San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Mazda has five sporty crossovers; CX-90 with plug-in hybrid is new
Mazda has one of the best crossover utility vehicle lineups in the industry, featuring a variety of models from small to family size.
They range from the two-row subcompact CX-30 and compact CX-5 and CX-50 to the family-size, three-row CX-9 and, for 2024, the all-new CX-90.
There also is a battery-electric model, the MX-30, but that vehicle for now is available only in California.
A hallmark of Mazda vehicles has always been the brand’s focus on the driving experience, and today’s SUV lineup is no exception. These vehicles are not only versatile and functional, they are also quite fun to drive.
Mazda CX-30
The CX-30 is a five-passenger small crossover designed for young people who are still single, or who are married and starting a family.
Seven trim levels are available: CX-30 2.5 S, $22,950; S Select, $25,400; S Preferred, $28,220; Carbon Edition, $29,290; S Premium, $31,060; 2.5 Turbo Premium, $33,800; and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, $35,400.
I-Active all-wheel drive is standard across the lineup. A variety of exterior colors is available, including four premium ones: Polymetal Gray Metallic or Machine Gray Metallic, for $595 extra, depending on trim chosen. Interior colors and materials also vary depending on the trim and exterior color chosen.
The top-of-the-line Premium model has white leather seating. Lower models offer cloth or leatherette, in Black or Greige – depending on the trim.
The Premium model adds standard Active Driving Display (head-up, on the windshield), Adaptive Front Lighting system, LED signature headlights/taillights, leather seating, power-sliding glass moon roof, steering wheel paddle shifters, power rear liftgate, and roof rails.
Regular models are powered by a Skyactive-G 2.5-liter four-cylinder, 186-horsepower engine with cylinder-deactivation technology, paired with a
Skyactive-Drive six-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode. Turbo models have a 2.5-liter fourcylinder engine with 227 horsepower and a six-speed automatic.
Mazda CX-90
The newest addition to the Mazda lineup is the 2024 CX-90, the largest and most well-equipped Mazda vehicle ever for the U.S. market.
With a total of 11 variations, including a plug-in hybrid, the new CX-90 starts at $39,595 and runs as high as $59,950.
It’s available in three new powertrain options, CX90 3.3 Turbo S, CX-90 PHEV (plug-in hybrid), and CX-90 3.3 Turbo.
The CX-90 3.3 Turbo S is equipped with the e-Skyactiv G 3.3L Inline 6 Turbo, which is the most powerful mass-production gasoline engine developed by Mazda. It’s rated at 340 horsepower and 369 footpounds of torque when using the recommended premium fuel, and posts EPA ratings of an estimated 23 mpg city/28 highway/25 mpg combined.
The CX-90 PHEV has an electric motor connected to a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that has a combined 323 horsepower and 369 footpounds of torque when using premium fuel.
This model is designed to operate purely on the electric power in a variety of driving scenarios. It comes with a 17.8 kWh high-capacity battery, which Mazda says is helpful for longer drives or when the driver requires maximum acceleration, such as merging onto the freeway.
No EPA estimates have been released yet for the PHEV model.Also available on the CX-90 is the standard e-Skyactiv G 3.3L Turbo engine producing 280 horsepower and 332 foot-pounds of torque, using regular fuel.It has EPA ratings of an estimated 24 city/28 highway/25 combined.
Both inline six engines are equipped with
M-Hybrid Boost, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.
All three powertrain choices come with Mazda’s new eight-speed automatic transmission, specifically designed for the CX-90’s dimensions and layout.
The electric motor is placed between the engine and transmission, creating smooth acceleration from a standstill, and allowing the motor to power the CX-90 directly at low speeds.
All CX-90 models are equipped with standard features that include Mazda Intelligent Drive Select, or Mi-Drive, with Sport and Off-Road modes; Kinematic Posture Control, a software feature first debuted on the MX-5 Miata that suppresses body lift on tight corners to enhance the grip and help occupants maintain a natural posture; and i-Activ all-wheel drive.
Standard i-Activsense2 safety features include
Smart City Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go,
Driver Attention Alert, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
All CX-90 models also come with a new rear-seat alert feature to help avoid accidentally leaving objects or occupants in the rear when exiting the vehicle.