Mazda CX-9 GT SP AWD vs. Toyota Kluger GXL Hybrid AWD – which 7-seat SUV is better?

Coles or Woolworths? Android or iPhone? Toyota Kluger or Mazda CX-9? All are great and none of them are wrong choices, but is one better for you than the other?

Well, I can't tell you where to shop or which phone to use, but I've tested and compared the Kluger GXL Hybrid and the CX-9 GT SP and I can absolutely tell which of these popular seven-seat cars will serve the family best.

I chose the middle grade of each range. So we have the next generation Kluger GXL against the CX-9 GT SP.

We have the next generation Kluger GXL against the CX-9 GT SP.

What makes this challenge even more interesting is that the Kluger we chose is a gas-electric hybrid.

There is no hybrid version of the CX-9, so we settled on a petrol-powered version of this SUV. 

Does a hybrid really save that much fuel? Well, we found out. We also compared these two family favorites in terms of practicality, value for money, cost of ownership and safety, and which one handles better.

First prices...