Offering three rows of seating and capable of traveling 26 miles solely on electric power, the CX90 PHEV stands as Mazda’s most fuel-efficient passenger carrier. However, does this model truly shine?
Finding a reliable three-row electric vehicle for families isn’t simple. Rivian R1S, Tesla Model X , Mercedes EQS SUV and Cadillac Escalade IQ They tend to be quite expensive, and some of their third-row seats are rather cramped. Volkswagen ID. Buzz isn't cheap either, and It isn't suitable for extended family journeys over long distances. . The trims of the Kia EV9 go ahead, but they can become quite expensive as well.
Therefore, for those shopping with a limited budget, the solution might be a plug-in hybrid, such as the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Volvo XC90 or the car I'm driving this week, the Mazda CX-90 PHEV.
Currently, "more affordable than a three-row electric vehicle" doesn’t imply inexpensive. The Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus I have here comes with an MSRP sticker price of $59,405 including the necessary destination fee, which is roughly $10,000 above the current national average for new car sales in the U.S.
However, if you opt for fewer features, you could get a CX-90 PHEV Preferred model for $51,995, which isn’t too shabby considering it’s a three-row PHEV in today’s automotive landscape. Still, this price tag is over $12,000 higher compared to the entry-level $39,300 CX-90 equipped with an inline-six engine. Although the federal tax credit might reduce your out-of-pocket cost slightly—if applicable when leasing instead of purchasing—it doesn't fully offset the additional expense involved.
With the additional cost, you receive an SUV equipped with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four cylinder engine paired with a 17.8 kWh battery driving a 68 kW (91 horsepower) electric motor. The power gets distributed to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. According to Mazda, this setup delivers 323 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, offering an all-electric range of 26 miles. However, situations requiring significant torque might necessitate support from the gasoline engine prior to depleting the batteries.
The CX-90 also comes with a two-row counterpart. the CX-70 PHEV, I recently had the chance to try out the CX-90 as well, and I already have some thoughts about it which will be included in my upcoming review. To put it simply, if you're interested in this particular engine, chassis, and cabin design, you can choose between a two-row or three-row configuration. However, even if you decide on the three-row model, don’t anticipate an extremely large vehicle. Although the CX-90 might be Mazda’s largest offering, their cars generally tend to be more compact compared to competitors within the same class. Additionally, switching to a rear-wheel-drive platform has not improved cargo space significantly.
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The CX-90 offers 14.9 cubic feet of storage space behind the third row, which expands to 74.2 cubic feet when both back seats are flattened. While this might seem spacious, it falls short compared to the substantial cargo capacity provided by vehicles such as the Toyota Highlander, Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot, Chevy Traverse, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and even the fully electric Kia EV9. However, the CX-90’s cargo room aligns more closely with compact three-row models like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, surpassing only the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in terms of cargo volume.
What additional information would you like regarding this Mazda? I will provide a comprehensive overview of its driving performance and fuel efficiency, but do you have any specific queries remaining?
I am closely monitoring the powertrain tuning and functionality since Mazda’s PHEV system seems to be facing initial challenges. According to Consumer Reports, the CX-90 PHEV was ranked among the least dependable new SUVs for 2025, partly because of problems related to both the PHEV battery and the vehicle's eight-speed gearbox. However, let me know which aspects you would like me to pay attention to. Feel free to share your thoughts in the section provided below.
Contact the author: Mack.hogan@insideevs.com .