The mid-size three-row 2026 Mazda CX-90 epitomizes Mazda's recent upmarket moves as it tries to settle into its entry-level luxury niche.
Key Takeaways:
- This SUV can seat seven or eight, depending on the trim that is selected.
- The 2026 Mazda CX-90 starts at $39,575.
- When you are on the road, you can rest assured that this SUV has the best-in-class safety ratings.
What is a Mazda CX-90 Comparable To?
The Hyundai Palisade and the Toyota Highlander are similarly sized SUVs, with a lesser focus on the sporty handling, luxury, and safety of the CX-90. Other cars in the highly crowded midsize SUV market include: The Jeep Grand Cherokee L, the GMC Acadia, the Ford Explorer, and many more. Of all the cars in this class, however, Car and Driver found the Mazda CX-90 the best.
Is the Mazda CX-90 a Luxury Car?
The CX-90 follows Mazda’s typical luxury profile: excellent handline, upscale interiors, best-in-class safety performance, and prices that belie its upscale nature. It’s luxury at less-than-luxury prices, and no car does it better.
How Many Miles per gallon does a 2025 Mazda CX-90 get?
Mazda’s plug-in Hybrid option, the CX-90 PHEV, is the perfect option for environmentally or gasoline-cost-conscious customers. According to the EPA, it nets 56 MPGe after cruising for 26 miles gas-free, which means that most short-range daily tasks won’t require gas at all. The PHEV saves on fuel costs without sacrificing power either; it's every bit as sprightly as its gasoline-only siblings, and handles just the same.
Other models of the CX-90 net around 25 mpg on average according to EPA estimates, depending on the engine. In ideal highway driving situations, you can expect a full 18.5-gallon tank to go about 518 miles, but that figure falls to a respectable 463 miles if you’re staying at the EPA 25mpg average.
How much is a Mazda CX-90 Fully Loaded?
The highest trim of the CX-90, the S Premium Plus edition, comes in at $58,180, loaded with all the fineries and comforts expected of a car at that price and more. The seats come wrapped in a striking beige Nappa lining and plush interior materials, as well as a 12-speaker Bose premium stereo controlled with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen.
Is a Mazda CX-90 a Good Car?
Yes. Mazda delivers on its entry-level luxury promise at a price that’s lower than even some comparable non-luxury SUVs. It excels in the fields Mazda is known for: handsome styling (both exterior and interior), excellent handling, and top safety ratings. It’s the perfect middle ground between luxury and efficiency, which is why so many reviewers view it so positively.
Its inline-six engines are augmented by a 24-volt hybrid system that produces 280 horsepower on lower trims, and 340 on upper ones. This lends a nice punch to the accelerator, which is excellent for passing or entering a highway. It handles and accelerates like an SUV much smaller than it, which is one of this car’s strongest points.
Is the Mazda CX-90 safe?
The CX-90 comes standard with Mazda’s i-Activsense driver assistance suite. This includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and more.
Previous CX-90 models earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating, as well as five stars from the NHTSA, which is much better than many comparable Midsize SUVs.
Our thoughts:
Three-row SUVs have a reputation as dull and cumbersome daily cars. But the Mazda CX-90 remakes that. It drives like a car much smaller than it is, without sacrificing on fuel efficiency or the practical space that makes midsize SUVs so useful to begin with. It’s a shot of fun in an otherwise bland market, and it's worth every dollar.
If you’d like to try out the Mazda CX-90 for yourself, come down to Cogswell Mazda today for a test drive.