2024 Mazda CX-90 Review

The US SUV segment is gaining momentum, and Mazda has responded with an all-new three-row SUV replacing their CX-5’s flagship positioning. Mazda’s debut CX-90, starting at $37,845, is a bold competitor within the mid-size SUV segment with offerings like a wheelbase 7.5” longer than the CX-5, enhancing cargo and passenger room. The cabin also has a high-end feel that rivals more expensive competitors, underscoring its value.

MotoPickers Rating: 8.8/10

With seating for up to eight passengers, the 2024 Mazda CX-90 boasts above-average fuel economy and a new turbo inline-six engine option, in addition to the automaker’s most powerful motor to date, a turbo 3.3-liter inline six. Standard all-wheel drive (AWD) helps this SUV balance its style with practicality, while its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant is Mazda’s first-ever within the US, providing enough electric range for local drives.

These highlights have resulted in the 2024 CX-90 racking up multiple awards, which we’ll explore in more detail later in our review. Still, we’ll be sure to highlight any of this flagship SUV’s lowlights to paint a clearer picture of its capabilities and value.

Exterior design – does it capture the spotlight?

Mazda sculpts the 2024 CX-90’s exterior to seamlessly blend with and reflect your driving environment. One of the first things you’ll notice about its front is the eye-catching lines stretching across the hood, which reflect athletic performance and contribute to a confident stance.

The CX-90’s exterior continues to evoke emotion with its bold, new optional paint color, artisan red premium. Other selectable colors include:

• Deep Crystal Blue Mica 
• Jet Black Mica 
• Rhodium White Premium 
• Platinum Quartz Metallic 
• Machine Gray Metallic
• Soul Red Crystal Metallic 
• Sonic Silver Metallic 

Color availability will depend on your selected trim. Body-colored side mirrors, lower body trim, and a rear roof spoiler enhance the exterior design’s versatility. Wheel options span from 20” to 21”, with the 21” variety featuring an aluminum alloy finish.

Bookending the 2024 Mazda CX-90 is a front grille available in a honeycomb or mesh design—both of which offer a black or gloss black finish. Viewing the back end of this midsize SUV reveals full LED taillights more clearly marking your road presence and an available hands-free rear power liftgate for optimal convenience during cargo loading and unloading. 

Separate small but noteworthy exterior highlights include black wheel arch molding, an optional power-sliding glass moonroof, and aluminum roof rails finished with satin chrome.

Interior design and comfort 

The 2024 CX-90’s increased wheelbase length facilitates more cabin space in response to complaints describing Mazda’s CX-5 as somewhat cramped. It’s vital to note that this increased interior space isn’t a given within the mid-size SUV segment. 

Additional cabin room facilitates the use of flexible seating options with configurations for six, seven, and up to eight passengers. The driver’s seat features supportive contours for a greater feeling of control behind the wheel, while folding down the second or third-row seats unveils more storage beneath the cargo floor. 

Mazda’s CX-90 offers 15.9 cu. ft. of cargo space behind the rearmost seats, competitive for a three-row SUV. Smaller families may want to opt for second-row dual captain’s chairs with a center console for greater passenger satisfaction during extended journeys. 

This mid-size SUV’s interior reflects its Japanese craftsmanship through quality materials like available artisanal wood trim, woven fabrics, and optional Nappa leather trim on seats. 

The CX-90 utilizes Kakenui, a Japanese stitching technique with a hanging pattern that contributes to the cabin’s open and airy feeling, alongside features like the available moonroof. These materials also help form its quiet cabin environment. 

Interior color options for this model include:

• Black 
• Parchment (light beige)
• Cognac (warm brown)
• White

However, despite its overall appeal, the 2024 CX-90’s interior does contain room for improvement. Some drivers have complained that this SUV’s gear knob lacks an intuitive design with little tactile feedback, creating a lack of clarity regarding gear positioning, especially when in park. We’ll take a closer look at this interior’s technology in our review’s next section.

Technology and infotainment

Mazda’s CX-90 offers higher-quality sound via an available 12-speaker Bose audio system, which pairs seamlessly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. This mid-size SUV’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless within higher trims and wireless phone charging, further reducing cabin clutter. 

Displays anchor modern vehicle technology, and the CX-90 delivers with its infotainment touchscreen measuring 10.25” or an available 12.3”, Mazda’s most extensive display yet. The available 360-degree view monitor with see-through view bolsters this infotainment display’s capabilities with optimized views of the areas directly ahead of and beside your SUV, which are typically blocked. 

Separate displays within the CX-90 include the optional Active Driving Display. This feature, typically referred to as a head-up display in other brands, projects vital information like speed, navigation, and safety warnings onto the windshield within a driver’s line of sight, reducing the need to avert your eyes from the road.

Personalized technology

Mazda understands that different drivers have varied seating preferences, so this SUV offers an optional driver personalization system. The driver personalization system uses facial recognition to recognize a driver and automatically initiate their stored seating preferences. Separate intuitive technology features include Rear Seat Alert, which reminds you to check your back rows before leaving to ensure nothing you need is left behind.

Like most modern SUVs, Mazda links its CX-90 with the MyMazda app. The app provides a free three-year trial for Mazda Connected services, which allow you to perform driving tasks remotely, like starting your engine.

Performance and driving experience

Mazda’s debut CX-90 provides smooth and dynamic performance using advanced drivetrain technology like standard i-Activ AWD, which makes real-time adjustments to accommodate your current driving environment. These drivetrain changes result in timely power delivery to the correct wheels for more confidence.

