It’s no secret how disappointing Mazda’s first EV, the MX-30, was with its short driving range and cramped cabin. Well the good news is that Mazda is continuing its goal of electrifying its entire lineup by 2030 and its second electrified model is quite good. While the MX-30 was designed more as a small commuter EV, the CX-90 PHEV appeals to a much larger audience.
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 replaces the former CX-9 and is now the flagship SUV in Mazda’s lineup. The name change is only one of the big changes to Mazda’s large three-row SUV, since the CX-90 is based on a rear-wheel drive platform with a longitudinal engine. These two details easily set the CX-90 apart in the crowded three-row SUV segment.
The standard CX-90 is powered by a turbocharged inline-six engine, while the plug-in hybrid version is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor. The focus of this review is on the CX-90 PHEV, which is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that generates up to 189 hp and 192 lb-ft. The electric motor has 173 hp and 199 lb-ft. Combined the CX-90’s PHEV powertrain has 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Those specs put it pretty close to the power you will get with the turbocharged six, which has 340 hp and 369 lb-ft. The CX-90 PHEV sends its power to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission with a wet clutch.
The 17.8 kWh lithium-ion battery gives the CX-90 PHEV a 26 mile electric range, which means that you can easily drive around town in EV mode and then you always have the engine to keep you moving down the road once the battery is depleted. The small battery can be charged from zero to 100 percent in about two and a half ours using a Level 2 charger. We do wish the CX-90 offered a bit longer electric range, like the Kia Sorento PHEV with its 32 mile range, but you get more interior space with the Mazda. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV also has a longer range at 38 miles, but the Outlander’s third row is only for children.
The CX90 PHEV is rated at 56 MPGe combined with the battery charged, but it drops to 25 mpg combined when you’re only using the gas engine. What’s great is that the CX-90 has a driving range up to 490 miles, which means that you can easily take a family road trip without having to look for a charger along the way.
On the road the CX-90 PHEV accelerates pretty quickly for a large SUV with a 0-60 mph time in the low six second range. Driving it in EV mode there’s less power on tap, which is easily noticeable, but it still has enough power to get around town. Mazda has been pushing its new luxury agenda, which is most obvious in the CX-90’s interior, but under the hood the four-cylinder could sound better when pushed hard. The transition between gas and EV is also not as smooth as you’d expect. It will also likely take drivers a moment to get used to the shifter, which has an interesting pattern with Park being selected by pushing the shifter up and to the left. In this case if you simply push the shifter up, you’ll end up in reverse.
Mazda is known for creating fun to drive vehicles and that’s the same with the CX-90, which has a sportier feel than the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. When your trip encounters some curves, the CX-90 stays planted to the road, with little body roll. It’s steering also provides an acceptable amount of feedback. To summarize, the CX-90 retains the same fun to drive character of the CX-9, but in a slightly more family friendly design.
We say “slightly” more family friendly, since the CX-90 does have up to eight seats, but its third row is short on legroom and headroom compared to many of the CX-90’s rivals. Getting into and out of the third row is also a bit cumbersome. Luggage space behind the third row also falls short of its rivals.
Instead of trying to just compete with heavyweights, like Honda and Toyota, Mazda has been very vocal about its intentions to move upmarket. Just look at any Mazda compared to its rivals, since each model in the brand’s lineup feels and looks more luxurious than their rivals.
Moving inside, the CX-90’s interior wows. Its interior feels far more luxurious and stylish than the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander. High quality materials and its minimalistic design provide a more upscale feel – bringing the CX-90 closer to an entry-level luxury SUV. It’s standard leather seats and available Nappa leather seats and fabric wrapped dashboard sets the CX-90 apart. Depending on which trim level you choose you’ll get either a 10.25- or 12.3-inch infotainment display that can be operated either by the rotary dial on the center console or your fingers. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available. The CX-90 PHEV comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
The pricing for the 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV starts at $49,415 and it’s available in three trim levels: Preferred, Premium and Premium Plus.
At the end of the day, Mazda has taken everything we liked about the CX-9, but with more style, luxury and performance thrown in. The 2024 CX-90 succeeds Mazda’s goals of moving the brand up market, since it does look and feel more premium than its rivals. The good news is also the fact that it’s offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which is something you can’t get with the Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, or Toyota Highlander – it’s a win-win for families.
