Towing: Mazda CX-9 vs Nissan Pathfinder

[romandesign]

I don't have a Macgregor yet, hopefully next season, but I will need to change our second family car. Due to other factors (2 children, 2-6 hours drive trips to country with gear) it will have to be a 7-seater SUV or maybe a minivan (not my favored option), 2-3 years old used. Because I hope to buy Macgregor 26X or 26M (maybe split ownership) next season I have to consider my car options so it could safely tow Macgregor on highway for 2-6 hour trips.

I know Nissan Pathfinder is rated for 6000 lbs and looks like a good candidate, but it's less than perfect car. Most attractive car in this segment seems to be Mazda CX-9 (4WD). I'm a big Mazda fan and own Mazda6, and I really like CX-9. However it's rated for only 3500 lbs., which seems to be barely enough, and considering family and cargo in the car - too low. I found out that in Australia the same car is rated for 4400 lbs, which seems enough to tow Mac with family and gear in the car. Looks like it's the case with many cars - european and world ratings are sometims twice as high as US/Canada ratings for the same car.

I'd appreciate informed opinions on the following:

- Is CX9 adequate for safe Mac towing?
- Will I have insurance problem in Ontario if towed weight is above rated capacity?
- Would aftermarket hitch improve matters? Seems to be the most likely case anyway, as the used CX9 would not likely have a hitch receiver.
- What is atypical weight of loaded Mac X or M with trailer? I assume 3700 to 4000 lbs from what I read here.
- Opinions about Pathfinder?
- Any other advice?

[March]

I used to tow with an older Chrysler van which was just on the limit. Took the boat to Florida twice; every time, the temperature went all the way up when crossing the mountains. We had to stop and wait for the engine to cool off, but other than that, no problem: a stable ride, pretty good gas mileage (all things considered), comfort, etc.
Five years ago I switched to a Pathfinder and been very happy with it. Crossing the mountains posed no problem whatsoever. The temperature needle never budged, and the engine purred and purred... at a price, of course. We typically covered 250 miles on a tankful of gas, if memory serves right. The four wheel drive is really helpful when pulling the boat on a steep ramp.
The only problem with the Pathfinder was, the balance. You need to have the right amount of weight on the trailer tongue. On the way back from Florida last summer, we left in a hurry without balancing the boat and the Pathfinder tended to wag noticeably around 55-60 miles. Even so, we stuck to that speed, the gas consumption was better than at a higher speed, and we were in no hurry. Never a hiccup. I liked trailering with a longer base minivan, things seemed more stable, but I wouldn't trade that for the kind of power and reliance the Pathfinder gives me. I guess I would stick with it.

[Sea Wind]

If you are planning to do long trips with the whole family I would not consider the CX9 with the 3500 lbs; with gear and passengers your actual towing capacity is going to be much lower. The Pathfinder would be my choice between the two. I also have two kids and with a 2010 Pilot rated at 4500 I am at the margin with all the stuff we carry plus a tandem trailer. I really like the SUV and tows great, however, I mostly tow on I-95.

Good Luck,
Sea wind

[romandesign]

I used to tow with an older Chrysler van which was just on the limit.

Thanks. Do you remember what was the towing rating on the minivan? 3500?

[March]

Yes, I think 3500 is right. No special cooling system, no extra shocks--just a hitch installed by the local mechanics, rated at 3500, or whatever the upper towing capacity of the engine was. Also trailered the boat from colorado to iowa and from Iowa to Duluth without any major problems--but you could tell the engine was struggling uphill. Guess we were lucky.

[Tomfoolery]

I've been using our 2003 Honda Odyssey to pull my new (to me, as of this summer) , and it's been fine so far. A bit underpowered for sure, but the long wheelbase and wide track is nice for towing. My trailer has tandem axles, and probably weighs abetween 3500 and 4000 lb. I travel light, but the extra axle adds a couple of hundred pounds, I'm sure. If I continue to use it to tow, I'll install the tranny cooler I have but never put in. The Odyssey is only rated for 3500 lb, and that's with an equalizer, but my tongue load is very light due to the second axle and the way I load the boat, and sway has never been an issue.

I have to replace a lease in a couple of weeks, and the Pathfinder is one of the potentials (6 kip or 7 kip tow rating, depending on engine), along with another 4Runner (5 kip rating - I've had two of them so far, over the years), or even a Highlander (5 kip tow rating). I'm watching this thread, as I have to make a choice real soon myself.

[bscott]

If you decide to tow with anything less than 4,000 GVW, check the tires on the tow v--probably under rated . Highly recommend tandem axle dual brakes as light tow v's don't stop that well.

