The 2026 Mazda CX-90 is a three-row midsize SUV that seats up to eight and brings a turbocharged inline-six engine to a segment dominated by V6s and four-cylinders. It’s aimed at buyers who want genuine luxury-adjacent quality without paying European import prices. The 2026 model is largely a carryover year with trim and pricing adjustments. Here at MotoPickers, we dug into every trim to help you figure out which one is worth your money.
MotoPickers Rating
The CX-90 earns its place by doing something most three-row SUVs don’t bother with: it feels like a premium vehicle from the moment you open the door. The cabin materials, the weight of the controls, and the way the turbocharged inline-six pulls on the highway all point to a vehicle that punches closer to $60,000 luxury territory than its $39,300 starting price suggests.
Where it stumbles is in technology. The infotainment system lags behind what you’d expect at this price, and the lack of a head-up display or surround-view camera is noticeable when you’re parking something this large. Third-row space is also tight for adults on longer trips.
This is a vehicle built for buyers who prioritize how a car feels to drive and how it looks in the driveway over having the latest tech features. Families who want a premium daily driver with three rows and real towing capability will find a lot to like here.
| Category | Score (out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Performance | 7.8 |
| Comfort | 7.2 |
| Technology | 5.0 |
| Value | 6.0 |
| Practicality | 6.8 |
What’s New / Updates Over Previous Version
The 2026 CX-90 is a carryover model with trim structure and pricing adjustments as the main changes. Mazda keeps the full nine-trim lineup intact, spanning six turbocharged inline-six variants and three plug-in hybrid options. If you were cross-shopping the 2025 model, the powertrains are unchanged, so the driving experience you may have already tested is what you’ll get here.
The more interesting story for 2026 is where the value lands across trims now that pricing has settled. The PHEV trims in particular represent a different kind of ownership math worth understanding. See the Trim Guide below for the full breakdown on which trim hits the sweet spot, and check the Fuel Economy section for how the PHEV’s 26-mile electric range changes the daily cost picture.
Competitors
The Toyota Grand Highlander offers a similar three-row layout with a hybrid powertrain option and more cargo room behind the third row. The Hyundai Santa Fe comes in at a lower starting price with hybrid availability, though it’s a three-row vehicle focused on family practicality. The Subaru Ascent brings standard AWD and three-row utility with strong overlap for buyers in snow-heavy regions. The Chevrolet Traverse is a larger three-row SUV that trades the CX-90’s premium feel for more interior space and a comparable price of entry.
Exterior Spotlight
The CX-90 wears Mazda’s Kodo design language at its most confident. The long hood, sculpted body lines, and upright rear profile give it a presence that reads closer to a European luxury SUV than a family hauler. It’s a large vehicle that doesn’t look like one from the curb.
Color Options
Mazda offers nine exterior colors on the CX-90, giving buyers a genuine range from understated to bold. Rhodium White Premium and Platinum Quartz Metallic read as clean and upscale against the CX-90’s sculpted body. Soul Red Crystal Metallic and Artisan Red Premium are the showstoppers, and the deep metallic finish makes the body lines pop in sunlight. Machine Gray Metallic and Polymetal Gray Metallic are the practical picks that hide road grime well on daily drivers. Deep Crystal Blue Mica and Ceramic Metallic round out the palette for anyone looking to stand out from the sea of white and gray SUVs in parking lots.
Wheel Options
Select and Preferred trims ride on 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, which give a slightly softer ride over rough pavement and are easier on tire replacement costs. Premium Sport and above move to 21-inch aluminum alloy wheels, which sharpen the look considerably and fill the wheel arches the way the body style deserves. The trade-off is a firmer feel over expansion joints and potholes, which is worth knowing if your daily route includes rough city streets.
Interior Analysis
Step inside the CX-90 and the first thing you notice is that Mazda spent the money where you touch things. The dashboard is horizontal and uncluttered, the materials feel solid, and the overall layout has a calm, intentional quality that most three-row SUVs skip in favor of feature-stuffing.
