign recognition system.

Available features in the CX-9 include parking sensors, a surround-view parking camera, and adaptive headlights.

In the Subaru Ascent, you have the EyeSight driver assistance package standard. This package includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, a head-up display, and a rearview camera.

However, you have to upgrade and pay more for safety features like blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, and rain-sensing windshield wipers in the Subaru Ascent.

Both of these vehicles have a lot to offer you. The Mazda CX-9 offers you more safety technology standard, and it offers you a high-end interior. You also get a capable and fun driving experience in the Mazda CX-9. This is a great midsize SUV, and it could be the perfect upgrade for you. If you have any questions about the 2020 Mazda CX-9, you can reach out to us at Seacoast Mazda.