It's no secret that Chinese cars are coming in droves into the Philippine market. The 2023 Manila International Auto Show revealed this as many Chinese brands debuted, featuring a stellar lineup of crossovers, all ready to shake up the segment.

While most of these new Chinese brands played it safe with entries into the affordable sub and compact crossover segment, Changan played it differently with an entry into the premium crossover market with the Changan Uni-K. 

While it was not launched at the auto show, it showcases how far Chinese vehicles have come regarding looks and technology versus their Japanese rivals. 

With that in mind, we will compare the Changan Uni-K versus the Mazda CX-9 to see which vehicle offers you more based on their specifications, features and of course, price.

Sleek versus sporty

Thanks to its attractive Kodo design language, every Mazda vehicle can be easily identified. It aims for a minimalist look with delicate curves accentuating the vehicle's body. While it works on the Japanese brand’s smaller cars, it looks slightly out of proportion for the bigger CX-9. It still carries its sharp LED headlights and massive grille. 

Changan, on the other hand, aims for a more futuristic look with its Uni-K crossover. Unlike its Japanese counterpart, it doesn’t have a massive grille; it instead hides it with its bodywork, making it look more like an electric vehicle than an internal combustion engine-powered crossover. 

Angles are more prevalent with the Changan Uni-K with its sharper LED headlights, athletic bodylines, and overall sporty look. Changan is trying to aim for aggression, as the “grille” looks more like a set of teeth than an air passageway. 

For this category, we will give it a tie. If subtle is what you want with your car, then the Mazda has it down pat. However, if you want to stand out, the Uni-K is the way to go. Chinese vehicle design has come a long way, and these vehicles will stand out in a sea of crossovers stuck in traffic. 

Minimalist interior versus digital displays

A common theme that has been going on with Chinese vehicles is that their dashboards always seem to be dominated by huge displays. The Changan Uni-K is no different; you can see two massive screens once you enter the cabin.

The first is your digital display cluster, while the second is your infotainment system. The dashboard design is distinct, with a layered layout where the infotainment system “floats" at the center, and the digital display is pushed to the back. It looks like the gauge cluster layout on a 2015 Honda Civic. Regardless, you are still met with premium materials that benefit from its premium orientation.

Mazda takes it a step differently by continuing its theme of minimalism. It retains a traditional dashboard layout with a cowl surrounding the instrument cluster. Unlike its Chinese rival, it has a hybrid gauge cluster layout with two analog gauges for the speedometer and tachometer and a small digital display inside.

Unlike the Uni-K, which has a massive screen, the CX-9 has a more modest 9.2-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system can be accessed with the Mazda Command Controller knob near the gear shifter or by touch, but only when the car is in Park. The Mazda has a learning curve, but you will quickly overcome it.

For this category, we give the win to the Mazda CX-9 as its more straightforward layout is one that many will appreciate versus the large touchscreens that may overwhelm non-millennial and non-Gen Z users in the Uni-K. Oh, and did we mention the CX-9 seats seven, two more than the Uni-K?

However, one thing going for the Changan Uni-K is its huge panoramic sunroof, something the Mazda CX-9 could only wish it had. 

A battle of the 12-speaker sound systems

A quick peek at the spec sheet of both vehicles reveals that these premium crossovers have 12-speaker sound systems. It's a battle between Bose and Sony, the selected speaker providers for Mazda and Changan, respectively. 

Everyone hears sound slightly differently, so we will focus on audio tuning. Despite having a more expansive sound stage than the Changan, the Mazda only has basic tuning options. The speakers do their job admirably, don’t get us wrong, but they have so much untapped potential to give, which we can’t access with the stock Mazda Connect sound system. 

On the other hand, the Changan Uni-K needs help with its limited tuning capabilities. These are premium speakers, and they reproduce sound excellently. Like the Mazda, they have more power to give; it's just that the head unit of the vehicle is restricting them.

For this category, we give it a tie since both speaker systems couldn’t be maximized to their full potential with the limited tuning capabilities that their head units offer.

Power: Replacement for displacement?

Under the hood, both vehicles are powered by turbocharged gasoline engines. The Changan Uni-K has a 2.0-liter under its hood that produces 230 PS and 390 Nm of torque, which is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. 

The Mazda CX-9 has a 2.5-liter motor that produces 231 PS and 420 Nm of torque on regular unleaded fuel. Unlike its Chinese rival, it has a six-speed automatic that can send power exclusively to the front wheels or all four depending on your chosen variant.

Based on output alone, we would win the Mazda CX-9 as it produces more power and torque. However, we highly recommend you go on a test drive to see which will appeal to your driving style more. 

Safety 

Where the two vehicles stand on even ground is when it comes to their safety features. Both come with advanced driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and emergency braking, to name a few.

They also come with a multitude of airbags to keep you safe and features such as ABS with EBD, traction control, stability control, and a reverse camera.

We will call this category another tie. There are only minor differences between the two premium crossovers regarding safety features. 

Verdict

Are you ready to try out a Chinese car? You'll likely ask yourself this if you want to get the Changan Uni-K. This is a new frontier to many, as Chinese vehicles still carry the stigma of being cheap and unreliable. The Uni-K is not a Chinese vehicle of the past but a new generation model built for durability and with more reliable technology.

The stigma aside, consider that Changan has many dealerships in the country, so servicing your car won’t be a problem. The brand is already heavily invested in the Philippines, with a headquarters and storage facility ready to meet the demand for car parts. 

The Mazda CX-9, on the other hand, is still a safe bet to go with. It's a tried and tested Japanese brand in the Philippines that has built a reputation for itself with its premium products. The CX-9 is a nameplate that has already long been in the country, and many are familiar with it. The only problem with the Mazda is that it is expensive.

The price to pay

The Changan Uni-K is priced at ₱2,719,000, which is a lot to shell out for a Chinese crossover. However, it fills up its premium price with its higher specs and features.

The Mazda CX-9 starts at ₱2,490,000, which is much cheaper, but that's for its entry-level variant. If you want all the bells and whistles plus all-wheel drive, you must pay ₱2,990,000 for the top-spec model. That near-₱300,000 difference is a lot of money to consider, which can be used for things like a decent second-hand car. But you get five years of free PMS with the Mazda, which tips the balance back slightly in its favor.

If you want to try out the new generation of Chinese vehicles, the Changan Uni-K is a good start in the premium segment. However, if you want something more tried and tested, then the Mazda CX-9 will answer the call.