Introduction
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and if your holiday plans involve shopping for gifts for the kids, in-laws, and everyone you love, and a Christmas tree to put everything under, you’ll need an SUV that’s up for the challenge. The 2026 Mazda CX-90 is a full-size crossover SUV with three rows of seating, and the 2026 Nissan Murano is a mid-size SUV with two.
Whether you're headed to a holiday gathering across town or a snowy cabin upstate, these crossovers aim to deliver a sleighful of comfort and capability. So, which one makes your holiday season truly wonderful? Let’s find out. Grab a cup of cocoa and keep reading as we compare the family-friendly comfort and performance of the 2026 Mazda CX-90 and the 2026 Nissan Murano to help you find a great SUV with interior space, style, and family-friendly features, perfect for your travels in River Valley and beyond.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Mazda CX-90 is a full-size SUV with three rows of seats, offering enough room for seven to eight passengers and a luxurious interior.
- The 2026 Mazda CX-90 delivers excellent fuel efficiency for a full-size crossover SUV and impressive towing capacity, surpassing competitors with three rows of luxury comfort.
- The 2026 Mazda CX-90 comes in six trims offering a variety of power, performance, and innovative safety features.
Let’s Compare: 2026 Mazda CX-90 vs. 2026 Nissan Murano
The 2026 Mazda CX-90 is a full-size SUV with three rows of seats, providing enough space for seven to eight passengers, and is larger than the 2026 Nissan Murano, a two-row mid-size SUV. With three rows, it offers more interior space in the luxury cabin, ensuring comfort and convenience in every row, including USB ports, wireless charging, Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and built-in Alexa.
With previous models ranked among the top three-row SUVs by experts like Car and Driver, the 2026 Mazda CX-90 arrives with impressive features such as the available panoramic moonroof, premium interior materials including heated leather seats and a heated steering wheel, along with versatile interior space featuring foldable third-row seats and second-row seating options, including the bench seat of the premier dual captain’s chairs. The 2026 Nissan Murano also offers a comfortable interior however, the second row has folding bench seats, which in some trims are heated.
Another difference you’ll find between the full-size 2026 Mazda CX-90 and the mid-size 2026 Nissan Murano is the powertrain and drivetrain, with the Mazda CX-90 offering a mild hybrid setup with an e-SKYACTIV-G 3.3L Turbo Inline 6-cylinder engine tuned for some trims to generate more horsepower. The drivetrain of the 2026 Mazda CX-90 is the i-ACTIV all-wheel drive (AWD) rear-biased system combined with the 11 kW Mild Hybrid Boost electric motor. With the 2026 Nissan Murano, you’re getting the power of the gas-powered 2.0L VC-Turbo 4-cylinder engine and significantly less towing capacity.
Which crossover SUV gets better gas mileage?
The 2026 Mazda CX-90 might be the full-size crossover SUV with the bigger engine, however, it offers better EPA fuel economy when compared to the 2026 Nissan Murano. Overall, you’ll spend less on average fuel costs over five years and get better gas mileage when driving on the highway and in the city, which is impressive for a full-size crossover SUV.
Which crossover SUV is right for me: the full-size or the mid-size?
If you're looking for a crossover SUV with three rows of seating, a luxurious interior, and comfort and convenience in every row, plus the peace of mind of driving an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the 2026 Mazda CX-90 is the perfect full-size crossover SUV for you and your family. It features a Bose sound system, flexible seating, an available hands-free rear power liftgate, expansive cargo space, a 360 View Monitor, USB ports, 12V power outlets, Mazda Connected Services, and safety and driver assistance features with i-ACTIVSENSE technology.
Driving the new 2026 Mazda CX-90 offers a wonderful experience and is fun to drive and ride in.
The CX-90 is available in six trims offering a range of power, performance, safety features, and technology that enhance every ride beyond your expectations.
2026 Mazda CX-90 Trims:
- Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo Select
- Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo Preferred
- Mazda CX-90 3.3 Premium Sport
- Mazda CX-90 3.3 Preferred Plus
- Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo S Premium Sport
- Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus
Other 2026 Mazda CX-90 features include Remote Engine Start, part of Mazda Connected Services, along with Mazda Roadside Assistance, integrated voice command, Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) modes including Sport and Off-Road, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop and Go, and Auto Speed Limit Assist.
It also offers three-zone automatic climate control with a pollen filter, Push Button Start, frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink, heated Nappa leather seats, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, Active Driving Display with Traffic Sign Recognition, and more.
It’s a Wonderful Full-Size SUV
The 2026 Mazda CX-90 is an excellent full-size crossover SUV with three rows of seats, a luxurious interior, and the comfort and convenience you expect from Mazda. Visit Cogswell Mazda today to start your wonderful life experience in the new 2026 Mazda CX-90. From our Cogswell Motors family to yours: Happy Holidays!