The 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV is the plug-in hybrid version of Mazda’s all-new three-row crossover. It has the peppy performance you expect in a Mazda, a luxurious interior, room for seven or eight passengers, and can go up to 26 miles on all-electric power.
Base Price: $56,950
As Tested: $58,920
Horsepower: 323
Mileage: 56 MPGe electricity + gas combined / 25 mpg gas only combined
The CX-90 PHEV is Mazda’s first-ever plug-in hybrid offered in the U.S. It comes in three trims: Preferred, Premium and Premium Plus. Starting prices are $49,945, $54,400, and $57,450, respectively. All-wheel drive is standard on all trims.
There’s room for seven or eight passengers, depending on whether you get captain’s chairs in the second row. The Preferred trim comes standard with bench seating in the second and third rows, and captain’s chairs are available for the second row. The Premium and Premium Plus trims come standard with captain’s chairs.
The powertrain is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a 68-kW electric motor and a 17.8-kWh battery. Total output is 323 horsepower with premium fuel or 319 hp with regular gas and 369 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic with manual shift.
Yes, the CX-90 PHEV is a three-row crossover but it’s easy to forget that when you’re behind the wheel thanks to its dynamic handling and zippy acceleration. It’s quick off the line and can easily sprint to freeway speeds when merging and passing. The eight-speed shifts seamlessly and quickly to the correct gear. Steering is responsive and the CX-90 has little body roll when cornering. The ride is on the firm side but not jarring. The gas engine kicks in smoothly when you run out of electric power or when you need more oomph than the electric motor can give. In all, the CX-90 handles like a smaller vehicle and has the energy you’d expect from a Mazda.
When properly equipped, the CX-90 PHEV can tow 3,500 pounds.
The 2024 CX-90 has an all-electric range of 26 miles, which is ample for many commuters. I used less than a quarter of a tank of gasoline during my week-long test drive.
Mazda says charging the battery from 20% to 80% takes about 90 minutes using a level 2 (240-volt outlet) and about 6 hours and 40 minutes with a Level 1 (regular household 120-volt outlet). If the battery is completely drained, it takes about 1.5 hours with a Level 2 and about 11 hours with a Level 1 charger.
Fuel efficiency is about average for a hybrid SUV. EPA ratings for my tester are 56 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) using gas and electric power, and 25 mpg combined with only gasoline.
The cabin is upscale and rivals what you’ll find in some luxury brands. Materials have a good look and feel with attractive textures and shapes. Front seats are spacious, comfortable, and supportive with nice bolstering. Passengers in the two front rows have good leg- and headroom. The available captain’s chairs slide and recline. The third row is best suited for kids, as is usually the case in three-row crossovers, although smaller adults can ride back there on shorter trips.
Standard features include proximity keyless entry, rearview camera, tri-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch infotainment display, eight-speaker audio system, HD Radio, wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, six USB ports, voice recognition, second-row sunshades, automatic high-beam headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a sunroof.
Available features include surround-view parking camera system, head-up display, auto-dimming rearview mirror, Nappa leather upholstery, driver’s seat memory settings, eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, 12.3-inch infotainment display with a touchscreen that works with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, navigation, 12-speaker Bose premium stereo, satellite radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, household-style power outlet, universal garage door opener, and panoramic sunroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, vehicle exit warning (alerts passengers exiting the vehicle of other vehicles approaching from behind), rear-seat alert, and driver-attention monitoring.
Available driver assistance technologies include front cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, and front and rear parking sensors.
The infotainment system is typical for a Mazda. It uses a display screen that’s controlled by a rotary knob located between the two front seats as well as physical knobs and buttons. The available larger display functions as a touchscreen when Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are utilized; otherwise, the screen does not function as a touchscreen. The system takes familiarization but becomes easy to use with practice.
The CX-90 has below average cargo space for a three-row crossover. There’s a paltry 14.9 cubic feet with all three rows of seating in place. That expands to 40 cubes with the second row folded, and 74.2 cubes with second and third rows folded.
The good:
Lively acceleration
Nimble handling
All-electric range of 26 miles
Luxurious cabin
Many standard and available features and tech
User-friendly infotainment system
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Tight third row
Less cargo space than other three-row crossovers
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $56,950. Rhodium White metallic paint is $595. Delivery fee is $1,375 bringing the grand total to $58,920.
Bottom line:
Dynamic handling, a luxurious interior, well-equipped with many standard and available features and tech, seating for up to eight passengers and an all-electric range of 26 miles – the 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV is one of the top three-row crossovers. While it has less cargo space than some other three-row crossovers, it’s still a great family hauler and especially appeals to those who want to drive around town or commute with no emissions.
