Anthony FongaroLast year, the team in Hiroshima went big with the Mazda CX-90 SUV. They brought out this three-row SUV with two distinct powertrains, an inline-six and a plug-in hybrid. This semi-premium SUV draws the line between the Hyundai Palisade and a Volvo XC90. Whichever the powertrain, Mazda bestows the CX-90 with a premium interior, a good amount of space, and a smooth ride. Although I’ve driven both versions of the Mazda CX-90, I found there are aspects where the PHEV is the better choice, with a few flaws. Is it the one to choose compared to the inline-six? Let’s take a look.
Starting at the front of the CX-90 PHEV, the large mesh grille with chrome accents houses the Mazda emblem. Angular headlights integrate well into the front fenders. Metal trim pieces are laid throughout various portions of the bottom of the CX-90, giving it a more premium look. This CX-90 PHEV donned Platinum Quartz Metallic paint and wore 21-inch multi-spoke machined finished alloy wheels. Black wheel arches, a staple for SUVs, run the length of the Mazda CX-90. The front fenders have a lovely piece of design with either PHEV or Inline-6, depending on the engine choice. At the rear, elongated and narrow LED taillights wrap around the corners for a planted look. Subtle badges include the CX-90 and PHEV badges. With its sporty silhouette, the Mazda CX-90 PHEV is a handsome large SUV.
Hop inside, and there seems to be a higher sense of luxury compared to competition from Toyota and Honda. In front of the driver, the steering wheel has buttons for media and safety systems. There is decent customization for the digital gauge cluster, and this Premium Plus came with a handy head-up display. Next to the driver is a 12.3-inch infotainment system which mostly uses a rotary knob, but the screen turns into a touchscreen when using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s not my favorite infotainment system, but it works fine. The Black Nappa leather interior feels premium, and this trim level comes with heated and ventilated front seats. I’m grateful that the climate controls are all physical buttons and simple to use while on the go.
For the CX-90, Mazda uses an odd gear-shifter that requires the driver to go to the right for reverse and the right and down to select drive. The second row comes with heated captain’s chairs along with their own climate controls and window shades. Various USB-C ports are scattered throughout the cabin. Third-row seats are a little tight and should be used for children or short trips. This trim level came with a Bose sound system with a good amount of treble and bass, and a large sunroof. There weren’t too many hard plastics throughout the cabin.
Mazda CX-90 PHEV Performance
Powering the Mazda CX-90 PHEV is a 2.5-liter inline-four with a 17.8-kWh battery pack, producing a combined 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, the CX-90 PHEV accelerates from 0-60 MPH in 6.2 seconds. That is pretty quick, but I found the throttle and transmission inconsistent. Although this uses a traditional automatic, it felt a little jerky. Driving in electric-only mode was fine but the transition from electric to hybrid also needs work to be more smooth.
There are four driving modes include EV, normal, sport, and off-road. I kept the CX-90 PHEV mostly in normal. On the road, the Mazda CX-90 drives well with steering that felt a little too heavy but this handles well for a large hybrid SUV. Electric-only range is around 26 miles which is average for the segment. Once the electrons run out, you’ll see around 20-22 MPG. Safety comes from various systems including a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
Pricing for the 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV starts at $50,000 for the Preferred and $58,000 for the Premium Plus. The sweet spot of the lineup is the $55,000 Premium Sport. It comes with most of the features that this Premium Plus comes with including a panoramic roof, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system. Between the PHEV and inline-six powertrains, I would go towards the inline-six. It may get significantly worse fuel economy, but the inline-six feels much more smooth. Still, the CX-90 is a great semi-luxurious SUV with a good amount of space and great great-looking interior.
