The CX-90 is a brand-new offering and nameplate in the Mazda lineup, effectively replacing the outgoing three-row CX-9. A heightened price tag, along with a better-sculpted exterior, improved interior with oodles more tech, and two unique powertrains: a mild hybrid inline-six with two power outputs, and a plug-in hybrid. Should rival eight-seater SUVs like the Toyota Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Kia Telluride have anything to worry about?

We drove the CX-90 PHEV, which is equipped with a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and battery, for a total output of 323 horsepower. We aren’t particularly smitten with this powertrain. It’s perhaps the roughest and most unpolished turbo-four we have ever driven. Vibrations unsettle the upscale vibe of the interior every time the engine revs up, and it abruptly and quite audibly shudders the car from side to side, which is often due to the effectiveness of the battery system. Engine cut-off happens way more often here than in some standard hybrids like the Lexus RX 350h.

Acceleration is decent enough to propel this heavy three-row SUV with gusto, with a broader powerband than a naturally aspirated Honda Pilot and Toyota Grand Highlander. However, the 8-speed automatic transmission is the weakest link here, delivering unpolished transitions and shifting gears with a jerky motion. Slowly creeping to a halt reveals a gearbox that shudders as it shifts through the gears. We also noticed a piercing transmission whine during downshifts, but only when the radio is off. 

While its chassis is stiff and body roll remains in check, any remaining driver engagement is let down by a slow and lazy steering rack that requires an excessive amount of rotation to get moving, resulting in a CX-90 that feels lethargic and unwieldy behind the wheel. We may quip about electric steering racks feeling numb and inert, but at least they’re light, effortless, and accurate. Heavy and slow does not equate to more tactility, as this CX-90 demonstrates. The ride isn’t any better, delivering a flinty and brittle ride with little composure when attempting to negotiate pockmarked and bumpy roads. The sizable 21-inch wheels don’t help.

Not all is bad news. We adore the design direction that Mazda has taken and think the CX-90 is their best-looking SUV to date, alongside the rough and rugged CX-50. The interior is also a masterclass of economy-style luxury. Even on this mid-level GT trim, the cabin is spacious, comfortable, and not overloaded with fussy screens or haptic sensors. The more expensive GT-P and Signature trims add more leather and wood trimmings but the material choice here feels appropriate.

And this is how you implement hard buttons and dials yet retain the sleekness and ergonomics expected from a Japanese manufacturer. Each button on the center stack is cleverly arranged and sized appropriately, ensuring it doesn’t impede the flow of the dashboard arrangement. The same applies to the steering wheel, which features up and down toggles to easily control infotainment and cruise control functions without requiring you to take your eyes off the road. Even the instrument cluster is cleverly integrated with both analog and digital gauges, giving it a retro yet modern aesthetic.  Hopefully, other automakers will take a look at what Mazda has done and finally realize that touchscreens and avant-garde haptic sensors do not equate to superior functionality. 

We found the center touchscreen to be small by industry standards, especially when compared to the screens in the Highlander and Telluride. It’s wide but not very tall, limiting the amount of information that can be shown at once. However, the rotary dial that operates it allows for easy navigation through the menus. We did have one minor quibble with the gear shifter though and the odd shift pattern. We’re not sure why Mazda is trying to reinvent the wheel here with its 7-shaped gate that lacks a park button. It’s odd, as every other manufacturer has stuck to a dedicated park button for safety and simplicity. Nevertheless, it’s easy to get used to, and it’s more of an observation of an outlier than a questioning of its ergonomics. 

The CX-90 is a brand-new SUV that aims to elevate Mazda’s image, and the PHEV powertrain delivers impressive fuel economy numbers alongside an effective cabin design. However, we were greatly disappointed by the unpolished behaviour of the four-cylinder engine and its rough transitions with the hybrid system. Acceleration and handling are good but the poor ride quality and lazy steering are not, resulting in a spacious three-row SUV that has good intentions but has missed the mark.