2024 Mazda CX-90 Up Close: Mazda’s Crown Jewel?
As Mazda continues to revamp its SUV lineup, the 2024 CX-90 joins a crowded roster as a stylish flagship three-row SUV. I got to check out the CX-90 up close in Southern California (per Cars.com’s ethics policy, we pay for our own travel and lodging at such manufacturer-sponsored events) and came away impressed, though there will be unanswered questions until we can drive it.
Related: 2024 Mazda CX-90: New Mild Hybrid, PHEV Powertrains Bring Big Boost
Looks the Part
As the intended crown jewel of Mazda’s lineup (sorry, Miata), the CX-90 certainly has the physical presence both outside and in. Riding on all-new architecture, the CX-90 has the visual proportions of a true RWD-biased luxury SUV. Compared to the CX-9, Mazda says the CX-90 is longer and wider (though it hasn’t said by how much), and it looks the part. Borrowing heavily from the recent CX-50’s stylebook, the CX-90 has more modern and aggressive front styling, a long hood and an imposing stance. The CX-90 is a bigger and better-looking CX-9 in the same way the CX-50 is to the CX-5. One design quibble: The large plastic pieces behind the D-pillars give the rear of the CX-90 a sort of hunchbacked look that I don’t like as much as the other 90% of the car.
Inside, materials quality is mostly top-notch, and the use of both real maple and fabric in the cabin of the preproduction model I sat in produced a unique sense of luxury. I do worry a little about the durability of the fabric accents — particularly the exquisite-looking hanging stitches along the dash — but they’re nice in a vacuum. The 12.3-inch central display is the same aggravating unit we’ve seen in other Mazdas, though it does function as a touchscreen when using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is a small blessing. It’s unfortunate that this debut didn’t herald a new and improved infotainment system, however. I also would’ve liked to see more storage up front given that three-row SUVs are ostensibly family haulers first and foremost. The storage bin between the second-row captain’s chairs is deeper than the one up front, which makes up for that a bit — keep the kids’ stuff closer to the kids, I guess — but why not two of those?
Second-row comfort is on par with any number of luxury and mainstream competitors, though the features available in our display vehicle — heated and ventilated seats, individual climate control, two USB-C charging ports — tilt towards premium. I would prefer a smidge more headroom and a higher seating position to lower my knees, but it was still acceptable. The third row is also roomy enough for adults on short trips, though my knees were much too elevated to make a longer road trip pleasant. Third-row ingress is relatively easy for adults, but egress is more difficult; it’s probably best to leave that to smaller, more nimble children.
The cargo area is unremarkable. There’s an adequate amount of space with the third row upright and more with it folded down. Notably, there aren’t any power controls to fold down the third- or second-row seats, and the storage under the cargo floor is occupied by emergency equipment.
Driving Questions
The elephant in the room is how the CX-90 will drive, and we can’t comment on that just yet. With 340 horsepower and 369 pounds-feet of torque, the new mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six engine is clearly targeting performance-oriented three-row SUVs like the Acura MDX Type S and Genesis GV80 3.5T. The inclusion of standard technology to reduce body movement in high-speed corners, dubbed Kinematic Posture Control, also indicates Mazda’s commitment to dynamic driving, but we’ll have to wait and see if the CX-90 hustles any harder than its competition.
Similarly, until we know fuel-economy figures for either the turbo six-cylinder or the new 323-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain — both of which recommend premium gas — we can’t see if whatever performance either offers is worth their fuel economy. Mazda also hasn’t shared information on the PHEV’s all-electric range or charging times.
Mazda says the CX-90 will go on sale in the spring but has yet to release pricing. With so many things unknown, I can’t call the CX-90 a class-leading alternative to some very popular SUVs, but with reasonable pricing and fuel efficiency, it could be one of the best in its class or serve as a handsome bridge between mainstream and luxury three-row SUVs.
More From Cars.com:
- Mazda Gives Americans What They Want: 3 More SUVs by 2023
- Mazda Adds Standard AWD to All CX SUVs, Cushier Ride for 2022 CX-5
- Which 3-Row SUVs Offer Captain’s Chairs?
- What’s the Best 3-Row SUV for 2020?
- 2023 Mazda CX-9 Drops Sport Trim, Starting Price Scales $40,000
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