This flagship three-row SUV also boasts impressive powertrain specs, with horsepower ranging from 280 on non-S trims to 340. However, this power doesn’t come at the expense of efficiency, as the EPA rates the CX-90’s combined MPG rating at a class-leading 25. 

This efficiency partially stems from its new 8-speed automatic transmission and status as a mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV). The PHEV version provides 26 miles of all-electric range, ideal for scenarios like local errand runs. However, we don’t feel this all-electric range is enough to warrant spending extra money on the PHEV version, which is around $12,000 more for the base version than the mild-hybrid’s entry-level grade.

Drive modes and towing 

Drivers can tailor the CX-90’s performance with Mi-Drive, which has four unique driving modes: normal, sport, off-road, and the available towing mode. With proper equipment, the CX-90 can tow 5,000 lbs, which is considered solid for a mid-size SUV. Drivers can utilize this towing capacity to transport items like boats or campers. 

This SUV also handles well with kinematic posture control, which reduces body roll while solidifying stability during instances like cornering.

Safety and driver assistance features

Keep reading to see why the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) rated the 2024 Mazda CX-90 as a Top Safety Pick+ and five stars, respectively. 

While the CX-90’s safety capabilities are impressive, you’ll have to opt for a trim past the base version to acquire many of the most advanced and desirable features. Still, standard features include road keep assist, which helps you avoid drifting off roads above 40 MPH, and blind spot assist, a system that’s often an upgrade in competing models. Blind spot assist warns drivers of impending collisions with audio and visual alerts and can provide assistive steering inputs to avoid other cars.

Available safety features

Smart brake support is an optional safety feature that allows the CX-90 to automatically brake when approaching intersections at low speeds if the system detects an increased likelihood of an impending collision with cars coming from either side. Smart brake support-turn across traffic also provides automatic braking if a driver makes a dangerous unprotected left-hand turn in front of an oncoming vehicle. 

Consider selecting a 2024 CX-90 trim with cruising and traffic support to enhance your environmental awareness with warnings notifying you and passengers of approaching bicyclists or cars during exits. Distracted driving caused over 300,000 accidents in the US last year, but this Mazda’s available driver monitoring feature uses a camera to warn a motorist upon detecting distracted behavior, like drowsiness, with alerts.

Pricing and Value 

Learn more about the starting prices and highlights within each of the CX-90’s five trims below.

3.3 Turbo Select – $37,845

The base 3.3 Turbo Select doesn’t underwhelm with its performance. It includes a 3.3-liter turbo inline-six engine delivering 280 horsepower and AWD capabilities. This entry-level grade’s interior is dressed in synthetic leatherette upholstery and provides three rows of seating for up to eight passengers.

3.3 Turbo Preferred – $40,445

Stepping up into a 3.3 Turbo Preferred trim gives you additional features like the power sliding-glass moonroof, genuine leather-trimmed front seats, and a four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat for a more refined cabin experience. 

3.3 Turbo Preferred Plus – $42,900

The 3.3 Turbo Preferred Plus variant supplies 5,000 lbs of towing capacity, Mi-Drive with three distinct drive modes, and an active driving display, which helps your eyes remain on the road while referencing essential travel information, like navigation.

3.3 Turbo Premium – $45,900

A hands-free rear power liftgate and 21” wheels with a sleek silver finish distinguish the 3.3 Turbo Premium trim from its counterparts.

3.3 Turbo Premium Plus – $48,900

This CX-90’s main selling points are its Nappa leather-trimmed seats fostering a luxury feel, sizable 12.3” display, and 360-degree view monitor with see-through technology providing a clearer sense of your environment. 

3.3 Turbo S – $49,850

The 3.3 Turbo S sports 21” alloy wheels with a machine-cut finish, reflecting the performance of its robust powertrain, producing 340 horsepower. 

3.3 Turbo S Premium – $52,450

Opting for a 3.3 Turbo S Premium trim gives you access to the Mazda Driver Personalization System, which includes facial recognition that automatically initiates the positioning of your preferred driver’s seat settings.

3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus – $55,950 

Interior comfort enthusiasts should appreciate the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus’ second-row captain’s chairs, which are separated by a center console, establishing a first-row feel. These second-row seats are also ventilated.

Warranty information and owner feedback

The 2024 CX-90, and all other new Mazda vehicles, come with a new-vehicle limited warranty lasting three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Buyers will also receive a powertrain limited warranty for five years, or 60,000 miles, and 24/7 roadside assistance for three years, or 36,000 miles.

Owner feedback for the CX-90 is generally positive, with many reviewers comparing the SUV’s interior quality to that of more expensive brands like BMW and Lexus. Multiple owner reports also mention how the new artisan red color provides exceptional visuals and that the available second-row captain’s chairs boast exceptional comfort for their kids. 

However, some CX-90 customers echoed our observation that a buyer needs to select a higher trim level to receive many of the most attractive safety features. 

Final verdict 

Mazda’s CX-90 makes a steller first impression with its striking exterior that seems made for the artisan red color. The cabin is almost as impressive, but has some drawbacks like a smaller third row for adults. However, families utilizing this third row will likely leverage the extra seating for kids instead of older passengers.

This model’s minor criticisms don’t detract from its thrilling performance, artfully-designed exterior, high-tech environment, and multiple coveted safety awards. Mazda has made the CX-90 its flagship SUV over its CX-5 due to an increased wheelbase, additional seating, and cutting-edge features you won’t find in the CX-5, like facial recognition.

The CX-90 is also better suited for towing than its CX-5 sibling with a 5,000-lb maximum capacity. The CX-5’s towing is significantly lower at 2,000 lbs. Ultimately, the 2024 Mazda CX-5 excels in its debut—a feat that deserves recognition with an 8.8/10 MotoPickers rating.