2024 Mazda CX-90

A quality offering. It’s a shame Mazda has skimped on seat base comfort because the CX-90 is a fine place to spend time. We’ve already mentioned the marque’s impressive design credentials, and the cabin is a soothing sanctuary packed with soft-touch materials, contrast stitching, and (on higher trims) maple wood. Light colors and large windows create an airy ambiance that avoids the claustrophobia of darker Germanic rivals, and you just know nothing will rattle, snap or fall off in here. The inclusion of three years’ roadside assistance seems unnecessary, though Mazda could expand on the three-year/36,000-mile warranty without costing itself much money.

Standard specifications are impressive on any model, with even the cheapest of the CX-90’s five trims packing a power tailgate, synthetic leather seating, and eight-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat. Mid-range Preferred Plus models bolster this with a head-up display and sunroof, heated leather seating, and wireless smartphone mirroring/charging. If you really want to spoil your passengers, Premium Plus introduces four ventilated Nappa leather chairs, twin 12.3-inch screens including navigation, a 12-speaker Bose stereo, and a panoramic sunroof. Credit to Mazda for simplifying their rotary controller interface, too – it remains an acquired taste, but recent revisions have reduced the number of clicks required to perform certain tasks.

Impressive road manners. Although the CX-90 is rear-wheel drive by default, any model can switch to AWD when the going gets slippery. In tandem with sophisticated suspension, it means the car handles impressively yet remains surefooted in wet conditions. You can’t disguise curb weight of up to 5,200 pounds or ground clearance of over eight inches – this is no sports sedan – but driving it can be enjoyable nonetheless. Direct and communicative steering helps things to flow nicely, while even 21-inch wheels can’t ruin a composed ride. Don’t bother looking for BMW-like air springs or anti-roll bars, because Mazda prefers to keep things simple – and the CX-90 is all the better for it.

Performance is impressive too, with a pair of 3.3-liter turbocharged gas engines joined by a plug-in hybrid whose 2.5-liter inline-4 works alongside a 173 hp electric motor. Its 369 lb-ft of torque is identical to the more powerful turbo unit’s output, while every powerplant is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. This slur changes impressively unless you set the engine into Sport mode, in which case it hangs onto lower gears for longer and undermines the car’s innate smoothness. Fuel economy will also suffer in Sport mode – expect 25 mpg combined from both 3.3 turbo powerplants and 56 MPGe from the hybrid, which has 26 miles of electric-only range.

Standard SUV safety. As a brand-new vehicle for 2023, the CX-90 has yet to be crash tested, though the performance of other Mazdas leads us to believe it’ll breeze NHTSA and IIHS testing. It’s packed with the usual SUV safety staples – automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise, and lane control are all standard. We’re also pleased to see rear cross-traffic alerts and vehicle exit warnings fitted to every model. Move up the trim level food chain, and more sophisticated features are added including traffic sign recognition, a surround-view camera system, rear automatic braking, and front cross-traffic alerts with braking support.

Final thoughts. Let’s dismiss the plug-in hybrid at the outset. It’s a smooth runner offering excellent fuel economy, but it’s almost $5,000 more expensive than its gas-powered siblings without matching their refinement. Performance is disappointing in EV mode, and 26 miles of electric range isn’t impressive in a world of Rivian R1Ss and Hyundai IONIQ 5s. Gas models are nicer to drive and cheaper to buy, which means you can get a more luxurious trim for the same money; high-end CX-90s are borderline opulent inside. In tandem with the immaculate build quality and fine cabin materials, they’re lovely places to sit, while refined road manners mean they’re equally impressive on the move.

Assuming future crash test results are positive, we could wholeheartedly recommend the CX-90. Its flaws are minor – short rear seat bases and limited third-row legroom, a mediocre warranty, and low-geared steering which can become heavy around town. Otherwise, this is an easy car to like, love and live with, especially in higher trims equipped with second-row captain’s chairs. Riding shotgun won’t seem so appealing anymore.