2024 Mazda CX-90 review: New luxury family SUV takes 3-row fight to Genesis GV80 - but for $100k?

[@RayBrown-u2n]

Great review and well done Mazda😎 I live in the US and have the 21” wheels and discovered after taking delivery of the car, the tires were over inflated from the factory and after lowering the pressure the ride quality really improved.

[@Mike-mr8ui]

Same in Calgary, Canada. The CX-90 PHEV arrived with tires at 50 pounds. After reducing to 36F & 39R as per the placard, the ride was much better.

[@DavidEmmins-g4n]

Just a note about the ride. I believe that the vehicle is shipped with Falken tires. Would a change to Pirelli or Michelin improve the situation. Unfortunately the world is full of little bumps in the road.

[@hagarhagar2695]

5:02 I wonder the seat srs airbag is on the wrong side?

[@antonsison1681]

Is the suspension harder than the cx 9?

[@anotheran]

Reviewer forgot to add that wet clutch transmission is very laggy at launch.

[@paranormalchef5211]

Love that ivory/ cream interior . The fact of the matter is that unfortunately the Aussie spec cars will most likely receive the black only interior trim . Like every other bland bloody thing. Sux Europe and states get the good stuff.

[@aygeeninty771]

Its already available on CX60 but for Azami as options. Takumi is the white and SP pack the tanned.

[@inodesnet]

Historically actually when it comes to Mazda, Australia has the pick of a lot of options. It's only in recent years that Mazda USA has been getting some of the good stuff. Australia (and by extension, New Zealand) for example are the only markets that will get more than 2 of the large platform Japanese made models. This was the case with the Japanese made CX-8 and CX-9 where Australia received both, but that was only possible in areas like Malaysia, but they would receive a domestically made version rather than the Japanese made one. Although I am from Australia, this year I have spent most of my time in Japan and the US, and I can tell you of the 3, we get more Mazdas and more VW than both. Japan won't get the CX-70 or CX-90, the US won't get the CX-60 or the CX-80. So far Australia is getting the CX-60, CX-90 and CX-80. We will get the white interior, but in CX-90 guise, the captains chairs are compulsory in this configuration.

[@VedicAstroinEnglish]

'Overseas model shown'... LoL

[@PlaAwa]

good review cheers

[@robmorrill1]

I own this vehicle, unfortunately. Completely agree on ride quality assessment. Disagree on interior space coming from a Toyota Highlander, which was far superior.

[@mbenton6]

This is larger on the inside than the highlander what are you talking about, but not the grand highlander

[@robmorrill1]

I checked, and on paper, you are absolutely correct. My 6'2" son had much more room in the Highlander though. I'm not sure why, but somehow it was, in reality, a roomier vehicle. @@mbenton6

[@hotboy5198]

Mazda indeed has improved its standard over the past years, I think it is good and close to other luxury brands but with $100k price tag…. Hm… I might do some researches in the market with that $100k like bmw, benz and so on. There are many options available for that money…

[@paoidnwbxra]

New car, clean, dust free interior, amazing view

[@makwee8034]

The long wheel span can be a problem if you go up a hump and is likely to contribute to unsettled suspension...

[@MrMcnamex]

the best depreciated asset ever made for your consumtion please buy a car

[@majorrgeek]

I have noted one MASSIVE disadvantage is the price - In Australia Mazda CX9 begins $47,600 while the CX90 will begin at $74,385 - this is an increase of a whopping 56% - this is ridiculous considering Mazda's CX90 is advertised as CX9s replacement which it obviously is not - it is also obvious Mazda corp is trying to outdo the German brands like BMW well good luck not with my money

[@inodesnet]

Having spent a lot of time in the CX-9 and CX-60 for comparison, the difference is night an day. CX-9 was already a very good mainstream interior (probably one of the best). But the materials and build quality of the CX-60 really push it way ahead. It's worth remembering as well that the Australian dollar is extremely weak. It should help that the Japanese Yen is as well, but sitting here in San Francisco while I type.... its easy to feel poor. Most things here are double the price that they are at home purely because our currency is so weak. That price difference is worth it given anything close to the quality for the price, is well into the $100k+

