Out goes the Mazda CX-9, and in comes the new 2024 Mazda CX-90. This new Mazda SUV is the largest yet, and it rides on a new platform, making it very cool.
Could the new CX-90 be the biggest and best Mazda ever? It could be, and it just might be. It’s certainly the largest, which is what we’ve seen from this brand over the past few years. Every time they add a zero to the end of an SUV’s name, it grows. This new Japanese SUV is built for America, and we’re here for all of it.
This Mazda gained some weight
The new CX-90 is big, bold, and ready to drive. Similar to its predecessor, you’ll find three rows of seats in the cabin, giving you room for the whole family. Mazda gives this big SUV standard AWD, which allows for better control while driving. The CX-90 weighs in at 4,899 pounds, which is incredibly heavy for a Mazda. This new SUV is nearly 1,000 pounds heavier than the CX-50, which is saying a lot. Hopefully, Mazda gives this beast something to handle all that extra weight.
Going from small to large in a hurry
The Mazda CX-9 was considered one of the smallest three-row midsize SUVs in the class. That’s not what you find with the new Mazda CX-90. Instead of being small, this impressive SUV is longer than the Honda Pilot and Hyundai Palisade. If you want a bigger and heavier version of the CX-90, you’ll find a plug-in hybrid model that tips the scales at 5,243 pounds, making it the heaviest Mazda passenger car we’ve ever seen.
What’s powering this massive beast
Mazda brings a new straight-six to the market, which is what’s hiding under that long hood. This new engine offers 3.3-liters of displacement, twin turbocharging, and a mild hybrid 48-volt system to add more power to the mix. The mild hybrid system is located between the engine and the new Mazda eight-speed automatic transmission, making it useful enough to add more power to the system.
The power coming from the straight-six depends on which fuel you use. If you put regular 87-octane fuel in the CX-90, you’ll have 280 horsepower driving your wheels. Change to premium fuel, and that power increases to 340 horsepower. It’s not often we see such a difference and wonder what would happen if a driver combined the two and had different octane in the tank. Would this confuse the Mazda SUV? It’s hard to say.
This SUV still drives like a Mazda
The greatest concern many Mazda enthusiasts offer when a new vehicle comes to the market is whether or not it will drive like a Mazda. The Mazda CX-90 might not be as thrilling as a Miata, but it’s not a slug either. You’ll find a nice, thrilling ride and plenty of sounds to make this SUV feel great in your hands. Of course, as a family SUV, this is a comfortable and somewhat elegant vehicle, which makes it great for when your family is out on the road with you.
Three seating configurations for your needs
Typically, you find two seating configurations with higher trims offering captain’s chairs in the middle as the only change. This new Mazda SUV seats six, seven, or eight people, depending on the configurations chosen. This means the rear two rows can accommodate either two or three people, giving you the seating you’re looking for. In addition to the seating options, you’ll find eleven different options packages for the features you want to enjoy in this impressive SUV.
What does the hybrid model use?
The Mazda CX-90 has a PHEV in the lineup. This hybrid SUV uses the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine we find in most other Mazda vehicles. The power output from the engine and hybrid motor reaches 323 horsepower and the same 369 lb-ft of torque as what’s found in the six-cylinder engine. It takes the hybrid longer to reach maximum torque levels, which means it has a slightly duller driving experience than the gas-only version. The PHEV model offers 26 miles of electric-only driving range, which is pretty good.
The new Mazda CX-90 takes the midsize three-row SUV to a higher level. This new Mazda SUV is bigger, bolder, more powerful, and heavier than the outgoing CX-9. Will you give this new Mazda an opportunity to be the SUV you love to drive every day? All you’ve got to do is take one out for a test drive to see what it offers.
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