Acura MDX is a good 3-row CUV alternative. You usually can get one for good price. Two friends got it recently for $40K~$45K almost full loaded after they checked CX-9 out. 290 hp 3.5L V6 has good power. With 9-speed AT and "Idle-Stop" it has EPA 20/27/23 for FWD and 19/26/22 (city/hwy/comb) for SH-AWD. The only thing I don't like is the timing belt which requires routine replacement.
I've looked at the MDX, please note that it requires premium fuel to get that extra 30hp over the Pilot. We have 2 2016 Pilots in our company fleet and the 9 speed auto seems to hunt a lot. Really annoying. Its reminds me of driving the Honda Odysseys we use to have. On the highway, the road noise is intrusive in the Pilot. Premium is up to 60 cents more per gallon than regular. I have not seen 20 mpg in town driving. 25 was the most on business trip on the interstate. Please also note that you do not get LED headlights in the Pilot unless you get the Elite Edition. With 4WD, that vehicle is 49K. Might as well buy a Full size Tahoe or Suburban.
I (or should I say my wife) have owned 3 CX-9s, Honda Pilot, Honda minivans and station wagons. Kids are now grown, 1 in college and 1 in high school. Being an engineer and certified gear head (I also race dirt bikes), am into better driving dynamics but also practical.
IMO, if you have small kids and want 3rd row room, you need to get a minivan, specially if the kids are still in car or booster seats. Its not worth it to fight this battle of trying to find a CUV with enough room for kids stuff to fit in. You really can't have your cake and eat it too with CUVs. If you want room, you're gonna lose out on looks and driving dynamics. Same if you know you are gonna carpool or want adults to fit in the third row. The CX-9 and most other CUVs 3rd row are for occasional or emergency use. This is why my wife still want a 3rd row. For times when she and her school teacher buddies need to carpool to lunch. She also likes the fact that she has an extra large trunk when the 3rd row is folded. The 3rd row stays folded 95% of the time in her CX-9.
Having said all of this, I had a 2016 CX-9 Sig in my garage for a week to compare with our existing 2013 CX-9. There are not enough differences in dimensions between the 2 to quibble about. We returned it to the dealer yesterday because my wife is stuck on a white exterior/sand interior color. We will wait for the GT AWD that's supposed to come in at the end of the month. Mazda apparently builds cars in batches with the color combos. All CX-9s that were delivered the past 2 weeks have black interior, except of course the Sig edition.
The really only thing that bothered me about the new CX-9 was the non-tilting seat bottom but it doesn't bother my wife so I guess I'm okay with it.
Of course I'm spoiled by my 16-way adjustable seats in my Touareg which also has a/c cooled seats for both driver and passenger. What other 2 row SUV can average 25mpg city and over 30 hwy mpg, tow 7700 lbs, and go 0 - 60 in 6.5 sec? (thinkbeer