Features
The 12.3-inch infotainment screen sits high on the dash where you can see it without looking down, which helps during navigation. The system uses a rotary controller rather than a touchscreen interface, which Mazda prefers for safety reasons but takes some adjustment if you’re coming from a tap-and-swipe setup. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are listed as key features, though the system’s overall responsiveness is a step behind what you’d find in a more tech-forward competitor at this price.
The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster gives the driver a clean, readable view of speed and navigation prompts without clutter. The Bose 12-speaker audio system available on upper trims fills the cabin well on highway drives, handling both podcasts and music without distortion at higher volumes.
Rear passengers get two USB-C ports to share, plus a 12V outlet. There’s also a 120V household-style outlet available, which is genuinely useful on road trips when someone needs to charge a laptop. The wireless charging pad handles one phone at a time up front. Amazon Alexa integration is on board for voice commands, though its usefulness depends heavily on how deep into the Alexa ecosystem you already are.
Comfort
The front seats in upper trims are heated and ventilated, which covers both January commutes and August school pickups. The 41.7 inches of front legroom means tall drivers won’t feel cramped even on a two-hour highway stretch, and the seat bolstering in the leather-trimmed trims holds you in place without feeling restrictive.
Second-row passengers get 39.4 inches of legroom, which is enough for adults to sit comfortably behind a six-foot driver without knees touching the seatback. The 57.0 inches of rear hip room means three adults can fit across the second row without shoulder-to-shoulder contact, which matters on longer family trips.
The third row is a different story. It’s best suited for kids or shorter adults on trips under an hour. Adults over 5’8” will feel the ceiling and the limited legroom on anything longer than a quick errand run.
The panoramic moonroof on upper trims opens the cabin up considerably and makes the second row feel less enclosed. The heated steering wheel and dual-zone climate are standard quality for the segment, and the overall ride quality from the independent suspension front and rear absorbs highway miles without transmitting much road noise into the cabin.
Cargo
Behind the third row, the CX-90 offers 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space. That’s enough for a couple of carry-on suitcases or a medium-sized dog crate, but not much more. If you’re loading up for a family road trip with all three rows occupied, you’ll want a roof box.
Fold the second and third rows flat and you open up 75.2 cubic feet of space, which is enough to move a full-sized mattress or load up for a Costco run without playing Tetris. The cargo floor is flat when the seats are folded, which makes sliding large items in and out much easier than vehicles with uneven fold patterns.
The hands-free liftgate is one of those features that earns its keep immediately. Kick your foot under the rear bumper and the hatch opens on its own, which you’ll appreciate every time you’re carrying grocery bags in both hands. Under-floor storage adds a hidden compartment for keeping a charging cable or emergency kit out of sight. There’s no tonneau cover included, so the cargo area is visible through the rear glass.
Power and Performance
Fuel Economy
The Turbo trims are rated at around 23 MPG city and 28 MPG highway, which works out to roughly 420–520 miles on the 18.5-gallon tank depending on how much highway driving you do. That’s respectable for a turbocharged inline-six in a vehicle this size, though it trails hybrid competitors in the segment. The PHEV trims don’t carry EPA combined MPG ratings in the same format, but the 26-mile electric range means most daily commutes under 25 miles can run on electricity alone. Buyers who can plug in at home will see a meaningful drop in fuel costs compared to the Turbo trims. Driving style affects both powertrains noticeably — highway speeds above 75 MPH will push the Turbo trims closer to the lower end of that range.
Performance Data (0-60)
The CX-90 reaches 60 mph in around 6.6 seconds, which puts it on the quicker end of the three-row midsize SUV segment. For context, that’s fast enough that you won’t hesitate to use a short on-ramp, and it’s quick enough to keep pace with traffic on a busy interstate without the engine sounding strained. The 8-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly in Normal mode and holds gears longer in Sport mode when you want more involvement. There’s no noticeable hesitation between pressing the accelerator and feeling the response, which is partly due to the mild hybrid system filling in torque at lower RPMs before the turbo builds full pressure. The Turbo S’s 340 hp makes the 0–60 run feel more effortless than the standard 280 hp trim, though both are capable in everyday driving. The AWD system distributes power front to rear continuously, so acceleration from a stop on wet pavement is stable and predictable. The transmission doesn’t hunt for gears on gradual highway grades, which keeps the driving experience calm on long trips.
