Mazda CX-90 more luxurious, powerful than predecessor

MAZDA

Mazda’s CX-90 crossover has more power than the CX-9 it replaces.

I loved Mazda’s CX-9 but thought it needed a bigger engine.

Mazda felt the same way, so it decided to make it bigger with several engine choices and push it further upscale. Oh, yeah, it changed the name as well.

The new vehicle is the CX-90, and it pushes the CX-9 near luxury trappings even further. And, yes, like all Mazda’s it drives really well.

The CX-90 has an elegant exterior. The recognizable Mazda grille is black surrounded by chrome. The hood looks a bit longer than the outgoing CX-9, but it is still easy to see over. The remainder of the car reminds of a some of the Mercedes-Benz SUVs. The design is clean and bold without looking like a truck.

It’s the interior where Mazda excels. The CX-9 was upscale, but Mazda has found a way to make the CX-90 even more luxurious. It stops just short of delivering entry-level luxury – just short. There are no cheap pieces and only a few missed opportunities. For instance, the touch screen still needs the console mounted selector knobs for certain functions. There’s nothing wrong but most of the competition’s screens have full function. Also, there could be more space for small items.

Other than those issues you really can’t find fault. There are nice soft-touch surfaces and upscale touches that make this a wonderful place to be. The front seats are ventilated and covered I leather. They are comfortable and have power adjustments.

My test car had a second row of Captain’s Chairs with a center console. They were not as comfortable as the front seats but still would be good on long trips. The rear seat is OK for adults, but kids would be happiest.

My test car was the plug-in hybrid version. It’s powered by a 2.5-liter turbo four cylinder paired with an electric motor that will drive you about 26 miles on a full charge. You can recharge at home in about two hours if you use a 240-volt receptacle. An eight-speed transmission sends power to all four wheels. This combination can take you 490 miles on a tank of gas and its mpg rating is 56.

The engine makes 329 horsepower with 369 pound-feet of torque. This makes the CX-90 feel quick but the engine is a bit coarse until it reaches top gear. The transmission is smooth and shifts quickly. I’m good with the gas mileage but I think I would prefer the smoothness of the turbo in-line six cylinder. The hybrid combo certainly has enough grunt to motivate the CX-90. While not ridiculously fast, it ain’t slow, either. You can get in and out of traffic without hesitation.

It also helps that the CX-90 has good driving dynamics. Hey, it’s a Mazda. It corners far better than it should and tends to stay where you put it. The steering is nicely weighted, and you do get some good road feel.
What you will not feel is a bunch of bumps and harshness. Mazda has balanced this thing well. You get some sportiness without the harshness. The ride is firm but not stiff. It’s also quiet. Once the engine settles in there isn’t a whole lot of noise getting in.

My test vehicle was a Premium Plus, which is the top trim. All CX-90s come with frontal collision mitigation, lane keeping assist, driver attention monitor, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning and safe exit assist. A digital gauge cluster is standard on all plug-in trims.

The plus trims come with 21-inch wheels, integrated navigation system, Bose stereo, panoramic sunroof, second row of heated captain’s chairs, power folding mirrors, 12.3-inch touch screen, heated steering wheel, surround view camera, leather seats and chrome exterior trim.

All this goodness isn’t cheap. Before destination you’ll be paying $58,325. There are several other trim levels to choose from so you can go cheaper. You can also look at the Volkswagen Atlas, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade.

None of those drive quite as nicely as the Mazda and the CX-90 may be the only plug-in hybrid.

Pros:

• All-new vehicle

• Great engine

• Elegant exterior

• Plug-in hybrid option

• Quiet ride

• Mazda handling

• Plenty of technology

• Better than the vehicle it replaces

Cons:

• Storage could be better

• Pricey

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