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It's been probably 15 years since I drove a Mazda and to be honest, I never felt like it was an experience I needed. But when I recently had the opportunity to test drive a new Mazda CX-90, I vowed to keep an open mind.
After driving the CX-90 for several days, my mind is no longer open – it's blown.
The Mazda CX-90 is a three-row SUV that Edmunds.com reports, "Is undeniably luxurious and outperforms just about everything else in its class with its sharp handling and quick acceleration."
The newly reconfigured CX-90 has an inline six-cylinder engine that draws rave reviews from car experts. It is paired with a rear-wheel drive platform with a longer wheelbase. "The result is one of the finest-handling three-row SUVs that also happens to be endowed with one of the sweeter engines," Consumer Reports writes.
The CX-90 used for the test drive was the 3.3 Turbo S Premium version with all-wheel drive. The sticker price was $56,450, which is near the top of the eight packages Mazda offers for the CX-90. The base model at the low end starts at $39,595.
With its third-row seating, Mazda reports the CX-90 can be configured to fit six to eight passengers. The model I tested had captain's seats in the second row, so technically it was configured for seven. But realistically, squeezing three passengers into that third row would be uncomfortable.
The CX-90 PHEV is a plug-in hybrid version. Mazda reports it has a 26-mile all-electric range and gets a combined output of 56 MPGe.
Here are some of the things that impressed me about the CX-90.
Top-of-the-line safety features
I love raw power whether it is packaged in a heavy-duty pickup or a screaming-fast sports car. So I'm a little surprised that nowadays the first thing I look at when checking out a new vehicle is its safety features.
The CX-9- offers everything you'd expect such as a lane-keeping assist system, front and rear cameras and a braking system that helps avoid accidents, adaptive cruise control and more. One feature I loved instantly is its blind spot monitor. Like most systems, if a vehicle is coming up from behind, you'll see a warning light on the side mirror. On the CX-90, you also see an image of your vehicle on the dashboard with some flashing lines to show you the corner where the other vehicle is approaching. In other words, there are essentially two blindspot warnings and you don't even have to look in the side mirror.
Another thing I liked about the vehicle I drove was the 360-degree camera view that makes it easy to squeeze into tight spots. It also has a heads-up display, which means you can see your speed and the speed limit displayed on the windshield above the dash while you are driving.If that sounds distracting and risky, it is actually very unobtrusive and allows you to keep your eyes on the road while checking your speed.
Handling and power
Unlike most drivers who are tentative when merging onto a freeway, I love to punch the accelerator and get up to cruising speed as quickly as possible. The CX-90's inline six producing 340 horsepower leaps forward in those conditions feeling sporty and responsive.
Although I wasn't able to test the off-road capability of the all-wheel drive, I did take it on some gravel roads with some washboard areas. It handled the bumps smoothly, without the jarring jolts of some SUVs.
Road and Track explains, "the CX-90 has its wheels pushed to the corners and that generous wheelbase gives it a damn-near limo-like road presence. In fact, the CX-90's wheelbase is down only 0.9 inches from that of the 2011 Lincoln Town Car."
And for anyone so included, the CX-90 has a rated towing capacity of 5,000 pounds with the larger engine configuration. That's not enough to pull a loaded horse trailer, but it can handle smaller boats and camp trailers with ease.
High-class interior
With the CX-90, Mazda wanted a vehicle that could compete in the luxury SUV space. I've owned several luxury cars and this one stacks up nicely. The two-tone Nappa Leather seats were very comfortable and stylish. Everything about the interior gave the impression of quality and nothing felt cheap.
The BOSE sound system was great and the USB ports are thoughtfully tucked inside the center console – a nice touch. The touchscreen was horizontal, which took some getting used to, as did the control knob. But everything looked great and was simple to figure out.
The climate control buttons are big and easy to adjust while driving, without feeling like you needed to take your concentration from the road.
Finals thoughts
I drive a lot of cars and as a result, it can be challenging to find something that really impresses me, especially in the luxury SUV space. I can honestly say that the Mazda CX-90 surprised me positively several times. If you are in the market for a third-row SUV, you need to check this one out before making your final selection. Stop by Bountiful Mazda for your own test drive.