Engine Specs
The base engine across the six Turbo trims is a 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six mild hybrid producing 280 hp. The mild hybrid system isn’t a plug-in setup. It’s an integrated starter-generator that smooths out low-speed power delivery and helps the engine restart cleanly at stops. From a standstill, the 280 hp pulls the CX-90’s 4,846-pound curb weight with authority, and there’s enough power in reserve that merging onto a busy highway doesn’t require planning ahead. The Turbo S trims step up to 340 hp on premium fuel, which is a noticeable difference in how the engine responds when you ask for more. The extra output is most apparent in the mid-range, where passing a slower vehicle on a two-lane road feels effortless rather than deliberate. The PHEV trims use a 2.5-liter four-cylinder plug-in hybrid system rated at 323 hp combined. The electric motor fills in torque at low speeds, so the PHEV doesn’t feel underpowered despite the smaller displacement engine underneath. All trims pair with an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard i-ACTIV AWD.
Suspension, Braking, and Handling
The CX-90 uses independent suspension at all four corners, which is the setup that allows each wheel to move on its own over bumps rather than being linked to the opposite side. The practical result is that hitting a pothole on one side of the car doesn’t send a jolt through the whole cabin. On highway expansion joints, the ride is composed and quiet, and the suspension absorbs most of the impact before it reaches the seats.
Braking uses ventilated disc rotors front and rear. In everyday driving, the pedal feel is progressive and easy to modulate, which matters when you’re stopping a nearly 5,000-pound vehicle in traffic. In harder stops, the brakes haul the CX-90 down without drama and without the nose diving aggressively.
On a highway on-ramp, the CX-90 handles the curve with more composure than you’d expect from something this size. The steering is accurate enough for confident lane changes, but it’s tuned on the lighter side and doesn’t give much feedback about what the front tires are doing. If you want a three-row SUV that communicates through the wheel, this isn’t it. The CX-90 prioritizes comfort and ease over driver engagement, which suits its buyer well.
Tech Overview
The CX-90’s tech package is functional and well-organized, but it’s the area where Mazda trails the most against competitors at similar price points. The hardware is solid; the software experience is where you’ll feel the gap.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The 12.3-inch infotainment screen is clear and easy to read, but the rotary-dial control interface takes adjustment if you’re used to touchscreen systems. Inputs feel deliberate rather than instant, and navigating through menus while moving requires more attention than a tap-based system. The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is clean and readable, displaying speed, navigation, and driver assist status without crowding the view.
There is no head-up display on any trim, which is a gap at this price. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are listed as key features, though the infotainment specs note wired connectivity, so confirm this at the dealership for your specific trim. Bluetooth 5.0 handles hands-free calling reliably, and the connection is stable on longer drives.
Features / Drive Modes
The CX-90 offers three drive modes: Normal, Sport, and Off-Road. Normal handles most daily driving well, keeping the transmission shifts smooth and the throttle response relaxed. Sport mode sharpens the throttle response and holds gears longer, which makes the inline-six feel more alive on winding roads. Off-Road mode adjusts the AWD torque distribution and throttle mapping for loose surfaces, though the CX-90’s 8.1 inches of ground clearance limits how far off the pavement you’d realistically take it.
Adaptive cruise control in stop-and-go traffic maintains a set following distance and can bring the vehicle to a full stop in slow traffic, then resume without driver input. It’s smooth enough that passengers won’t notice the system working unless they’re looking for it.
Safety Capabilities
The CX-90 earned both an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating and a 5-star NHTSA overall rating, which puts it at the top of the segment for crash protection. For a vehicle carrying up to eight people, that’s the most important spec on the sheet.
