This luxurious and dynamic SUV has the making of a star, but it's not without issue
2024 Mazda CX-90 review by The Road Beat
Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman
Mazda may be late to the big SUV game, but this crowded and competitive field now has a surprising and viable alternative. Bearing the distinction of flagship for the famed brand that brought us 'zoom-zoom,' the CX-90 expands and improves upon their aging CX-9 in all the right ways while doing so with a unique engine configuration, boasting six cylinders arranged inline. With few other ways of saying it, the CX-90 is a brilliant car, but it's not free from flaws, and because how brilliant it is elsewhere, these annoyances become increasingly apparent and frustrating as it prevents the CX-90 from reaching its potential as everyday perfection.
We do live in a highly aesthetic world, and luckily for Mazda, they have nailed the exterior design of the CX-90, appearing with all the same striking freshness two years on. Crafting an elongated, elegant shape that is understated by modern standards, the biggest Mazda SUV is a design triumph and looks great on the road. Another superlative is to say that it looks rather expensive, which is good for a luxury-oriented car that doesn't have to luxury bucks.
Open the doors on this Premium Plus example, and you'll find yourself treated to a wonderfully lavish cabin that leaves other Japanese and American rivals far behind in the proverbial rear-view mirror. The leather is frankly exquisite for what you would expect from a Japanese car (that isn't a Lexus), and all the touchpoints and controls feel high quality and easily fitting of the price tag attached to this Premium Plus edition. Also, I applaud Mazda for continuing the understated elegance to the cabin, where there are no "look-at-me!" gimmicks or vulgar eyesores; all is neatly integrated and share an equal turn in commanding attention. The gearknob is strange at first, but I have acclimated somewhat and it felt more natural with time, but it's still among the worst in any new car unfortunately.
Yet, it isn't perfect, like the interior grab handles have large, vacant seems that shouldn't be there. Or how the exterior door handles make a hollow sound upon opening, something real luxury brands do not overlook. Similarly, the center display has a confused operational interface by means of a rotary dial, but is not a touchscreen, usually. I say usually because, if you connect your phone to Apple CarPlay, the display suddenly is touch capable...if you're stopped. The moment your speed reaches above 1 MPH, you lose touch capability and have to resort to the dial of which Apple CarPlay was clearly not designed to be used with. What crazy, obscene restriction is this? The traditional oversight committee strikes again. To keep costs attainable and competitive with their main rivals, sacrifices had to be made, which is all the more unfortunate.
For years, no, decades, Mazda has separated itself from rivals by providing superlative driving dynamics, hence the zoom-zoominess of their past ad campaigns. Somehow, despite being a huge, 200" SUV with three rows of seating, the CX-90 drives fantastic and is easily the best in class when it comes to handling and dynamics. The steering is precise and bears real proper weighting for increased confidence, but there's also a sense of feel, too, reneging on the ever-present trend of numbness affecting so many other new cars. But, turn the wheel and chuck the CX-90 into corners, and it just goes, and willingly, happily. A big SUV that doesn't have a Porsche or an M badge on its hind should not handle this good, but Mazda has once again cracked it. Understeer is largely absent at reasonable paces and expectations, and in spirited driving down winding roads, the front end is connected and willing to change direction. And yet, the ride quality is also very good, shrugging off and absorbing bumps at all speeds and rarely exhibiting choppiness. The brakes are even solid. Really, I don't know how Mazda continues to do so, but they really do make the best driving everyday cars at approachable price points.
A headline feature of the CX-90 is one you cannot see, and that is the turbocharged, 3.3L inline-six cylinder engine under the hood. Unlike the common V layout, an inline-six is an inherently smooth form of combustion, with none of the coarseness nor harshness that the typical V6 provides (let alone the moaning and groaning nature of inline-four engines). Even if you think a V6 is smooth, that's because you haven't experienced an inline-six. Inline-six engines also are renowned for making a good noise, and when you do accelerate, there is a pleasing and authentic growl emanating from beneath the hood. Speaking of accelerating, this engine rips once you give it some revs, charging to 60 MPH from rest in six seconds for some surprisingly capable and easy passing power. Horsepower ranges from 280 on the standard Turbo model up to 340 for the Turbo S.
Interestingly, this new powertrain is also a hybrid, though of the 48-volt-mild-hybrid variety to give subtle boosts to response and efficiency. In practical terms, this means the meaty CX-90 delivers surprisingly excellent fuel economy, burning gasoline at a rate of only 26 MPG during my week of daily driving. For those keeping score, that's significantly better than what the 2.5L inline-four turbo found in the smaller CX-9 returns. However, in practical application, this efficient and smooth-spinning powertrain comes with drawbacks, like hiccups and hesitation at slow speeds. Say you're slowing down for a red light, and right before you come to a complete stop (still rolling at one or two MPH), the light turns green. As you switch from the brake pedal or coasting to the gas, there can be a delay and even a slight shake as the CX-90 transitions back to power. Toyota and Honda hybrids don't do this, as you would expect from brands that pioneered hybrid technology over 25 years ago, but there's just something not quite right with this powerplant when total drivability is concerned. For a first time application, Mazda does need some work done to bring some culture and eliminate the sometimes-gruffness of this new and otherwise amazing engine combination. When looked at as a whole, the inline-six is too impressive to be blighted by low-speed tendencies.
Another scenario that can use improvement is when maneuvering in a parking situation, like trying to creep forward those couple inches further. Release the brake and there is a delay before CX-90 actually starts idling ahead, so it's easy to jump the gun and press the throttle in anticipation, but if you do this, you might be greeted to a lurch. So, be patient when parallel parking or other similar situations.
It's because of how good the rest of the CX-90 is that the few faults become all the more frustrating. Like, this car is really quite close to perfect. Remap the ECU for the slow-speed engine characteristics, new door handles, and full touchscreen operation and bam, it's perfect. The rest of the CX-90 gives such a premium experience compared to any rivals that it comes highly recommended. And besides, I'm literally a professional nit-picker; Most consumers and drivers might not even notice or care about the items mentioned, but I wouldn't be honest if I didn't point them out. That said, the CX-90 is one of my favorite new cars on sale today and fully deserves your attention and consideration.
2024 Mazda CX-90 Turbo
Price range: About $39,000 to $60,000
Pros: Beautiful exterior and interior; Inline-six engine; Handles well
Cons: Frustrating electronic quirks; Some low speed throttle issues
2024 Mazda CX-90 review with The Road Beat. Photography by mitchellweitzmanphoto.com