Mazda has been known for producing and selling cars that deliver the most bang for your buck: luxury features, great performance, and creature comforts for every passenger. The Mazda CX-50, CX-30, and CX-5 are all insanely good deals, as they can come with turbochargers, enough space for the family, and interior designs that feel three times more expensive than they are.
But Mazda turned it up a notch with its larger SUVs, the CX-70 and CX-90. The CX-90 is the company’s largest model, a 3-row SUV with plenty of power and a posh interior. We just spent a week in the top-tier in the line-up, the Turbo S Premium Sport, which starts at $53,940, a full $20K above the entry level price of the CX-90. But it’s filled with Mazda’s best features, finishes, and tech, seating for up to 8, and conveniences that made it easy to hit the grocery store, spend the day at the park, go to taekwondo class, and run all my around-town for errands thanks to the large cargo space and quiet cabin.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
New 3 Row SUVs Are All Dazzling; Would This One Impress?
I spend a lot of time in new cars cars and there are features I expect to see, and then there are “wow” factors that catch my attention. The Mazda CX-90 is one of the ‘wow’ cars, as it has safety features I need to keep my family safe on the go, but it also has the performance I want and the style I love.
Mazda consistently impresses me with its luxurious interiors and eye-catching exterior colors. Oh, and the glossy black wheels that tie a pretty bow around the whole thing. There’s also the pricing. I tested the second from the top model, the Turbo S Premium Sport, priced from $38,800 at the base to $57,370 for the top-of-the-line Turbo S Premium Plus.
Compared to other three-row SUVs it competes with, like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade, it stacks up as refined, fun to drive thanks to the turbocharged six-cylinder engine, and prettier to look at. At least in my opinion. Here’s what else impressed me about the Mazda CX-90:
1. We All Enjoyed the Thrill of a 340-Horsepower Spirited Family Drive
The 2026 Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo S Premium Sport offers 340 horsepower from the company’s turbocharged 3.3-liter inline six-cylinder engine. There’s more than enough power when you put the pedal to the metal, especially on the highway. Entering the highway was effortless and unsurprisingly smooth, with a quiet cabin. It was nice having safety features that alerted me to cars in my blind spots when I turned on my turning signal while accelerating, so I could drive aware and plan for the drive around me.
The Mazda CX-90 has lower trims that start with 280 horsepower, but if you’d like a bit more pep in your drive (and why wouldn’t you?), and if you’d prefer the higher towing rating of 5,000 lbs for weekend activities, you’ll love this trim. This trim requires premium unleaded fuel, but even then, I averaged around 23 city, 28 highway, and 25 combined miles per gallon. Not too bad for a family hauler.
2. There’s Plenty of Cargo Space to Take Us from Shopping to Taekwondo
With bulky gear for taekwondo sparring week and tons of bags from the grocery store, I have an endless need for cargo space to help with my daily activities. When I am running errands and traveling with my family, I need the peace of mind that if and when we need to haul gear or purchases, I have to be ready at all times. The 14.9 cu ft of initial cargo space helped out a lot!
Since it is just the 3 of us, it makes sense to put down the third row until we have family or friends to join us on a drive. The cargo space options with the seats down make an upcoming furniture or hardware store run a lot more enjoyable, knowing we can haul it all home without needing to call in a favor and ask a friend with a truck for help. My ultimate favorite feature, though, is the rear power liftgate. I am short, so this is a literal next-level upgrade for me.
3. 90-degree Opening Doors for More Space Loading into the Second Row
A car door that opens 90 degrees?! Oh, yes. It sounds so simple, and it is, but it is a luxury to have ample space to get the kids in and out of the second row with ease on both your door hinge and sanity. Whether your kids are in a booster seat or old enough to not need a safety seat, this feature makes it easy, even for older parents visiting.
And looking back, I wish I had this feature when our son had a rear-facing car seat. I still don’t know how we did it other than necessity, but this feature is a game-changer, especially if you have two little ones in car seats.
4. A Stylish Exterior Pairs Beautifully with a Luxuriously Tech-Forward Interior
Mazda is known for its impeccable interior styling and exterior colors. Our CX-90 arrived in this Machine Gray Metallic and paired with black Nappa leather. I enjoyed the wireless charging and wireless Apple CarPlay on a 12.3” full-color display, allowing me to use the tech the way I like to.
And when I’m not using my cupholders, I can cover them up and enjoy the interior decor. For comfort it has heated and ventilated front seats, a nice view with a panoramic moonroof, and you can stay charged on the go with USB-C ports throughout each row.
With the second row captain’s chairs inside, this does take away one potential seat for a passenger. However, I prefer that there be a center walkthrough with this configuration. Especially since we don’t entertain often, but when we do, our older parents can opt to access the third row more easily than folding down a second-row bench. I would also advise the little ones with a top tether or no car seat to sit in the third row, since there is more legroom in the second row for adults.
5. The Safety Features Kept Me Aware and In Charge
There will always be people driving in the blind spot, no matter your height, so I fully enjoyed the blind spot assist to alert me when I am signaling to change lanes, and someone is hidden from the mirror or visual views. I also didn’t realize there was a vehicle exit warning until it beeped when I opened the second row door, and a car flew by.
This reassured me, especially when carrying precious cargo with you! Of course, you can put on the child lock, but once they’re at a certain age, this is like the upgraded version to help your family stay safe from unexpected vehicles or bicycles passing by fast.
Wow Your Family with a Quiet, Luxurious Ride
We are actively on the go between errands, car events and taekwondo training, so this SUV fit our schedule and needs. It’s great to have charging access and stay charged between sports, events, and errands, but also comforting to heated or ventilated seats and you might use both on the same day in North Texas.
With tons of space for all of our things wherever the day takes us, I couldn’t believe how impressive the CX-90 could support a variety of needs. Now, to convince my husband, we need one to tow his Miata and also carry our taekwondo gear to class. We call that a win-win.