Bob

[Tomfoolery]

We ended up with a Highlander with the 5000 lb factory tow package which includes heavier alternator, transmission cooler, and 4-flat electric connector. The admiral didn't like the 4Runner or Pathfinder as they were too truck-like, and she's going to drive it as much or more than me as her car is old and I told her she could keep it on her side of the garage.

We'll keep the minivan for a while yet, and if the Highlander doesn't tow to my satisfaction, I'll continue to use that. When I pick up the new car in a week, I'll drag the boat around town and on the highway to see how it performs and report back.

[Divecoz]

Wider the Track, Longer the Wheel Base ( HP aside) The better it will tow a Mac. I had.... an Explorer Sport with a 4.0 HO V-6... Lots of Ponies and plenty of Torque..Fun to Drive..But the tail waged the dog.. Doesn't sound like my present tow vehicle would be a very good match, for your family .. But I now tow with a Dodge 4x4 1500 Quad Cab with the 4.7 V-8 .. It pulls like a dream.. Up hill and down, I pass others as needed and quickly.. But I hated to give up my Explorer...MPG on the Dodge Sucks.. But shes not a " Real" daily driver .. as I am retired and we use the wifes Taurus for our "family" car..
I found it was Always Nice having 4x4 Explorer and now Dodge for pulling up the ramps..Some ramps are steep others are not.. Some require, with this boat, being deeper in the water..IMHO Nothing beats a Full Size 4x4 Truck for towing.. Its nice to be able to be over a foot deep into the water and I am not so much as touching water with the exhaust.. I can haul lots of stuff in the Quad cab and a lot more in the Covered Bed.. But with the MPG she gets ? Its a good thing I drive around very little...

[adrianglock]

Is this an even match? The mazda has a better and bigger displacement compared to the Nissan's smaller engine and bigger body?
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Mazda Truck Accessories

[Catigale]

I tow a cruising to the Cape four times a year (total 1600 miles for year) with a 202 VW Eurovan...200 HP, rated at 5000 pounds towing cap. I can just maintain 55 mph the Berkshire grades in third gear, ight lane , flashers on. Those grades are only a couple thousand feet lift. I dont trailer over 60 mph and get 13 mpg. I usually have 6 girls plus stuff in the car too, although they travel pretty light.

[mdeane]

We tow with a Chev Trail Blazer with factory towing package rated at 5000 lbs. On the highway we run at 55 to 60 mph in 3rd gear to eliminate overdrive and get 12 to 13 mpg. We travel with boat gas and water tanks near empty to lighten the trailer load.

Marc

[Tomfoolery]

Is this an even match? The mazda has a better and bigger displacement compared to the Nissan's smaller engine and bigger body?

Interestingly, the Nissan has a 6000 lb tow rating, and 7000 lb with the V-8, which also has 310 hp (vs 266 for the V-6, and 273 hp for the Mazda). The Mazda only has a 3500 lb tow rating.

I went with the Toyota Highlander (5000 lb tow with the factory prep and somewhat integrated hitch), but since the boat is in its winter spot for a while, I won't be able to try towing with it until the spring. Hopefully it does OK, as I'd rather use that over the Honda Odyssey, even though the Honda is a fair bit bigger in all dimensions and tows the boat beautifully. Doesn't have enough power, though. The Highlander has more. We'll see.

[Kittiwake]

We tow with a Chev Trail Blazer with factory towing package rated at 5000 lbs. On the highway we run at 55 to 60 mph in 3rd gear to eliminate overdrive and get 12 to 13 mpg. We travel with boat gas and water tanks near empty to lighten the trailer load.

Marc

Marc, do you know of demonstrated reason to tow with 'overdrive' disabled? I know it is a common recommendation; but towing the Mac with a Ford Expedition seems awful easy, so I am not too fussy about clicking overdrive off.
Kittiwake

[mdeane]

We tow with a Chev Trail Blazer with factory towing package rated at 5000 lbs. On the highway we run at 55 to 60 mph in 3rd gear to eliminate overdrive and get 12 to 13 mpg. We travel with boat gas and water tanks near empty to lighten the trailer load.

Marc

Marc, do you know of demonstrated reason to tow with 'overdrive' disabled? I know it is a common recommendation; but towing the Mac with a Ford Expedition seems awful easy, so I am not too fussy about clicking overdrive off.
Kittiwake

Our Trail Blazer has a 4 speed automatic transmission with 6 cylinder 280 hp engine. Pulling up even the slightest incline, if left in 4th speed range (OD), it will shift into 3rd range. In my opinion the continued changes in speed range has to be hard on the transmission. Running in 3rd range increases engine speed approximately 200 rpm's and I believe puts you higher on the output power curve. This gives you a little extra power to deal with climbing moderate grades. As best as I can tell, gas milage is not greatly impacted. A tow vehicle with a little more hp would eliminate this issue.

Marc