Safety Ratings
The IIHS Top Safety Pick+ is the organization’s highest designation, requiring top scores in multiple crash tests including the updated small overlap front test and headlight evaluations. The 5-star NHTSA rating covers frontal, side, and rollover testing. Together, these ratings mean the CX-90’s structure and restraint systems performed at the highest level in independent testing. For families putting kids in the second and third rows, that’s the kind of result that should carry real weight in the buying decision.
Safety Features
Eight airbags cover the cabin, including front, side, curtain, and knee airbags. The curtain airbags extend across all three rows, which means third-row passengers have overhead protection in a side impact. The knee airbag protects the driver’s lower legs in a frontal collision. Three LATCH anchor positions make installing car seats in the second row straightforward, and the wide 57.0-inch hip room in the second row gives you room to work when clicking a car seat base into place. ABS and electronic stability control are standard across all trims.
Driver Assists
The CX-90’s driver assist suite covers the full range of daily driving scenarios. Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking work together: the system alerts you when closing speed on a vehicle ahead is too high, then applies brakes automatically if you don’t respond. In testing by IIHS, the system performed well at both highway and city speeds.
Lane keeping assist applies gentle steering corrections when the vehicle drifts toward a lane line without a turn signal. It’s light-handed rather than aggressive, so it guides rather than fights you. The driver attention monitor watches for signs of drowsiness or distraction and prompts a break when patterns suggest fatigue. Traffic sign recognition reads posted speed limits and displays them in the gauge cluster.
Additional Safety Features
Blind-spot monitoring covers the rear quarters and alerts you with a light in the mirror when a vehicle is in your blind zone. On a vehicle with a 122.8-inch wheelbase, that coverage is especially useful during lane changes on the highway. Rear cross-traffic alert warns you when traffic is approaching from the side while reversing, which is practical in crowded parking lots.
Front and rear parking sensors give audible feedback as you close in on obstacles, and the rearview camera activates automatically in reverse. There is no surround-view camera system on any trim, which is a noticeable gap when you’re maneuvering something this large in a tight urban parking structure. Automatic high beams adjust between high and low beam based on oncoming traffic, reducing the number of manual adjustments needed on dark rural roads.
Trim Guide
Trim and Price
The 3.3 Turbo lineup runs nine trims across two powertrain families, spanning from $39,300 to $58,700—a wide enough spread that the right choice depends heavily on whether you want the plug-in hybrid, the high-output Turbo S, or the most straightforward path to a well-equipped three-row SUV.
Entry point is the 3.3 Turbo Select at $39,300, which pairs leatherette seats and three-row seating with the 280 hp inline-six and standard AWD. The feature set is lean, but it’s the right starting point for anyone who wants the CX-90 experience without premium trim pricing. Step up to the 3.3 Turbo Preferred at $43,450 and you gain comfort upgrades on 19-inch wheels while keeping the same powertrain, shoppers who want more refinement without crossing into the $47,000-plus range will find the value starts to feel more balanced here.
Our pick for most buyers is the 3.3 Turbo Premium Sport at $47,480, which adds leather seats and 21-inch wheels while unlocking the 5,000-pound towing capacity, making it the first trim that covers weekend boat or camper towing. The $4,030 jump from Preferred is a reasonable ask for those upgrades. For anyone who wants the best-equipped gasoline CX-90 without stepping into Turbo S pricing, the 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus at $50,270 adds further refinements beyond that.
The Turbo S trims run from $54,140 to $57,570, delivering 340 hp on premium fuel, a real bump in highway passing power worth considering for high-mileage drivers. The PHEV trims, meanwhile, start at $50,695 and top out at $58,700, combining 323 hp with a 26-mile electric range. They make the most sense for drivers with a home charger and a daily commute under 25 miles, though the fuel savings math only works if you actually plug in regularly.
Warranty and Maintenance Information
Mazda backs the CX-90 with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, with roadside assistance included for the same 3-year/36,000-mile period. There is no complimentary scheduled maintenance program, so factor routine service costs into your ownership budget from the start.