2019 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2019 Mazda CX-9

If you have a bigger family and you are looking to avoid the minivan life, then chances are you have considered a three-row SUV. These models can be ideal for most families. What’s more, there are a lot of them on the market. This may seem like a good thing at first, but it can make your decision difficult. That’s why we are here to help. Let’s see how the relatively new Volkswagen Atlas compares to the best that Mazda has to offer with our 2019 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2019 Mazda CX-9 comparison.

Both of these SUVs offer three rows of seating for up to seven passengers and all-wheel drive, but that’s about where the similarities end. We will show that the Atlas comes out on top as the clear winner. If you are already sold and you’re shopping for your next car in Chicagoland, consider clicking the link below to see what we have in stock at Elgin Volkswagen.

Which is the better three-row SUV: Atlas or CX-9?

Price is going to be your first consideration, especially if you are trying to decide what’s right for your family. In this category, the Atlas wins easily. It comes in at over $1,000 less than the CX-9. That’s some upfront savings that you can’t ignore.

What about what’s under the hood? A majority of the Atlas trim levels come standard with a 3.6-liter V6 that produces ample power. The CX-9 comes with one engine. It’s a 4-cylinder powerplant that only produces 227 horsepower. If you want the extra horsepower in the CX-9, then you have to run it on expensive premium fuel.

That powerful Atlas engine lets it practically move mountains. With up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, you will be able to handle most tasks. The same cannot be said for the CX-9 which is only able to handle 3,500 pounds. With the under-powered engine, that likely comes as no surprise.

What about when you don’t want to tow anything? You will want to have a lot of cargo room, and here the Atlas still provides. Not only does it give you more cargo room with all the seats down, but with all the seats up, you still get 20.6 cubic-feet of cargo room all the way in the back. The CX-9 only provides 14.4 cubic-feet of cargo room behind the third row.