[@majorrgeek]

@@inodesnet the AUD value has not shifted all that much and the improvements in the new Mazda CX90 do not justify 56% increase in cost, luxury tax is even lower on CX90 while the on road costs much the same so I am sure the Australian public who are a frugal lot will not be queuing up in any sort of rush to buy these new Mazda BMW wannabes once they experience the on road lack of performance

[@inodesnet]

​@@majorrgeek it depends on what you compare it to. The AUD has become stronger against the Yen (great for importing), but weak against the USD (terrible for comparisons). But the biggest issue is that there is inflationary impacts across the global supply chains that have greatly impacted Japan, leading to increased prices. Look at any car, from any car manufacturer and prices have gone up. What is important here though is that Mazda is shifting focus. They've won over Australia a long time ago with mainstream cars. Cars that have become significantly better since Ford left in the early 2010's and Mazda was able to take a stranglehold on the engineering again. Mazda though has realised there is a gap in the European and US markets. They're attempting to slot in above the mainstream and below luxury. To do that of course, rather than benchmark against luxury brands and spec everything down to mainstream prices, they're instead benchmarking to luxury brands and spec'ing some components such as suspension down to meet somewhere in the middle. Get in and drive one, and compare it to everything else inflated, and it's certainly worth the price bump. But they'll lose customers and gain customers. So far after my time here in the US, I can see they're winning buyer here - and that counts a LOT more than buyers in Australia.

[@mbenton6]

​@majorrgeek donu know anything about currency... you cannot compare 2 different world of currency

[@majorrgeek]

@@mbenton6 have you ever heard of the currency exchange you Drufuss

[@chris0628]

No it’s not a X7 beater 😂😂😂😂😂

[@asyongaguilarable]

i thought this was a review. it's an AD!

[@yoyo57575757]

No touch screen in 2023? Very cheap effort for a luxury car. Now have to check every other feature to discover what else they have left out, that should be standard. What a pain.

[@stavnicsisters]

I have the CX-60 and actually prefer not having a touchscreen. My previous car had a touch screen and found it so annoying.

[@DilSeRe987]

Don’t look at camera while recording, this isn’t safe!

[@clarkkent9080]

You may wanna watch the Car Car nut review before deciding

[@robarmour4062]

Oh yeah, the Car Nut review. The guy who got all worked up about the engine having to be removed if the timing chain or fuel pump have to be replaced. The likelihood of either of those events happening is almost nil. He also said the handling was wobbly which really means he has never actually driven the CX90.

[@clarkkent9080]

@@robarmour4062 Timing chain replacement is not common but the cover gasket leaking or the High pressure fuel pump is not uncommon along with all the other burred components. You can't even change the last two spark plugs without removing the turbo. I have looked at the CX-90 but not driven it so I cannot speak to the handling. The CCN said it seemed to wobble and if you review the reports on the CX-60 which is the exact power train and suspension setup they say the same thing . And Mazda is replacing all 4 shocks and sway bar for people that complain and I don't think they would do that is nothing is wrong. So I guess the CCN does know something. BTW Mazda personnel are commenting on all these channels trying to play down all these problems

[@GooseVan]

@@clarkkent9080 Both I6 and PHEV are very comfortable even on 21', but PHEV is more compliant due to its added weight and lower center of gravity. Also PHEV is smoother, the transmission in turbo is jerky sometimes in stop and go traffic. I have cx-90 PHEV in Canada.

[@clarkkent9080]

@@GooseVan I was very interested in the PHEV until I did the calculation on how much gas it would save. Simple math: One 15 Kwh battery charge give the same EV range as 1 gallon of gas in hybrid mode. For me it cost the same to charge that battery as the cost of one gallon of gas, so it saves me nothing. If you are in western Canada you have cheap electricity and high gasoline prices and the two people I chatted with there, and did the calculation confirmed that it would take them at least 4 years just to break even on that PHEV option cost.

