2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2023 Kia Telluride

During our time in Texas, we sampled the 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models. The Telluride received fresh front and rear styling, updated headlights and taillights, and new wheel designs. New paint colors included Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, while the interior offered new colors like Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, featuring a raised suspension, unique grille design, raised roof rails, body-color door handles, and black 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro added exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road appeal. Interior updates included a digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed under a curved 24-inch piece of glass.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 took the elegant design language of the smaller CX-30 and CX-5 and supersized it. Stretching over 200 inches, the CX-90 was an imposing SUV with a big grille, wide-set front end, and large wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches. Tasteful chrome trim added to its elegance. Inside, top-shelf models featured brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic bits, creating a luxurious feel. The CX-90 was available in 11 different trim levels, spread across three powertrains. The Turbo S model, starting at over $50,000, was the true performance option. We tested the PHEV model and the top-tier Turbo S Premium Plus, both of which impressed with their design and material quality.

Mechanically, the 2023 Kia Telluride remained largely unchanged, featuring a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Drivers could select from Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the AWD system offering a low-speed Lock setting. The V6 easily motivated the Telluride, averaging 24.1 mpg in the X-Line and 20.4 mpg in the X-Pro, which included off-roading. The Telluride's suspension was raised by 10mm, ground clearance increased to 8.4 inches, and the traction control system was modified for improved off-road performance. The X-Pro model, with 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, had a towing capacity of 5,500 pounds. The Telluride performed well off-road and offered a smooth, quiet ride on highways.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains: a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. The base turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, while the upgraded Turbo S produced 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque with premium fuel. All CX-90 models featured AWD and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Turbo S had three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Off-Road. The PHEV model combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a 17.8-kWh battery and a 68-kW electric motor, producing 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The PHEV offered an all-electric driving range of 26 miles and an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe. Both CX-90 models handled brilliantly through corners, with a double-wishbone front suspension and transverse engine layout contributing to its agility.

The 2023 Kia Telluride accommodated seven or eight passengers, depending on the second-row seating configuration. Our test vehicles featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs. The second-row seats were comfortable, with manual side-window sunshades, USB ports, and storage pockets. The third-row seat was more comfortable than most midsize SUVs, though not as spacious as the Volkswagen Atlas. Cargo space included 21 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Telluride also offered a “smart” power tailgate with proximity-sensing and an automatic closing function.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 was available in various trims and seating configurations, accommodating six to eight passengers. The Turbo S models featured a two-seat configuration in the third row, while other trims offered a 2-3-2 or 2-2-2 layout. Cargo space measured 75.2 cubic feet in models with the two-seater third row, with 15.9 cubic feet behind the third row and 40.1 cubic feet behind the second. Models with the three-across back seat offered 74.2 cubic feet of total cargo space. The CX-90 included plenty of storage options, such as a large center console, spacious door pockets, and well-placed cupholders. The interior featured lovely materials, comfortable seats, and a panoramic sunroof, making it a comfortable choice despite its slightly smaller capacity compared to some competitors.

The 2023 Kia Telluride came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and Kia Connect services with a new Wi-Fi hotspot. The voice recognition system performed well, though climate control adjustments had to be made manually. The Kia Access smartphone app allowed remote control of some vehicle functions via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The Telluride also featured six USB charging ports, Driver Talk, Quiet Mode, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, wireless smartphone charging, digital-key technology, a Full Display Mirror, and a head-up display (HUD) with a 10-inch viewing area. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was a standout feature, reminding drivers when the car ahead started moving.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 focused on eliminating distractions with its Mazda Connect infotainment software, which used hard buttons and a rotary control knob instead of a touchscreen. While the intention was to reduce distraction, the setup often proved frustrating. However, the CX-90 offered personalization software that used facial recognition to adjust settings automatically. The CX-90 came standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless functionality in higher trims. These projection systems employed touchscreen controls, providing a more familiar and user-friendly experience.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction turning system, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, Safe Exit Assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, and Highway Drive Assist 1.5. The SX trim added collision avoidance features, front parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, a surround-view camera, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor. The Telluride also included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver attention warning system, and a Rear Occupant Alert system with ultrasonic sensors.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 came standard with i-Activsense, Mazda’s suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This included blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, smart brake support, rear cross-traffic alert, safe-exit warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The top-spec CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus also featured cruising and traffic support, blending lane-centering with adaptive cruise control. While crash-test ratings were not yet available, the CX-90 was expected to perform well, given the high safety ratings of the previous CX-9 model.