Volvo XC60 vs Mazda CX-90

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are smart for certain consumers. They allow people to give electric vehicle ownership a try before diving into the deep end of the pool by acclimating people to nightly plug-ins and the benefits of electric-only driving.

At the same time, they eliminate a phenomenon called “range anxiety,” which is the mild panic EV drivers may feel when their battery gets low. That’s because they also have a gasoline engine, and that means you can take a cross-country trip in one without ever needing to find a charging station.

Talk about a win-win situation. And among luxury PHEVs, the 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge is an appealing choice. But it certainly does not come cheap.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 is the family-hauling crossover we finally want to drive. This all-new Mazda delivers a turbocharged straight-six engine (or a PHEV, if you prefer), rear-wheel-drive architecture, brilliant handling, and a 20% discount from the surprisingly similar BMW X5. We sampled the new 2024 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S and the CX-90 PHEV on Northern California’s twisty roads, and we came away impressed by the big and powerful SUV’s handling and composure.

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