2024 Mazda CX-90 revealed

UPDATED 01/02/2023 9:00am: Mazda Australia has confirmed it will indeed offer straight-six diesel power alongside the turbo-petrol engine of the same 3.3-litre capacity in the new Mazda CX-9 locally, with a PHEV powertrain option (also as per the CX-60) to follow in 2024.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED 01/02/2023 3:00am: The 2024 Mazda CX-90 has made its world debut in the US overnight, continuing the brand’s march upmarket with an all-new seven-seat flagship SUV that will be the most powerful production car it’s ever built.

Revealed in Malibu, California, the CX-90 will arrive in Australia later in 2023 powered by an inline 3.3-litre turbo-petrol six-cylinder engine producing 254kW and 500Nm.

As per the smaller five-seat Mazda CX-60, which arrives Down Under in June, we expect a 187kW/550Nm turbo-diesel engine of the same capacity and configuration to also be available here, while a plug-in hybrid CX-90 has also been confirmed for the US – likely the same 241kW/500Nm 2.5-litre petrol-electric powertrain we’ll see in the CX-60.

Pricing and exact specifications are yet to be revealed, but again using the CX-60 as a guide, we can expect a range of CX-90 model variants – likely using nameplates such as Evolve, GT and Azami – with elevated price tags.

With the CX-60 starting at $59,800 (plus on-road costs), expect the CX-90 entry point to approach $70,000 and head well into the $80K bracket. Indeed, a CX-90 PHEV could well breach the $100,000 barrier to become the most expensive model ever sold in Australia by Mazda.

The CX-90 is built on the same platform as the CX-60 though is larger in every dimension, including a longer wheelbase for greater passenger room and to accommodate the third row of seats.

This new rear-biased Large Product Group platform is based around longitudinal engines and results in a classic long-nose, cab-rearward stance like European rivals such as the Audi Q7 and BMW X7.

It’s a handsome, well-proportioned shape that rides on 21-inch wheels and has a slightly bulbous rear-end, but that’s likely a necessary compromise to provide extra luggage capacity and room for third-row passengers.

Those in the last row will be better accommodated than usual, with USB-C charging ports, air-conditioning vents and lighting. Mazda hasn’t revealed any dimensions or capacities, but based on the available imagery there appears to decent cargo space with the rearmost seats in place and they fold flat to create a vast boot.

Like the CX-9 it will eventually replace, the CX-90 can be had in six- or seven-seat configurations, the centre row available as either a bench or two separate seats with a centre console.

Another pair of USB-C ports are located on the rear of the front centre console and there are not only separate temperature controls for the rear, but heated and ventilated seats, too, though these will presumably be limited to the top-spec variant.

Moving to the front, the dash design is clean, incorporating a 12.3-inch infotainment screen while cabin materials set a new benchmark for Mazda with Nappa leather, maple wood and a fabric dash created using a traditional Japanese weaving technique called Kakenui.

Again, exact specifications have not been revealed, but a comprehensive head-up display, digital instrumentation, heated and ventilated seats, wireless phone charging and a heated steering wheel are all visible in the accompanying imagery.

The CX-90 will also benefit from every available active safety feature, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and park assist.

Both engines use Mazda’s 48-volt mild-hybrid technology with an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and eight-speed automatic transmission able to assist in low-speed driving to improve performance and reduce fuel consumption.

As with the CX-60, all-wheel drive is standard.

In an effort to improve cornering performance, the new CX-90 features Mazda’s Kinematic Posture Control, a system first introduced on the MX-5 that gently brakes the inside rear wheel during turns to increase stability.

Stay tuned for further details on the new Mazda CX-90 soon, including Australian pricing and specifications.

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