2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a blunt nose, long hood, and a rakish windshield, with a cabin pulled back toward the rear wheels. This styling exhibited the subtle seductiveness that had characterized Mazda’s cars and SUVs for the past decade. However, the CX-50 conveyed newfound ruggedness with blistered and boxed fender swells, lower body and wheel arch cladding, and fake front and rear skid plates. Oversized air intake and vent designs imparted performance without offending the eye.

When paired with the CX-50’s standard black grille and mirror caps and the available 20-inch wheels, these exterior design elements came together in an appealing way. Later in the model year, a new CX-50 Meridian Edition joined the lineup with exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, splash guards, and a roof-mounted load platform. Inside, the CX-50’s interior displayed Mazda’s traditional mix of driver-focused design, quality materials, and polished metallic trim, though the lone off-center vent in the middle of the dash looked too small and conspicuous.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 took the elegant design language of the smaller Mazda 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 despite its mass. Inside, top-shelf models sported an interior that could match some of the best names in luxury, with brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic bits.

The CX-90 was available in many different trims, with 11 different trim levels spread across three powertrains. The lower end of the price bracket included the CX-90 Turbo, while the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) CX-90 and the top-of-the-line CX-90 Turbo S offered more performance and luxury. The Turbo S, starting at over $50,000, was the true performance option, sold in base, Premium, and Premium Plus trims. The CX-90’s interior was stylish and comfortable, with a delicate design language and a comfortable layout.

Most buyers of the 2023 Mazda CX-50 likely chose the more affordable and fuel-efficient 2.5 S model, which had a 187 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 lb-ft of torque. This power was delivered to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission, with an expected return of 27 mpg in combined driving. For those seeking stronger acceleration and increased towing capacity, the CX-50 2.5 Turbo offered a turbocharged version of the standard engine, producing between 227 hp and 256 hp depending on the fuel used, with torque varying between 310 lb-ft and 320 lb-ft.

The CX-50 Turbo provided smooth acceleration across a broad power curve, with no noticeable turbo lag. It featured Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, working with the SUV’s G-Vectoring Control technology to ensure natural vehicle behavior. The CX-50 felt firmer in ride quality compared to the CX-5, and it was capable of tackling off-roading situations, though it lacked a downhill assist control system. The CX-50 2.5 Turbo’s towing capacity was tested with a dual-axle moving trailer, and it performed well on flat highways, though it might struggle on mountain grades.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains: a plug-in hybrid option and two iterations of an all-new turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. The base turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, while the upgraded I6 in the CX-90 Turbo S produced 340 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. All CX-90 models came with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CX-90 Turbo S featured Normal, Sport, and Off-Road driving modes, with noticeable differences in behavior between Normal and Sport modes.

The CX-90 PHEV employed a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with a 17.8-kWh battery and a 68-kW electric motor, producing 323 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. It offered an all-electric driving range of 26 miles and an estimated 56 MPGe in combined driving. Both CX-90 models handled brilliantly through corners, with a double-wishbone front suspension and transverse engine layout allowing for agile handling in tight corners. The CX-90’s driving experience was likened to that of a much smaller vehicle, maintaining Mazda’s reputation for building outstanding driver’s cars.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered a range of comfort features, including power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield wipers. The ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control were effective in keeping the cabin cool. The driver’s seat and front passenger’s seat were comfortable for long drives, though they could use more side bolstering. The back seat was roomy enough for adults, with rear air vents and charging ports in nearly all trims.

Storage space in the CX-50 was adequate, though there were missed opportunities for additional bins and shelves. The available smartphone charger had its own slot under the center armrest. The power rear liftgate revealed 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space, with a long load floor but narrow space between the wheel wells. Maximum cargo space measured 56.3 cubic feet, slightly less than the CX-5 due to the CX-50’s lower roofline.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 was available in various trims and seating configurations, with the lowest-level iterations seating eight passengers and mid-level trims featuring captain’s chairs. The Turbo S models offered a two-seat configuration in the third row, with the base trim seating seven and the more expensive trims seating six. Cargo space varied slightly depending on the seating configuration, with a maximum of 75.2 cubic feet in models with the two-seater third row.

The CX-90 offered more cargo space than the CX-9, though it still fell short compared to competitors like the Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, and Toyota Highlander. The CX-90 featured plenty of cubbies and clever storage options, with a large center console, spacious door pockets, and well-placed cupholders. The middle-row captain's chairs in the Turbo S Premium Plus test car had their own center console with a sizeable bin, side-by-side cupholders, and a storage drawer. The CX-90’s interior materials and upholstery were lovely, and the seats were comfortable, with a big panoramic sunroof adding to the overall comfort.

Every 2023 Mazda CX-50 came with a Mazda Connect infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. The base 2.5 S had an 8.8-inch display, while other trims included a larger 10.25-inch display. Historically, Mazda Connect did not offer touchscreen control, relying instead on center console buttons and knobs, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. However, the 2023 CX-50 introduced touchscreen control for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the screen was still located far from the driver.

The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system delivered a satisfying audio experience. The Active Driving Display, or head-up display (HUD), projected a wealth of data within the driver’s line of sight, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 continued Mazda’s focus on eliminating distractions with its Mazda Connect infotainment software, which did not employ a touchscreen interface. Instead, it used a set of hard buttons on the center console and a rotary control knob. While the intention was to reduce distraction, the setup often resulted in frustration. However, the CX-90 offered personalization software that used facial recognition to adjust settings to the driver’s preferences.

The CX-90 came standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless functionality in higher-level trims. These projection systems employed touchscreen controls, providing a more familiar and user-friendly experience.

Typically, Mazdas rated high for safety, and the 2023 Mazda CX-50 was expected to excel in crash tests like other Mazda models. The CX-50 came with a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The driving assistance systems generally worked well, though the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting in.

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, and a safe-exit warning. The CX-90 also featured lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist. The top-spec CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus had cruising and traffic support, blending lane-centering with adaptive cruise control. The CX-90 was expected to perform well in crash tests, following the high safety ratings of the CX-9.