2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2024 Mazda CX-50

For those who once believed that luxury was synonymous only with brands like BMW or Mercedes-Benz, the 2024 Mazda CX-90 aimed to change that perception. Mazda had surged past the more traditional Japanese automakers—Honda, Nissan, and Toyota—in terms of design and material quality, edging closer to the luxury feel associated with Acura, Infiniti, and Lexus.

The CX-90 took the sleek design language of its smaller siblings, the CX-30 and CX-5, and expanded it to a grander scale. This SUV stretched over 200 inches, creating an imposing presence. Its wide-set front end, prominent grille, and large wheels (ranging from 19 to 21 inches) demanded attention on the road. Adding tasteful chrome trim, the CX-90 managed to look elegant despite its considerable size.

Stepping inside, the CX-90 offered an even more impressive experience. While the interior varied across the different trims, the top-tier models boasted luxurious features that could rival high-end brands. Features like brown suede upholstery, wood inlays in the center console, and matte black plastic accents made the interior feel upscale. In the highest trims, one might even find a BMW X5 looking comparably overpriced.

With 11 different trim levels across three powertrains, the CX-90 catered to varied tastes and budgets. The trims included the CX-90 Turbo (Select, Preferred, Preferred Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus), the CX-90 PHEV (Preferred, Premium, and Premium Plus), and the high-performance CX-90 Turbo S (base, Premium, and Premium Plus). For this review, the spotlight was on the PHEV model and the top-tier Turbo S Premium Plus, highlighting Mazda's efforts to break into the luxury SUV market.

The 2024 Mazda CX-50 aimed to offer a rugged counterpart to the Mazda CX-5. Although Mazda did not simply add some plastic body cladding and call it a day. The CX-50 crafted a more robust appearance by being 1.4 inches lower, 3 inches wider, and 5.7 inches longer than the CX-5, with a 4.6-inch wheelbase stretch. Square wheel arches and faux air vents below the headlights and taillights emphasized the broad-shouldered proportions. Launched as a 2023 model, the CX-50 offered a fresher design compared to the CX-5, whose current form had been around since 2017.

For 2024, the CX-50 came in eight trim levels: 2.5 S Select, 2.5 S Preferred, 2.5 S Premium, 2.5 S Premium Plus, 2.5 Turbo, 2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition, 2.5 Turbo Premium, and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. Lower trims featured 17-inch wheels, while higher grades came with 20-inch wheels. Style-wise, differences across trims were minimal.

The 2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition took the active-lifestyle image further with all-terrain tires, a black hood graphic, and more pronounced rocker-panel trim. Optional Apex Package features like a roof platform and splash guards added to its rugged persona. The Meridian Edition projected a Subaru Forester Wilderness, Kia Sportage X-Pro, and Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road competitor image but without significant tweaks to boost off-road capabilities.

The CX-50's interior was quite pleasing with a design that placed an infotainment screen on a little shelf reminiscent of BMW. With an earthy color palette and Terracotta leather upholstery, Mazda kept piano black plastic trim to a minimum, ensuring longevity. While the CX-50 aspired to be more upscale, it showed signs that Mazda was still transitioning away from its mainstream roots. Manually adjustable front seats on base models and available half-leatherette seats were reminders of Mazda's traditional market positioning.

With the introduction of two new powertrains, the 2024 Mazda CX-90 marked a significant departure from its predecessor, the CX-9. The CX-90 emerged as the first Mazda SUV to offer a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option aimed at better fuel economy and performance. Additionally, the car featured two versions of a new turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. The base version of the turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, while the upgraded I6, found in the Turbo S trims, produced 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel.

Shoppers also had the option of an intriguing PHEV setup. Employing a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine combined with a 17.8-kWh battery and a 68-kW electric motor, the PHEV boasted a total output of 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The estimated all-electric driving range stood at 26 miles, with an EPA rating of 56 MPGe in combined driving.

The performance figures reflected a substantial difference between the CX-90 and its predecessor. While the old turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the CX-9 suited smaller SUVs, the new six-cylinder and PHEV engines added an element of class and power. Notably, the CX-90 Turbo S’s exhaust note was exceptional, creating a robust and confident sound.

All CX-90 models featured all-wheel drive (AWD) and an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment. Driving modes included Normal, Sport, and Off-Road. While the eight-speed transmission showed some inconsistencies in Sport mode, overall handling was impressive, likened to a much smaller vehicle, even in tight corners.

The 2024 Mazda CX-50's entire lineup relied on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Lower trims featured the naturally-aspirated version producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Higher trims offered a turbocharged variant delivering up to 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane gasoline (227 hp and 310 lb-ft on 87-octane).

Regardless of the engine choice, a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD) were standard. Driving modes consisted of Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, along with a Towing mode available on turbo models that increased towing capacity from 2,000 pounds to 3,500 pounds.

