All-New 2024 Mazda CX-90 Aims Up—and Makes a Direct Hit

Intriguing powertrains, fine handling, and a top-shelf cabin separate the Mazda from more mainstream three-row midsized SUVs

By Mike Monticello
Manager, Road Test & Reviews

Updated September 28, 2023

2024 Mazda CX-90 Turbo front driving — 2024 Mazda CX-90

Update: Since this first drive was originally published in September, 2023, we finished testing the Mazda CX-90. Read the complete Mazda CX-90 road test.

The 2024 CX-90 is an all-new three-row midsized SUV from Mazda. “All new” means exactly that: It uses a brand-new platform, it has Mazda’s first-ever inline six-cylinder engine, and there’s a new in-house designed and built eight-speed automatic transmission. And there’s a plug-in hybrid model.

Using a rear-wheel-drive-based platform—a configuration preferred by sports luxury makers such as BMW, Genesis, and Mercedes-Benz—was important for Mazda’s upward aim. Being able to place the engine longitudinally rather than transverse, as is often dictated by a front-wheel-drive design, meant that Mazda’s engineers could use an inline-six rather than a V6. Together, the result is one of the finest-handling three-row SUVs that also happens to be endowed with one of the sweeter engines. Besides the impressive driving dynamics of the two CX-90s we rented from Mazda for this evaluation, a step inside the finely crafted cabin points to the fact that this is Mazda’s boldest attempt yet to move the brand upscale.

There are three powertrains for buyers to choose from. The base CX-90 Turbo has a 280-horsepower, turbocharged 3.3-liter inline six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup. The PHEV (plug-in hybrid) model combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a 17.8-kilowatt-hour battery, for a total system output of 323 hp. The most powerful version is the Turbo S, which uses the same basic engine as the Turbo but bumped up to 340 hp, giving it the most horsepower and torque of any production engine from Mazda. The standard Turbo’s performance numbers are based on 87 octane fuel, and the Turbo S and PHEV powertrain numbers are based on recommended 91 octane fuel. All three versions put the power to the road through an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Pricing begins at $39,595 for the CX-90 3.3 Turbo Select. PHEV models start at $47,445 for the Preferred trim, while the 3.3 Turbo S starts at $51,750 and tops out at $59,950 for the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus. Mazda charges a $1,375 destination fee on all CX-90s. The three-row SUV can be configured to carry six, seven, or eight occupants.

If you’re a Consumer Reports member, the details of our initial expert assessment of the 2024 CX-90 PHEV and Turbo S models we rented from Mazda are available to you below. We since purchased a midlevel 3.3 Turbo Preferred Plus, logged 2,000 initial break-in miles, and put it through more than 50 tests at the CR Auto Test Center, including those that focus on acceleration, braking, handling, fuel economy, car seat fit, and controls. CR members have access to the full road-test results.

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What we rented: 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus AWD
Powertrain: 323-hp, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid engine; 8-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
MSRP: $56,950
Options: Rhodium White paint, $595.
Destination fee: $1,375
Total cost: $58,920

What we rented: 2024 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus AWD
Powertrain: 340-hp, 3.3-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine; 8-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
MSRP: $59,950
Options: Artisan Red paint, $595.
Destination fee: $1,375
Total cost: $61,920

2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV side — The all-new 2024 Mazda CX-90 impresses with its turbocharged and plug-in hybrid powertrains, honed handling, and finely finished cabin.

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Mike Monticello

Mike Monticello is the manager of road tests and reviews for the autos team at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2016. Mike has been evaluating and writing about cars for nearly 25 years, having previously worked at Road & Track magazine and Edmunds.com. On the weekends, he usually switches from four wheels to two, riding one of his mountain bikes or motorcycles. Follow him on X: @MikeMonticello.