2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 was a testament to Mazda's ambition to edge closer to luxury territory. It borrowed the elegant design language from its smaller siblings, the CX-30 and CX-5, and expanded it into a more imposing form. The SUV stretched over 200 inches, featuring a big grille, wide-set front end, and large wheels that ranged from 19 to 21 inches, all of which demanded attention. The tasteful chrome trim added a touch of elegance, making the CX-90 stand out despite its size. Inside, the top-tier models boasted interiors that could rival luxury brands, with brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic bits. The CX-90 offered 11 different trim levels across three powertrains, with the PHEV and Turbo S Premium Plus being the highlights of our review.

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar look, with the Wilderness trim receiving a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding contrasted nicely with the Autumn Green Metallic color of the Touring XT model, creating an appealing aesthetic. The Outback's trims varied in their use of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Touring trim featuring the most chrome. Wheel sizes and designs also differed by trim, with the Wilderness trim getting matte black wheels. Inside, the top-trim test car impressed with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a level of luxury not typically associated with Subaru. The Outback's interior materials varied by trim, with options ranging from cloth to synthetic leather to standard leather.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid option and a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. The base turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, while the upgraded Turbo S version offered 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel. All CX-90 models came with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CX-90 Turbo S featured three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, with noticeable differences in behavior between Normal and Sport modes. 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 lb-ft of torque. It offered an all-electric range of 26 miles and an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe in combined driving. Both CX-90 models excelled in handling, with a double-wishbone front suspension and transverse engine layout contributing to their agility.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine, with the base model featuring a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup increased the towing capacity to 3,500 lbs. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission were standard across the lineup. The Touring XT model's turbo powertrain managed the vehicle's weight well, and the CVT imitated the sound and feel of eight distinct gears. The Outback offered a comfortable ride, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance on the base model and 9.2 inches on the Wilderness trim, which also featured all-terrain tires and Subaru's X-Mode for off-road adventures.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 offered a range of seating configurations, with lower-level Turbo and PHEV models seating eight passengers, while mid-level trims featured captain's chairs in the second row. The Turbo S had a two-seat configuration in the third row, with the base trim seating seven in a 2-3-2 layout and the Premium and Premium Plus models seating six. Cargo space varied slightly depending on the seating configuration, with a maximum of 75.2 cubic feet available. The CX-90 included clever storage options, such as a large center console, spacious door pockets, and well-placed cupholders. The interior featured high-quality materials, comfortable seats, and a panoramic sunroof, though it fell short on capacity compared to some competitors.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered ample interior space despite its sleeker proportions. It provided more headroom and legroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in certain areas. The Outback's cargo area measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While it lagged behind the RAV4 and CR-V in cargo space with all seats occupied, it surpassed the RAV4 when the rear seats were folded. The Outback featured dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat starting with the Premium trim. Higher trims offered additional features like heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Outback's raised roof rails with retractable cross bars were standard, providing practical storage solutions.

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

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a mix of old-school and modern technology. The Touring trim was the only one to include a CD player, while USB-C and USB-A ports were available on all but the base trim. The top-trim test car had an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, with the base trim retaining a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with wireless capability starting with the Premium trim. The climate controls were managed through the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Wi-Fi capability, Bluetooth, HD Radio, and SiriusXM connectivity were standard, with most trims featuring a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 came standard with i-Activsense, Mazda's suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This included features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The top-spec CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus also had cruising and traffic support, which combined lane-centering with adaptive cruise control. While the 2024 CX-90 had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, the 2023 CX-9 received high safety ratings, suggesting the CX-90 would perform well.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies was standard, offering features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Onyx Edition. The Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor. Reverse automatic braking became standard starting with the Onyx trim level.