2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2024 Volvo XC90

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 was a revelation in terms of design and material quality, transcending its mainstream roots. While it wasn't quite a BMW or Mercedes-Benz, Mazda had leapt past its Japanese rivals like Honda, Nissan, and Toyota, approaching the luxury tier. Drawing inspiration from the smaller CX-30 and CX-5 models, the CX-90 scaled up their elegant design language into a more imposing SUV spanning over 200 inches. Its dominant grille, wide-set front end, and large wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches demanded attention, balanced by tasteful chrome trim.

Inside, the CX-90 was equally impressive. The top-shelf models featured brown suede upholstery on the dash, wood inlays on the center console, and a matte finish on any black plastic surfaces, competing with high-end luxury brands. The broad variety of trim levels meant not every version hit these heights, but all benefitted from Mazda's meticulous design ethos. The CX-90 came in 11 trims across three powertrains, offering configurations like the CX-90 Turbo, the Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and the top-tier Turbo S. The tested PHEV and Turbo S Premium Plus stood out with their luxurious interiors, proving that Mazda could compete with traditional luxury vehicles without the excessive price tag.

By comparison, the look and feel of the 2024 Volvo XC90 were rooted in Volvo's legacy of understated luxury and practicality. Volvo sold its XC90 series in B5, B6, and Recharge T8 configurations, with the latter being a plug-in hybrid. Offered in different trims such as Core, Plus, and Ultimate, prices ranged from $56,000 to $79,600. The exterior showcased a subdued, earthy palette much in tune with its image of safety, practicality, and sustainability. Wheel designs varied up to 21 inches, with most models featuring a Bright theme with chrome and polished metal.

Inside the XC90, Ultimate trims offered rich materials despite a slightly dated design. Wool-blend and ventilated Nappa leather upholstery were available, complemented by natural wood trim and an Orrefors crystal shift knob for a classy touch. The customization options for paint, wheels, and upholstery were extensive, allowing buyers to tailor the vehicle to their liking. The test vehicle, a Recharge T8 in Ultimate trim, was outfitted with a Lounge Package, massaging front seats, active air suspension, and a high-end Bowers & Wilkins audio system.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 marked a significant shift with its introduction of new powertrains. It was the first Mazda SUV to offer a plug-in hybrid option, aiming for better fuel economy and performance than the outgoing CX-9. The turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, available in two iterations, delivered 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque in its base form. However, the real star was the Turbo S model, which churned out an impressive 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque when using premium fuel. All models came with all-wheel drive (AWD) and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Mazda designed the CX-90 with three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Off-Road. While the off-roading abilities weren't tested, Sport mode highlighted the SUV's enthusiastic engine note and dynamic capabilities. The Turbo S excelled in high-rev performance, though the eight-speed transmission sometimes felt erratic. The PHEV model 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 lb-ft of torque. The PHEV model promised an all-electric range of 26 miles and 56 MPGe in combined driving.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 added an 18.8-kWh battery and a 107-kW electric motor to the B6’s supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, resulting in a total of 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque. This power was sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The XC90 Recharge T8 offered 32 miles of electric-only driving, promising 27 mpg in hybrid mode. Notably, Volvo's Pure driving mode focused on maximizing electric range, while Power mode prioritized performance with a 0-60 mph time of five seconds.

Recharging options were user-friendly, with standard 12-hour charges on household outlets or faster charges using a 240-volt outlet. Despite impressive raw power, the XC90 struggled with handling, showing limitations in agility compared to the Mazda. The 21-inch wheels slightly degraded ride quality, even with an adaptive air suspension, and its older vehicle architecture allowed more cabin noise and vibration than expected.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 showcased considerable versatility in seating options and configurations. Lower trims could accommodate up to eight passengers with three rows, while mid-level trims offered a seven-seat arrangement with captain’s chairs. The Turbo S model specialized in comfort with a two-seater third row, offering different configurations across its base, Premium, and Premium Plus trims.

Cargo space saw slight improvements over the CX-9, providing 75.2 cubic feet with the third row in the Turbo S configuration, scaling down slightly for other trims. Configurations providing three-across seating offered 74.2 cubic feet with all rows folded. This versatility in seating and cargo capacity made the CX-90 a more spacious option than its predecessor, though it still lagged behind competitors like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander in sheer volume.

Volvo's XC90, particularly in the Recharge T8 Ultimate trim, boasted an upscale standard feature set. The interior included power-adjustable and heated front seats, leather upholstery, wood trim, and four-zone climate control. Upgraded trims added features like a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats with massage, and an integrated booster child seat.

When it came to cargo capacity, the XC90 delivered 65.5 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down and up to 85.7 cubic feet with the second-row seats dropped. These figures surpassed those of the Mazda, providing a more spacious and functional interior for transporting cargo. However, interior storage was adequate rather than generous, and the cooling system struggled on hot days, particularly in Pure mode.

Mazda's approach to technology in the 2024 CX-90 aimed to eliminate distractions for safer driving. The Mazda Connect infotainment system avoided a touchscreen interface, opting instead for physical buttons and a rotary control knob. While this seemed logical on paper, practical use often revealed frustrations and complexities. Navigating features like the map required multiple dial clicks, diverting attention away from the road.

The personalization software stood out, utilizing facial recognition to adjust a wide array of settings to the driver's profile, a notable improvement in usability. Standard features included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with higher trims offering wireless connectivity. Though Mazda’s rotary controller worked with these systems, touchscreen functionality was preferred for CarPlay and Android Auto, offering a welcome relief.

Volvo's 2024 XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Built-in technology, providing access to Google Maps, Google Play, and Google Assistant. This setup offered a more modern and intuitive experience than previous Volvo systems, even with the screen's smaller size. The inclusion of a stereo volume knob and radio tuning buttons added convenience, while Apple CarPlay and SiriusXM were also standard.

The XC90's 12-inch digital instrumentation panel and optional head-up display added to the sleek interface, though they sometimes lacked intuitive functionality. The available surround-view camera and Bowers & Wilkins audio system significantly enhanced the driving experience, although Google Assistant required occasional clarification for accurate responses.

Safety was a strong suit for both the 2024 Mazda CX-90 and Volvo XC90. The Mazda CX-90 came equipped with the i-Activsense suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard. This included features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added cruising and traffic support, blending lane-centering with adaptive cruise control. While crash-test ratings weren't available at the time, Mazda’s historical performance suggested a strong showing.

Volvo's 2024 XC90 shone with a five-star rating from the NHTSA in every assessment except rollover resistance, where it earned four stars. The IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick+ in 2023. Despite these accolades, the XC90 lagged behind in terms of cutting-edge ADAS features, lacking a hands-free driving system. Volvo’s Pilot Assist system, merging adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, faced challenges in various driving conditions and even made a significant error during testing, affecting its reliability.