2024 Mazda CX-90 Specs, Worth, MPG & Critiques

The decision: The all-new 2024 Mazda CX-90 has traits which can be extra usually seen in German luxurious SUVs than the mainstream fashions it’s extra prone to be in contrast with, nevertheless it’s these attributes that assist give the CX-90 partaking driving manners that elevate its driving expertise above the mainstream competitors.

Versus the competitors: Priced between family-oriented and luxurious three-row SUVs, the CX-90 delivers a rewarding driving expertise that’s on par with premium choices, however its inside isn’t as roomy as extra family-focused fashions.

Mazda has been making an attempt to place itself as a premium model for some time now, and the brand new CX-90 is the most recent mannequin in that effort. Anticipated to ultimately exchange the CX-9 in Mazda’s lineup, the CX-90 represents an entire rethink of what a Mazda three-row SUV must be. It makes use of an all-new rear-drive-based platform and introduces three new powertrains — two turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engines with 48-volt mild-hybrid know-how and a plug-in hybrid powertrain that provides 26 miles of all-electric vary on a full cost, in accordance with Mazda. The adjustments proceed on the within, too, with the selection of seating for six, seven or eight folks, plus an all-new inside with upscale supplies and design cues on higher-trim fashions that additional underscore Mazda’s intention to tell apart itself from mainstream manufacturers.

Nonetheless, the query stays: Will this effort to redefine Mazda within the minds of automobile customers work?

Associated: 2024 Mazda CX-90: New Gentle Hybrid, PHEV Powertrains Carry Large Enhance

To search out out whether or not the CX-90 is value its premium positioning, we traveled at Mazda’s invitation to San Francisco to drive Turbo S and PHEV CX-90s for the primary time. (Automobiles.com pays for its personal airfare and lodging when attending such automaker-sponsored occasions.) As you may count on, there are some notable variations in the way in which the 2 drive, however no matter which drivetrain you select, the CX-90 rewards fanatic drivers who want some room for the household and their stuff.

The Advantages of a Conventional Format

The CX-90’s new platform and powertrains symbolize a major change from the outgoing CX-9’s front-drive-based platform and turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain, however the transfer to this extra conventional structure, with a longitudinally mounted engine within the entrance, delivers driving advantages that align with Mazda’s sporty picture.

For one, the CX-90 is poised whether or not you’re on the freeway or on a winding two-lane street, with general stability and stability that’s confidence-inspiring. It’s simple to exactly place the CX-90 the place you need, however contemplating the SUV’s in any other case sporty demeanor, the steering doesn’t ship that a lot suggestions.

All fashions have a double-wishbone entrance and multilink rear suspension that dispatches with pavement bumps and imperfections in a refined manner. Trip high quality with the accessible 21-inch wheels and tires is agency (and is perhaps too stiff for some), however the suspension isn’t unsettled by pockmarked roads. The CX-90’s commonplace 19-inch wheels and their taller-sidewall tires is perhaps value a glance should you’re involved about experience firmness.

It additionally helps that the brand new platform is paired with some spectacular powertrains. Each the Turbo S and PHEV complement the CX-90’s sporty character by making the SUV really feel swift sufficient in on a regular basis driving.

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Rated at 340 horsepower and 369 pounds-feet of torque when utilizing premium fuel (319 hp on common), the turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six-cylinder within the Turbo S is a smooth-revving engine that pairs with a responsive eight-speed computerized transmission. I used to be additionally impressed with the combination of the 48-volt mild-hybrid system with this engine. Oftentimes, drivetrain smoothness and refinement takes a success with these fuel-saving techniques, however that’s not the case right here; the 48-volt system is unobtrusive general, and accelerator- and brake-pedal response is predictable. Each the Turbo S and 280-hp Turbo model get a manufacturer-estimated 25 mpg mixed, which is nice for a three-row SUV — particularly contemplating the inline-six’s output. Within the CX-90’s Regular drive mode, gas-pedal response is gradual, however switching to Sport mode heightens drivetrain responsiveness. The eight-speed computerized is a Mazda-designed transmission that trades a standard torque converter for a moist clutch, and this transmission is properly matched to the inline-six and readily downshifts once you need extra energy.

The accessible PHEV powertrain affords the potential for even higher effectivity. That includes a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, electrical motor, eight-speed computerized and 17.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack, the PHEV makes 323 hp and 369 pounds-feet of torque on premium (319 hp on common). Along with its 26 miles of all-electric vary, Mazda says it additionally will get 25 mpg mixed when the all-electric vary is depleted.

