The CX90 PHEV, featuring three rows of seating and capable of traveling 26 miles solely on electric power, stands as Mazda’s most fuel-efficient passenger carrier. However, does this model truly deliver?
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 are all quite expensive, and some of their third rows are rather cramped.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz
isn’t cheap either, and
It isn’t suitable for extended cross-country journeys with a family.
.
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 affordability. The Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus parked outside comes with an MSRP sticker price of $59,405 including the mandatory 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 acquire 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 remains over $12,000 higher compared to the basic version priced at $39,300 with an inline-six engine. Although the federal tax credit might reduce part of this cost—it applies solely when leasing instead of purchasing—the overall expense is notably elevated.
With the additional cost, you receive an SUV equipped with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated 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 transmission. According to Mazda, this setup delivers a combined output of 323 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, offering an all-electric range of 26 miles. However, demanding situations requiring higher torque might still necessitate intervention from the gasoline engine before reaching those limits.
The CX-90 also features a two-row counterpart.
the CX-70 PHEV,
I recently had the chance to try out the CX-90 as well, so I already have some thoughts about the vehicle which will come up in my review. To put it simply, if you’re interested in getting this specific engine configuration along with its body style and cabin design, you’ll find both two-row and three-row options available. However, even when choosing the three-row variant, don’t anticipate an overly large size. Despite being Mazda’s largest model, the CX-90 remains more compact compared to competitors within its class. Additionally, switching to a rear-wheel-driven architecture 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 generous, it falls short compared to the ample cargo room 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. In terms of cargo capacity, the CX-90 aligns more closely with compact three-row SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento; however, it does surpass the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV’s storage capabilities.
What additional information would you like to know about this Mazda? I will provide a comprehensive report on its driving performance and fuel efficiency, but do you have any remaining queries?
I’m closely monitoring the powertrain tuning and performance since Mazda’s PHEV system has had some 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’d like me to pay attention to besides this. Feel free to share your thoughts in the section beneath this message.
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