New & Used 2026 Mazda CX-90 for Sale nearWaterloo, IA

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-90 a good car?

Yes — the 2026 Mazda CX-90 earns a 5/5 user rating and a 6.00/10 expert rating. The model scores 8/10 across Look and feel and Safety.

It stands out as a three-row midsize crossover SUV with a premium look and feel, and it’s aimed at you if you want family-friendly space without giving up driving enjoyment. The handling is a clear strength, and Mazda backs that up with solid safety ratings. The trade-offs are that the third row is cramped and the powertrain is described as unrefined.

For shoppers who value style, safety, and driving enjoyment, that’s a compelling mix. The market also shows 37.7% good or great deals, which suggests there are still worthwhile opportunities 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’s overall package points to solid day-to-day dependability, with Mazda emphasizing a premium feel, strong safety, and a fairly fuel-efficient standard gasoline powertrain. The expert evaluation also describes the powertrain as uneven and the technology as dated, so the main ownership concerns are more about refinement and usability than outright durability.

The performance notes also mention i-Stop behavior that can feel unpredictable, which is the kind of quirk you’ll want to experience on a test drive. For used buyers, that means long-term ownership risk looks manageable, but you should pay close attention to how smoothly the drivetrain and electronics behave.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 91.8% — 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 driving. Focus on how the transmission, engine start-stop behavior, and infotainment controls feel in real use, since those are the areas most likely to affect your ownership experience. Also check the cabin and cargo layout carefully, because the third row and storage solutions are not the CX-90’s strongest points.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Select trim gets the smaller 10.25-inch infotainment display and wired smartphone integration, while higher trims move to a 12.3-inch screen with wireless smartphone features. The base trim also misses front and rear parking sensors.
• Powertrain: The standard turbocharged inline-six makes 280 horsepower and uses an eight-speed automatic with standard AWD. The plug-in hybrid adds electric-only driving capability and is described as rare for the segment.
• 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.
• Infotainment: Base models get 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 is still button- and knob-based.
• Fuel efficiency: The standard gasoline powertrain is described as fairly fuel efficient, and the plug-in hybrid has a 26-mile electric-only range. The expert evaluation also cites 25 mpg combined for the 3.3 Turbo and Turbo S.

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, Select, Preferred, Premium Sport, Premium Plus, Preferred, Premium Sport, Premium Plus.

Here's the short version:

• Select: This is the entry point, and it gives you the core CX-90 experience with the smaller 10.25-inch display, wired smartphone integration, and the standard safety suite. It makes sense if you want the lowest starting price and can live without the nicer tech and convenience upgrades.
• Preferred: This is the better everyday choice if you want a more complete ownership experience without jumping too far up the price ladder. It adds the larger 12.3-inch screen and wireless smartphone features, which address one of the CX-90’s biggest usability gaps.
• Premium Sport: This is the best-value trim if you want the strongest balance of equipment and safety upgrades. It adds the higher-level driver-assistance features, including Mazda’s Cruising & Traffic Support, while keeping the CX-90’s upscale feel.
• Premium Plus: This is the trim to choose if you want the most advanced safety and convenience features. It 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.

The safety package gets more advanced as you move up the lineup, with Premium Sport and higher trims adding extra driver-assistance features and Premium Plus bringing the most complete set.

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

This looks like a moderate, selective-buyer market, so you have room to shop without rushing.

• Deal availability: 37.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,978 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 91.8% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-90 safe?

The 2026 Mazda CX-90 earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and it earns five-star ratings from NHTSA, with four-star ratings for driver and front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision.

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

Mazda equips the CX-90 with 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.

The main caveat is that the steering-assist features are not especially sophisticated, so you should not expect them to handle every situation smoothly. Even so, the CX-90’s safety package is broad and well-rounded, especially if you shop above the base trim.

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:

• 37.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 91.8% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2026 update is minor, focusing on wheel, color, and trim changes that unify the lineup.

Consider the 2025 if:

• The 2025 offers unusual powertrains and a stylish, upscale cabin.

The bottom line: If you want the newest version with strong safety, premium design, and a healthy share of good deals, the 2026 is the better default choice. If you’re more price-sensitive and want a similar upscale family SUV experience, the 2025 is worth a look.

How does the 2026 Mazda CX-90 compare to the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander?

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.