While the CX-50 shared powertrains with the CX-5, its driving experience diverged. The CX-5 embodied Mazda's sporty "Zoom Zoom" character, whereas the CX-50 felt more aligned with other competitors in its segment, offering a good but not exhilarating ride. In our tests, the all-terrain tires on the Meridian Edition added noise and reduced grip, diminishing the overall handling.

Despite the intention to cater to active lifestyles, the CX-50's driving dynamics felt restrained compared to the CX-5. Its overall demeanor was friendly and well-mannered, but it lacked the engaging drive that defined Mazda's past models.

The CX-90 offered a variety of seating configurations spread across its multiple trims. Lower trims of both the detuned Turbo and PHEV models featured eight-passenger seating with three across in the second and third rows. Most mid-level trims opted for captain's chairs in the second row, leading to a seven-seater layout, while upper trims of the Turbo S offered a six-passenger configuration with a two in the third row.

Cargo space was impressive for its class, though not top of the segment. CX-90 models fitted with the two-seat third row provided 75.2 cubic feet of total cargo room, 15.9 cubic feet behind the third row, and 40.1 cubic feet behind the second row. In models with a three-across back seat, cargo space measured 74.2 cubic feet when all rows were folded, with 14.9 cubic feet behind the third row and 40.0 cubic feet behind the second row. Compared to the CX-9, these figures were notably improved, albeit still less than competitors like the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder.

Functionally, the CX-90 impressed with ample storage options such as a large center console, spacious door pockets, and well-placed cupholders. The middle-row captain's chairs in our test car even included a center console with its storage bin, cupholders, and a storage drawer.

The CX-50 shared similar passenger space dimensions with the Mazda CX-5, offering slightly less headroom but more legroom in both rows. Competitors like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, and Subaru Forester provided more headroom, while the CX-50 held its own in terms of legroom, featuring an additional two inches of rear-seat legroom over the Toyota RAV4.

Cargo capacity for the CX-50 stood at 31.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 56.3 cubic feet with them folded. Although this was three cubic feet less than the CX-5’s maximum, the CX-50 offered slightly more cargo space with the second row up. Compared to rivals, Mazda’s cargo space was generally smaller, except when compared to the Subaru Forester with its rear seats up.

Access to the cargo area was facilitated by an available power liftgate, though the space itself was not particularly suited for dirty or bulky items. Users looking to leverage the roof platform might find its height cumbersome. For less active buyers, the interior layout was practical with adequate storage, featuring a substantial shifter and Mazda's signature rotary infotainment controller on the center console.

Mazda's approach to technology focused on minimizing distractions to enhance safety. The Mazda Connect infotainment operated without a touchscreen, instead relying on hard buttons and a rotary control knob on the center console. While the rotary knob was well-engineered, the lack of a touchscreen added complexity to simple tasks like orienting the navigation map.

One redeeming feature was the personalization software, which used facial recognition to set the driver’s seat, mirrors, and head-up display to preferred positions. This system also adjusted other settings like radio station preferences automatically.

Standard tech features included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless capability for higher trims. Interestingly, Mazda admitted that touchscreen controls worked better with CarPlay and Android Auto, thus enabling these functions on their projection systems.

A 10.25-inch infotainment screen was standard on the CX-50, but like other Mazda models, it wasn't a touchscreen. Instead, the system used a rotary controller and some buttons on the center console. The controller provided some physical feedback, making it easier to navigate without taking eyes off the road.

Standard tech included wireless Apple CarPlay, although Android Auto required a cable connection. Front and rear USB ports, wireless phone charging, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system were available on higher trims. Despite the intuitive physical controls, the infotainment system felt basic and dated, focusing on primary functions without overwhelming users with excessive tech.

Mazda’s i-Activsense safety suite came standard on every CX-90, incorporating advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) typically offered as optional extras on other crossovers. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, smart brake support with front-crossing and turn-across-traffic capabilities, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe-exit warning.

Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist were also part of the package. High-spec models like our test car added cruising and traffic support, blending lane-centering with adaptive cruise control for hands-on driver assistance.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 hadn't been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of publication. However, given that the 2023 CX-9 had achieved top safety ratings, it was expected that the CX-90 would perform equally well.

The CX-50 was named a 2023 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, scoring “Good” ratings in all crash tests and a “Superior” score for its front-crash prevention system in the daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian test. The standard headlights received an “Average” rating, while the optional headlights scored “Good.”

At the time of publication, the NHTSA had only provided partial ratings for the 2024 CX-50, including a five-star frontal crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating.

Standard driver-assist tech covered the essentials, such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, driver attention monitor, and emergency lane-keeping with road-keep assist. Optional features included rear automatic braking, traffic-jam assist, and a 360-degree camera system.