New & Used 2026 Mazda CX-90 for Sale nearSanta Cruz, CA

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-90 a good car?

Yes — you rate it 5/5, and CarGurus experts rate it 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 its great handling, which is one of its clearest strengths, and its solid safety ratings add to its appeal as a family vehicle.

The trade-offs are real, though: the powertrain can feel unrefined, the third row is cramped, and the technology can be unintuitive. Even so, if you want a practical three-row SUV with upscale design and engaging road manners, the CX-90 fits that brief well.

Good and great deals account for 33.9% of listings, so there is still some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-90 reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The CX-90 is positioned as a premium-leaning family SUV, and the available turbocharged six-cylinder setup is described as surprisingly fuel efficient unless you regularly lean on the power. Mazda also offers a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which broadens the ownership picture if you want a different efficiency path.

On the dependability side, the powertrain is described as uneven at times, especially shortly after startup and in chilly weather, so you should expect some refinement compromises. If you buy used, long-term ownership risk is more about living with those quirks than about the CX-90’s core family-suv mission.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 94.6% — 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 optional equipment. Focus on how the powertrain behaves from a cold start, whether the technology feels easy to live with, and whether the ride quality and braking feel consistent on a test drive.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Select trim gets the smaller 10.25-inch display and wired smartphone integration, while higher trims move to a 12.3-inch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless charging. Premium Sport and above add more driver-assistance content, and Premium Plus brings the most advanced safety hardware.
• Powertrain: You can shop the turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six in 3.3 Turbo and 3.3 Turbo S form, or the plug-in hybrid with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, electric motor, and 17.8-kilowatt-hour battery. The standard gas models are rated at 25 mpg combined, and the PHEV has a 26-mile electric-only range.
• 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. 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 uses a 10.25-inch display with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while other trims get a 12.3-inch screen with wireless smartphone integration and wireless charging. Amazon Alexa compatibility is standard, but the native system still relies on buttons and knobs for many functions.
• Fuel efficiency: The standard gas models are rated at 25 mpg combined, and the PHEV delivers 26 miles of electric-only driving range.

Which 2026 Mazda CX-90 trim should I buy?

The 2026 Mazda CX-90 is offered in 10 trim levels: Select, Preferred, Premium Sport, Premium Plus, Premium Sport, Premium Plus, Preferred, Premium Sport, Premium Plus, and Select.

Here's the short version:

• Select: This is the entry point if you want the CX-90’s core design, standard safety gear, and the lowest starting price, but you give up the larger 12.3-inch screen, wireless smartphone integration, and parking sensors.
• Preferred: This is the better-value choice if you want a more complete daily-driver setup without jumping too far up the price ladder. It adds the larger infotainment display and wireless smartphone features, making it easier to live with than the base trim.
• Premium Sport: This is the trim to target if you want the strongest mix of equipment and capability before the price climbs further. It adds more advanced driver-assistance content and the more complete tech and convenience package.
• Premium Plus: This is the most fully equipped choice, with the most advanced safety hardware, surround-view camera views, and the richest feature set overall.

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

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 33.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,788 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 94.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $40,429.04, 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, and it earns a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, 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-assistance 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 especially sophisticated, so they may not handle intersections or some rural roads as well as you might expect.

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:

• 33.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 94.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Updates are minor, focused on wheels, colors, and trim changes that unify the lineup.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It offers unusual powertrain choices and a stylish, premium-feeling cabin.

The bottom line: If you want the latest version of the CX-90 with strong safety, premium design, and a decent share of good deals, the 2026 is the cleaner choice. If you’re more price-sensitive and want the same basic formula, the 2025 is worth a look, especially if you find a better deal on a well-kept example.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 4, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.