[@thabelomaluleke2413]

It looks like the Chevrolet captiva

[@Rollaroundtap]

Save $30k and get a Tank 500 in December.

[@felali]

Tank 500 might be priced similar as Mazda due to inflation

[@Rollaroundtap]

@@felali hope not! $75k is my best guess/Hope.

[@bachhoang8217]

a what? please buy it and let us know how it goes

[@matthework]

It's odd to see those Japanese car manufacturers still make thirsty ICE cars while we are moving to EV age. This always reminds me giant Nokia not so far ago.... 😅

[@chengchiwo]

The current EV technology has its limitations - it is more for small to medium car. Only model x ( now not available) and Kia Ev9 are EV for third row suv in Australia. Petrol car still has its own advantages in terms of long distance travel. Also this car is probably the most economical in the market if you compared to others. Not everyone live in a house with solar powered charging facilities.

[@zambacan]

I think Mazda executives are courageous but possibly foolish swimming against the tide and trying to reposition the brand. Risky business. It’s not a rugged 4wd, not euro luxury, not ev and not cheap. Personally its appealing but not enough to actually to buy one and I think my family is target market. (Everest on order)

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

you are clueless

[@inodesnet]

Mazda have already laid out their plans in extreme detail into 2030. From the comment I assume you haven't watched the presentation. Mazda are investing in ICE only for a very brief interim to take advantage of the last hurrah of ICE. But their focus is to split the company into 2. The Japanese side, with a goal to move fully electric and hybrid by 2030 (zero pure ICE) and the Chinese market which will be 100% EV. It's great they're sitting getting gains out of ICE because 95% of the market is still ICE. This has meant that Mazda has broken engineering records with their engines consistently over the past 10 years still maintaining the only company to do low compression diesel, the only company to do compression petrol, the highest compression engines in the mainstream market. Mazda knows ICE is dying, but they're at least trying to get the last drops out of it.

[@zambacan]

@@inodesnet it’s not the ice strategy alone that’s questionable its the luxury play and large price increases. A company can’t just “position” itself. It is positioned by the market and the customers. So I wish them well. I think they are great cars and fun engines. It’s just á risky strategy. (Thanks for the background about their overall long term strategy.)

[@Frikkietube]

Mazda is always been a overpriced, not worth the money.

[@chengchiwo]

It’s hard to name equivalent competitors of this car that is cheaper in Australia I think.

[@HaruHaruman]

​@chengchiwo Palisade, Land Cruiser? Hell even you could stretch your budget and get Volvo, Genesis or Lexus over this overpriced product.

[@chengchiwo]

@@HaruHaruman None of them comes with inline 6 turbo and rear- wheel drive platforms setup. They are all front-wheel drive platforms and v6 setup. Front wheel drive platform are inherently handicapped when cornering ( head-heavy / understeering) while inline 6 is perfectly balanced in theory thus the sportiness is not even comparable.

[@HaruHaruman]

@chengchiwo uhh GV70 and GV80 are both RWD and they drive much nicer than Mazda in almost every way. Priced similarly as well. And we are talking about an SUV, not a saloon - RWD vs FWD does not make a dramatic difference on SUVs in general - especially when it's over 2.7 tonnes.

[@chengchiwo]

@@HaruHaruman I agreed that Genesis offer exceptional value in terms of luxury and performance. But price-wise it’s still about 20% higher perhaps? GV80 3.5T is around 110k before on road. You get ‘ standard’ top range at 100k I think. Anyway it’s competing above luxury brands like Mercedes or BMW. In my view, the pricing is quite fair with such a newly developed drivetrain that focus on sportiness. The fuel consumption is also spectacular - probably the most efficient petrol 6 cylinder drivetrain available the market.

[@leemace9638]

Just another same looking boring Mazda SUV I don’t care how luxurious it is come on Mazda get ur mojo back and bring back the MPS

[@mbenton6]

Please stop