Is the 2026 Mazda CX-90 a good car?

Yes — you rate it 5/5, and the expert rating is 6/10. The model scores 8/10 across Look and feel and Safety.

The 2026 Mazda CX-90 is a three-row midsize crossover SUV that aims to give you family-friendly space without giving up a premium look and feel. It also stands out for great handling, which makes it appealing if you want a practical SUV that still feels enjoyable to drive.

The main trade-offs are an unrefined powertrain and a cramped third row. It also isn’t the best fit if you want a rugged overlander, so your best match is more likely to be a buyer who values style, safety, and driving enjoyment over off-road toughness.

With 34.1% of listings marked as good or great deals, there’s a decent amount of market opportunity if you shop carefully.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-90 reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. The CX-90 is presented as a well-rounded family SUV with solid safety ratings and a powertrain that is described as fairly fuel efficient, which supports the case for dependable everyday use.

The standard gasoline setup is also described as surprisingly fuel efficient unless you regularly lean on the power, and the plug-in hybrid option broadens the ownership picture for shoppers who want more flexibility. Mazda also includes a first scheduled maintenance visit on the house.

For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that the CX-90’s uneven power delivery and dated tech can become daily annoyances even if the vehicle itself remains mechanically sound.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Mazda CX-90?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 94.4% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-mileage example or one with lots of city use. Focus on overall condition, because the CX-90’s premium presentation can hide wear that matters more than the badge suggests.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Select trim misses front and rear parking sensors, while Premium Sport and higher trims add more advanced driver-assistance hardware. The cabin is attractive, but the base setup is lighter on convenience and safety extras.
• Powertrain: The standard turbocharged inline-six uses a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and idle-stop technology, while the plug-in hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor and battery pack. The powertrains are efficient, but they are also described as unrefined.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, safe-exit warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. Premium Sport and higher trims add active blind-spot monitors, head-on traffic avoidance steering assist, Cruising & Traffic Support, and post-collision braking, while Premium Plus adds front cross-traffic alert, automatic intersection braking, automatic rear braking with pedestrian detection, and a surround-view camera system.
• Infotainment: The base Select trim gets a 10.25-inch display, Amazon Alexa compatibility, text-messaging support, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other trims get a 12.3-inch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging.
• Fuel efficiency: The standard turbocharged six-cylinder is rated at 25 mpg combined, and the plug-in hybrid has an electric-only range of 26 miles. In testing, the Turbo S returned 25.5 mpg with i-Stop engaged and 20.3 mpg with i-Stop off in more demanding driving.

Which 2026 Mazda CX-90 trim should I buy?

The 2026 Mazda CX-90 is offered in 3 trim levels: Select, Preferred, Premium Sport, and Premium Plus.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The Select trim is the most stripped-down choice, and it lacks front and rear parking sensors. It also gets the smaller 10.25-inch display and wired smartphone integration instead of the larger screen and wireless setup found higher up.
• Sweet-spot trim: Preferred is the best value if you want a more upscale feel without chasing the most expensive equipment. It builds on the base model’s core safety and convenience features while avoiding the top-trim price jump.
• Premium/top trim: Premium Plus is the most appealing if you want the fullest safety and tech package, including front cross-traffic alert, automatic intersection braking, automatic rear braking with pedestrian detection, and a surround-view camera system.
• Off-road trim: You should skip this angle if you’re shopping for a typical daily driver, because the CX-90 is not positioned as a rugged overlander.

The safety package is strongest once you move beyond the base Select trim, especially if you want parking sensors and the more advanced camera and braking features.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Mazda CX-90?

The market looks moderately favorable for selective buyers.

• Deal availability: 34.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,657 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 94.4% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $41,357.93, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-90 safe?

The CX-90 earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it a five-star overall rating, with four-star ratings for driver and front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision.

It earns a 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Standard driver-assist features include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, safe-exit warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. All but the base Select trim have front and rear parking sensors.

Premium Sport and higher trims also add active blind-spot monitors, lane-keep assist, head-on traffic avoidance steering assist, Cruising & Traffic Support, and post-collision braking. Premium Plus adds front cross-traffic alert, automatic intersection braking, automatic rear braking with pedestrian detection, and a surround-view camera system with see-through and trailer-hitch views.

One caveat is that the steering-assist features are not very sophisticated, so they don’t work well in some intersections or on certain rural roads.

Should I buy a 2026 Mazda CX-90 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 34.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 94.4% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2026 update is mostly about wheels, colors, and trim changes that unify the lineup.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It offers unusual powertrain choices and a distinctive premium feel.

The bottom line: If you want the freshest version of the CX-90 with the same core strengths, the 2026 is the straightforward pick. If you’re shopping mainly on price, the 2025 is worth a look because it delivers much of the same character and may be the better value if you find a compelling listing.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.