Driving the PHEV after the turbo inline-six within the Turbo S revealed some fascinating variations between the 2. The PHEV expertise is refined general, with maybe the largest shortcoming versus the inline-six-powered CX-90 being its generally spongy brake-pedal really feel. It additionally has weaker acceleration together with extra noticeable ambient noise when working on electrical energy alone.

How the PHEV operates is dependent upon the drive mode you’ve chosen. In Regular mode, the fuel engine regularly kicks on — even when the battery has loads of cost left — and in Sport mode, the system depends much more on the fuel engine to ship higher efficiency that feels much like the inline-six’s. If you need the PHEV to keep away from utilizing the fuel engine, EV mode helps you to do this; so long as there’s enough battery energy, the CX-90 will function utilizing the electrical motor. There’s a noticeable lower in energy on this mode, however should you’re in an emergency state of affairs and ground the accelerator pedal, the fuel engine will hearth up for stronger acceleration. Lastly, the PHEV additionally has a Cost setting that makes use of the four-cylinder engine as a generator to cost the battery pack. A fuel engine isn’t essentially the most environment friendly approach to cost a battery, however if you wish to replenish some all-electric vary whereas driving, you’ll be able to.

Mazda representatives didn’t have the charging-rate specification for the PHEV’s onboard charger, however the automaker does have charge-time info for various service varieties. On a family outlet, Mazda says it’ll take 11 hours for the battery to go from 0%-100%. With a Stage 2 house charger on a 30-amp circuit, the charging time drops to 2 hours and 20 minutes.

A Stylish, if Not Overly Giant, Inside

Each the Turbo S and PHEV fashions I examined have been top-of-the-line Premium Plus trim ranges with value tags round $60,000. That’s luxurious SUV territory, however the inside high quality and supplies in these fashions are similar to what you’ll discover in equally priced luxurious SUVs. The CX-90 affords a selection of seating for six, seven or eight folks, relying on the configuration of the second and third rows. The seats are completed in Nappa leather-based upholstery, the primary and second rows are heated and ventilated, and the Turbo S has maple wooden accents and distinctive cloth trim on the dashboard. From how the assorted supplies really feel to the way in which the inside seems, there’s a niceness about it that makes the premium pricing barely simpler to bear.

What you don’t get is additional house. Although the CX-90 feels as roomy or barely roomier than the outgoing CX-9, the cabin isn’t as roomy as some three-row SUVs. The entrance seats are comfy, if a tad firmly cushioned, however my proper leg was continuously bumping in opposition to the vast heart console, which doesn’t supply a lot profit for being so vast with its small storage bin and small cupholders.

The accessible second-row captain’s chairs slide, recline and are comfy for taller adults, who ought to have legroom to spare. The third row has higher headroom than the CX-9 each by Mazda’s measurements and by my impressions, however there’s not a lot in the way in which of legroom, making this seat greatest for smaller youngsters who should still be in booster seats or simply graduating from them.

There’s hardly any cargo room behind the third row — Mazda says there’s 14.9 cubic ft in CX-90s with the three-person third row and 15.9 cubic ft with the two-person seat — however this lack of house isn’t distinctive amongst three-row crossovers, which frequently have little in the way in which of cargo house when all seats are in use. There’s 40 cubic ft of house when the third row is folded flat, in accordance with Mazda’s measurements.

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Irritating Tech

Essentially the most disappointing side of the CX-90 is its multimedia system, which continues to depend on a console knob controller for many features. The system’s menu construction isn’t essentially the most intuitive, and it’s all of the extra irritating as a result of the dashboard display is inside attain of the motive force, so a touch-based interface may very well be attainable. CX-90s with the accessible 12.3-inch infotainment display do supply contact management for the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces, however not the native Mazda interface. Contact-based controls for all interfaces — and a rethink of Mazda’s on-screen menus — might go a good distance towards bettering a system that’s irritating to make use of.

2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV | Automobiles.com photograph by Leslie Cunningham

Is the CX-90 Proper for You?

With its all-new platform and new powertrains, the CX-90 places the main focus squarely on driving efficiency. It’s a little bit of an odd approach to place a big three-row SUV that’s combating the legal guidelines of physics greater than most forms of autos, but when that’s the type of automobile you’re in search of, and also you care about driving dynamics, the CX-90 is value including to your buying record.

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