2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2024 Mazda CX-5

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 made a striking impression with its ambitious foray into luxury territory. Known for surpassing Honda, Nissan, and Toyota in design and material quality, Mazda now stands closer to luxury competitors like Acura, Infiniti, and Lexus. From the outside, the CX-90 borrowed the elegant design language of its smaller siblings, the CX-30 and CX-5, and amplified it to create an imposing SUV that stretched over 200 inches. The big grille, wide-set front end, and large wheels (available from 19 to 21 inches) demanded attention, while tasteful chrome trim added a touch of elegance to its massive frame.

Inside, the CX-90 was even more impressive. Top-tier models featured an interior that could rival the best names in luxury, such as BMW. Brown suede upholstery covered the dash, wood inlays adorned the center console, and any black plastic elements were matte, rather than glossy. This careful attention to detail ensured no element felt tacky, creating an interior that often made luxury competitors look overpriced by comparison.

However, not all trims were equal. Mazda offered the CX-90 in 11 different configurations spread across three powertrains, with the lower-end trims looking less striking. The CX-90 Turbo had several trim levels including Select, Preferred, Preferred Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version included Preferred, Premium, and Premium Plus trims, while the top-end Turbo S, starting at over $50,000, provided a true performance upgrade.

On the other hand, the 2024 Mazda CX-5 maintained the same look as its second-generation debut back in 2017, which didn’t feel outdated. Its design had aged gracefully, keeping it modern and appealing. Our test vehicle, the new-for-2024 Carbon Turbo trim, arrived in Zircon Sand paint, coupled with exclusive Terracotta leather seats and black artificial suede inserts, adding a premium feel. Another new paint option was Platinum Quartz, enhancing the car's visual appeal.

Mazda made minor updates for 2024, including improved fuel economy for the base engine models, removed a machined-finish 19-inch wheel design, and added wireless charging along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for several trim levels. The CX-5 lineup consisted of 2.5 S and 2.5 Turbo models. The S model had a 187-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while the Turbo boasted a 256-hp (or 227-hp on regular gas) turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. All models came with a six-speed automatic transmission and AWD as standard.

Our Carbon Turbo test vehicle, priced at $39,355, came with a rear bumper guard and an interior lighting kit. Despite being a compact crossover, it offered a worth-feeling presence inside and out, thanks to Mazda’s consistently improved interior materials, seating, technology, drivetrain, and suspension over the years, all while maintaining a mainstream price.

The big news for the 2024 CX-90 was the introduction of two new powertrains. The CX-90 became Mazda’s first SUV to offer a plug-in hybrid option, aiming for better fuel economy and performance over the outgoing CX-9. Alongside the PHEV, buyers could choose between two iterations of an all-new turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. The base turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, but we had the pleasure of driving the upgraded version in the CX-90 Turbo S trims.

The "S" designation elevated the 3.3-liter I6's output to 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque when using premium fuel, a noticeable increase over the base model. All CX-90s featured AWD as standard and used an eight-speed automatic transmission. Three driving modes were available: Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, each adjusting the vehicle's behavior to suit different driving conditions. While we couldn't test its off-road capabilities, switching between Normal and Sport modes provided a clear difference in driving dynamics.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV combined a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with a 17.8-kWh battery and a 68-kW electric motor, delivering a total of 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Its 26-mile all-electric driving range was less than the 2023 Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid, but the CX-90 PHEV still offered a noteworthy performance and an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe in combined driving.

The CX-90, built on a larger platform than the CX-9, featured a double-wishbone front suspension and transverse engine layout, which improved maneuverability and handling, making it feel agile in tight corners. Mazda maintained its reputation for building driver-focused cars like the MX-5 Miata, and this spirited attitude was evident in the CX-90.

The 2024 Mazda CX-5 Carbon Turbo delivered performance figures that were competitive for its class. When fueled with premium gas, it achieved 256 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 320 pound-feet of torque at 2,500 rpm. Even with regular gas, it provided 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, with the torque arriving 500 rpm sooner.

