- All-new midsize 3-row SUV
- Standard AWD
- Pricing starts at $39,595 | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Mazda CX-90 models for sale near you
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 is a new 3-row SUV from a company known for driver engagement. The brand has been stepping up its premium game for a while now, and the CX-90 is its biggest and most luxurious offering to date. It goes up against competitors like the Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Jeep Grand Cherokee L, all of which trail the Mazda in athletic character.
There are eight CX-90 trims available, all with standard rear-biased all-wheel drive. Power comes from a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-6 engine with a choice of 280- or 340-horsepower outputs. This layout is found typically in European luxury sedans, and it helps the Mazda stand apart from the midsize SUV crowd. An additional three plug-in hybrid models are available with a 2.5-liter engine and a 68-kilowatt battery for a total of 323 horsepower.
Let’s take a look inside the 2024 Mazda CX-90.
Passenger Room and Comfort
If you need to move eight people, the CX-90 can do it, something not all its competitors can say. The pricier trims offer reclining captain’s chairs in the middle row and seating for either six or seven folks, with the former offering a nice amount of space for every passenger to spread out. We’ll talk more about the different seat layouts later.
The driver’s seat is 8-way power adjustable with lumbar, and top trims add 2-position memory. Front seats heat from the Preferred trim on up, and the top grade gets heating and ventilation in the front seats and the second-row captain’s chairs. Second-row retractable sunshades help keep the back passengers happy on all but the base model.
The generous roofline gives all three rows a good amount of headroom. Rear legroom is 39.4 inches in the center row and 30.4 inches in the way back, a fair bit less than the Kia Telluride’s 42.4 and 31.4 inches. The third-row seats themselves are supportive, though.
Features and Tech
A knob and some shortcut buttons in the center console intuitively control the Mazda Connect infotainment system. The display starts out as a 10.25-inch screen, while higher trims get 12.3 inches. The display can function as a touchscreen but only when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This setup might be confusing for some, but it makes sense if you consider the car and smartphone interfaces as separate environments. You get used to it, and it probably also helps keep fingerprints off the screen. Wireless phone integration and charging are available on the higher trims.
The tri-zone automatic climate control is easily accessed through physical switches in the center of the dash. There’s also a volume knob next to the infotainment controller in the center console. An 8-speaker audio system comes on the lower CX-90 models, while midrange and higher models feature a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound system.
Materials and Design
Every CX-90 gives the driver the pleasure of holding a genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel. Seat coverings run the gamut from leatherette on base models to real leather on higher trims, with supple Nappa leather and quilted stitching on the priciest versions. There are some nice interior color choices and unique wood trims. Soft-touch material accents and dash stitching inspired by Japanese bookbinding techniques come with some interior options — the kind of stuff that’s way above average in the segment. Varying degrees of ambient lighting come on many of the models as well.
Overall, the interior strikes a pleasing balance between the minimalist design trend and accessible controls. It looks and feels more premium than anything else in its class.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
The CX-90’s big exterior dimensions are due more to accommodating the longitudinal powertrain than providing great interior space. The cargo room math comes out to 14.9 cubic feet with all seats up, 40.1 with the third row folded, and 75.2 with the second row folded as well. It’s on the low side for the class.
What the CX-90 lacks in space, it makes up for with flexibility. There are four different ways to play seat-arrangement Tetris. Depending on the trim, the second row can be either a 60/40-split folding-and-sliding bench or two captain’s chairs. Most models then have typical 60/40-split folding seats in the third row, but some have a 50/50-split folding third row. With so many choices, there’s bound to be something that works for everyone.
Build and price your version of the 2024 Mazda CX-90 to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price and more, or browse Trax models for sale near you.
