2025 MAZDA CX-90

Now in its second year of existence, the Mazda CX-90 is starting to make its presence felt in the midsize 3-row SUV world. It’s doing so with hallmark Mazda design and an undeniable leaning toward luxury. As an illustration, the stitching on the dashboard takes its inspiration from Japanese bookbinding — the kind of detail that Lexus might include.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV (the plug-in hybrid version) is reviewed separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize 3-row SUVs, including the Mazda CX-90.

Premium Sport trim, whose main distinction is a set of black exterior details, makes its debut this year, in place of the straight-ahead Premium trim. A 3-person second-row bench seat becomes available in more variants, as an alternative to the two captain’s chairs. With the exception of the entry-level trim, the CX-90 comes with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. And Preferred Plus and base Turbo S trims have been discontinued.

We recommend skipping the base model and checking out the 3.3 Turbo Preferred. The 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus is also a popular choice. If three rows aren’t necessary, consider the extremely similar Mazda CX-70 2-row midsize SUV.

Other top-selling midsize 3-row SUVs include the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Honda Pilot, and Toyota Grand Highlander. Most of them are priced similarly to the CX-90, with the Grand Highlander starting higher.

Before buying a new CX-90 SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Resale values of the erstwhile CX-9 were about average for the class — we expect the CX-90 to do at least as well or possibly better. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The base engine in the CX-90 develops a substantial 280 horsepower, not far off the Honda Pilot or Kia Telluride. We’ve driven the CX-90 Turbo S, which produces 340 horsepower on premium gasoline. This engine delivers strong acceleration, plenty of throttle response, and even a great sound from the refined 6-cylinder engine. The fuel-saving automatic stop/restart system also functions smoothly, thanks to the mild-hybrid powertrain. The automatic transmission shifts adequately in Normal mode and operates with greater eagerness in Sport mode. We could imagine this perhaps being a little too eager for some, but some of our editors actually found it engaging. And we always had Normal mode to click into if we wanted. A standard rear-biased all-wheel drive system provides plenty of traction.

The overall ride skews a tad to the firm side, while the cornering abilities of this big 3-row SUV are reassuringly predictable — thanks to Mazda’s Kinematic Posture Control. This handling aid applies the brakes to an inside rear wheel during cornering, reducing body roll while optimizing stability. We think Mazda could have taken the CX-90’s handling abilities even further with quicker steering and a bit more playfulness to the chassis. As it stands, though, this Mazda SUV has an excellent on-road demeanor.

Fuel Economy

Regardless of engine power, the CX-90 achieves 25 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That beats all-wheel-drive versions of the Kia Telluride (20 mpg combined) and Honda Pilot (21 mpg combined).

If we had to describe the CX-90’s cabin in one word, we would probably go for “gorgeous.” We think some contemporary cabins can look a bit bleak when the designers give them a large touchscreen and then strip away as many buttons as possible in pursuit of tidiness. To our eyes, the CX-90’s interior still looks tidy in an upscale way, and Mazda retains a useful amount of switchgear while using high-quality materials.

There’s seating for up to eight. That’s one better than some rivals. The higher trims have a pair of captain’s chairs for the second row and give occupants more space in which to spread out. The top-line Turbo S Premium Plus seats a total of six.

The regular second-row seats can slide and recline, while offering up 39.4 inches of legroom. The third row has 30.4 inches. That’s not as good as the Kia Telluride, which enjoys 42.4 and 31.4 inches, respectively. But the CX-90’s rearmost seats are still quite comfortable and supportive. The Select models’ seating surfaces are made of simulated leather, while the real stuff goes into every other version, with extra-fine Nappa leather in the top trims.

The base trim has a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, while the rest receive a 12.3-inch unit. The infotainment system itself is arranged smartly, and controlled primarily by a knob on the center console. It’s fairly easy to operate and get used to. However, many people expect the main screen to be a full-time touchscreen like their phones. The CX-90’s display functions as a touchscreen only with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In this sense, Mazda is going against most people’s expectations.

Depending on how many seats are folded, cargo space in the CX-90 goes from 14.9 cubic feet to 75.2. If this is a crucial aspect, the Telluride does better with 21/87 cubic feet.

We like the Mazda CX-90’s elegant body surfaces and its upscale proportions that include a long hood. It might seem odd that we wax so lyrical over a midsize SUV, but that’s Mazda styling for you. It’s an approach that definitely fits into the luxury vehicle bracket. Take away the badges and someone could easily think the CX-90 SUV was made by a company like Jaguar or Genesis.

Mazda also has a way with the color red. A few years ago, it created Soul Red Crystal Metallic (available with the CX-90). All those people who say they don’t like red cars could probably get on board with that hue. The company’s latest crimson creation is a deeper and richer Artisan Red.

For an idea of size, the CX-90 is longer than the Honda Pilot by roughly an inch.

Tri-zone automatic climate control
This is a luxury feature right here, yet it’s standard in every new CX-90 SUV. We’re impressed.

Powered tailgate
A standard feature that we always appreciate in SUVs. This one includes programmable heights, while hands-free operation comes in at the Premium Sport level.

Mazda Connect
This standard array includes voice control for the infotainment system, Pandora integration, and automatic emergency notifications. We’ve found it works well enough.

Head-up display
This becomes standard in the third trim (Premium Sport), projecting vital information on the windshield directly ahead of the driver. Head-up displays are often optional even in high-dollar luxury vehicles.

Inline-6 engines
Pardon us for a second while we geek out on mechanical stuff, but a 6-cylinder engine with all its pistons in a row is naturally smoother than one in a V configuration. BMW has used this setup for years and Mercedes-Benz is revisiting it. So this is another luxury aspect of the CX-90.

Heated second-row seats
These are exclusive to the Premium Plus models, which also have heated/ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Every CX-90 has a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-6 engine augmented by a mild-hybrid system that smooths out the fuel-saving engine stop/restart action and can propel the SUV just with electric power for a short distance at low speed. Mercedes-Benz has a similar kind of setup for its excellent GLE SUV.

In the more affordable Turbo models, this engine develops a perfectly adequate 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque with regular gasoline. Mazda also offers the Turbo S setup with 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque — premium gasoline is recommended here.

All-wheel drive (with a sporty-feeling rear bias in normal conditions) is standard, accompanied by an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, achieved by the lower-powered engine. That’s par for the midsize SUV course.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Mazda’s new-vehicle warranty is for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This is all typical for mainstream manufacturers, although Kia and Hyundai do better.

Safety Ratings

The CX-90 has taken the highest accolade of Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also earned the maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.