Mazda CX-9 vs Tesla Model Y
What's the difference?

Mazda CX-9

$18,990 - $42,990

2021 price

View pricing & specs

Tesla Model Y

$58,900 - $89,400

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2021 Mazda CX-9

2026 Tesla Model Y

By Justin Hilliard

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 2.5L

Electric motor type

Permanent Magnet

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Vehicle type

Battery Electric

Fuel Efficiency

8.4L/100km (combined)

Electric range

681 km

Energy consumption

14.6 kWh/100km

Battery capacity

82.00 kWh

Seating

Likes

New 10.25-inch display
Seven-seater's versatility
Comfortable ride

Seriously practical
A seating layout that makes perfect sense
Long-distance driving range

Dislikes

Expensive AWD option
Six-seater's compromises
Older ANCAP safety rating

Ride might be too firm for some
Compromised vision from driver's seat
Lack of Apple CarPlay a turn-off

2021 Mazda CX-9 Summary

The second-generation Mazda CX-9 may have been on sale in Australia for nearly five years now, but it remains the second best-selling large SUV using unibody construction (as opposed to old-school, off-road-focused body-on-frame).

That said, it is getting on a bit, so Mazda’s given it an update with a twist for 2021, hoping to inject a little bit more life into its flagship model.

And when we say twist, we mean it. After all, who would’ve thought there’d ever be a six-seat CX-9? Well, we’ve checked it out to see if it’s the version we needed all along. Read on.

View full pricing & specs

2026 Tesla Model Y Summary

This is the new Tesla Model Y L, of course, but before we even start I need to ask you a very important question.

How often, honestly, do you use all seven seats in your seven-seater? Or if you only have five seats, how often is there a human in every single one?

Rarely, if ever?

Yep, me too. So stick around, because this is, by far, the best family SUV seating layout. And one where there’ll finally be no fighting over who gets stuck with the dodgy seat.

And as a result, the six-seat Tesla Model Y L might just be among the best all-electric SUV offerings around.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2021 Mazda CX-9 2026 Tesla Model Y

Verdict

The CX-9 is still a great option for families looking for a large SUV, even if it is starting to show its age as new rivals continue to launch with newer technologies.

That said, the availability of a luxury-focused six-seat configuration (Azami LE AWD) for the first time might be enough to convince some buyers to give it further consideration.

But for others who need the versatility of seven seats, this is still the CX-9 we’ve all come to know and love – but just a little bit better – particularly in its best-selling Azami AWD form.

Verdict

If you like the five-seat Model Y, then you'll like the six-seat L version even more. I think this the best example of Tesla's electric SUV to date, and the cabin layout just makes a lot of sense, and would suit plenty of families who don't need to squeeze someone into a compromised middle seat.

Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number of automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Mazda CX-9 vs Tesla Model Y What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mazda CX-9 vs Tesla Model Y
What's the difference?