The driving experience of the CX-5 Turbo felt more rewarding when the accelerator was pressed gradually, allowing the revs to build rather than delivering a sudden burst of power. This powertrain matched the CX-5's character well, though it wasn’t particularly fuel-efficient with an EPA rating of 24 mpg combined, and we observed 22.9 mpg during our Southern California test drive.

From behind the steering wheel, the CX-5 felt tall and narrow, which differed from the lower and wider sensation of the CX-50. Its excellent outward visibility made maneuvering through traffic and parking lots easy. Mazda had refined the CX-5's suspension for a smoother ride, stiffened the frame for better handling, and incorporated AWD as standard. The G-Vectoring Control Plus technology improved cornering by subtly using brake-based corrections to enhance stability.

The CX-5 excelled in different driving conditions. It was quiet on highways and firm yet lively in the city. On twisty roads, it felt zippy and stable, and with a ground clearance of 7.9 inches, it could handle well-traveled trails. The CX-5 had a towing capacity of up to 2,000 pounds, suitable for light towing needs.

The CX-90 offered a range of trims and seating configurations. Lower-level Turbo and PHEV models could seat eight passengers, with three rows of three seats each. Mid-level trims featured captain’s chairs in the second row, leading to a seven-seater configuration, which we expected most shoppers to prefer.

The Turbo S came with a six-seat configuration, featuring two seats in the front, two in the middle, and two in the third row. Cargo space was slightly increased in models with a two-seat third row, offering 75.2 cubic feet in total, with 15.9 cubic feet behind the third row and 40.1 cubic feet behind the second. Three-across back seat models had 14.9, 40.0, and 74.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third, second, and first rows, respectively.

The CX-90 provided more cargo space compared to the CX-9 but fell short against competitors like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. Despite this, clever storage solutions and a well-designed interior with lovely materials made it comfortable and practical.

The CX-5 prioritized driver and passenger comfort. It featured standard heated front seats with excellent support. The driver's seat offered six-way power adjustment, and passengers could manually adjust their seat height. The center console sides were padded to enhance comfort.

Leather seats were standard on all trims except the base 2.5 S Select, which used artificial leather, while the top-tier 2.5 Turbo Signature had premium Nappa leather. Heating and ventilation features were available on select trims, enhancing overall comfort.

Despite its smaller size in the segment, the CX-5 provided comfortable seating for four adults. The rear seats offered good support, and passengers enjoyed soft front seatback material, rear air conditioning vents, and a center armrest with cupholders and a storage tray.

Cargo space in the CX-5 lagged behind many of its competitors. It provided 30 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 59.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down. While this was sufficient for a family vacation, it was less than what other compact crossovers offered.

Mazda aimed to enhance safety by minimizing distractions in its CX-90, utilizing the Mazda Connect infotainment system operated through a rotary control knob and hard buttons. Despite the intention to reduce distraction, the system had its quirks and could be distracting in practice. However, the CX-90's personalization software used facial recognition to adjust settings like seats and mirrors automatically.

Standard features included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless capability in higher trims. Interestingly, these projection systems retained touchscreen functionality, addressing the limitations of the rotary controller.

The CX-5 shared Mazda's philosophy of avoiding touchscreens due to potential driver distraction. The infotainment system used a combination of a central control knob, hard buttons, and a 10.25-inch display. This mix of traditional and modern controls worked well once set up to personal preferences.

For added convenience, Mazda allowed touchscreen operation for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while driving. Wireless connectivity for these platforms was also available in higher trims. The CX-5 featured Mazda Connected Services, offering remote engine start, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and more.

Several trims included a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system, enhancing the driving experience further with high-quality audio.

The CX-90 came standard with Mazda’s i-Activsense suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which included essential features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist.

Higher trims, like our tested CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus, added cruising and traffic support, lane centering, and adaptive cruise control. Although it hadn’t been crash-tested yet by the IIHS or NHTSA, its predecessor, the CX-9, had received top safety ratings, suggesting similar performance was likely for the CX-90.

The CX-5 also came standard with a comprehensive suite of ADAS features, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered adaptive headlights, traffic sign recognition, and Traffic Jam Assist technology, among other features.

While specific 2024 ratings weren’t available, past models had earned top safety ratings, and the NHTSA gave the CX-5 five-star ratings in most categories except for a four-star rollover resistance rating.