Kiawah Island, SC- Now entering its sophomore year, the three-row 2025 Mazda CX-90 crossover continues evolving while also serving time as a roadway ambassador during a one week, spring-break odyssey throughout the low country of the greater Charleston, South Carolina region.
Unseasonably warm weather in the low 80s greeted us upon arrival and continued smiling during most of the early April stay. Our party of three included a first-time special guest during this annual pilgrimage, fifteen-year-old high school freshman Cara bringing along all her tennis gear and neatly packed ancillaries any teen would deem necessary for surviving one week away from her Chicagoland home base.
Mazda's CX-90's versatility and sheer size came in handy as the long-time returning co-pilot/spouse continued familiar overpacking tendencies. A sizeable, bright pink, tortoiseshell suitcase tipped the scales above 50 pounds at O'Hare Airport, necessitating a mini purge to avoid an extra $100 hit. A bulky four-wheeled walker (with handy built-in seat) joined the parade as said co-pilot slowly awaits surgery to regain a steady, pain-free walking gate.
With an overall length measuring 201.6 inches, CX-90 finds itself solidly ensconced within the mid-size segment, albeit skewed towards the roomier end of the spectrum. By comparison, Volvo's XC-90 (a mid-size, three-row crossover competitor with an identical pair of lettered prefixes, with positioning switched) clocks in six-inches shorter.
In Mazda speak a CX prefix connotates a five-door crossover body style with the numbered suffix indicating vehicle size. Thus, our CX-90 tester enjoys a larger footprint then the compact CX-50. Mazda's MX prefix (think MX-5 Miata two-seat roadster) denotes sports cars with Zoom-Zoom flair. Mazda's also one of a shrinking number of automakers offering a sedan body style in the form of the compact Mazda 3.
Mazda debuted CX-90 in the 2024 model year with 'large-platformed' specifications designed for the North American market desiring larger lengths compared to European-detailed offerings. Expect minimal updates in 2025 although Mazda tweaks the trim level structure and a larger version of the multi-function flat center screen adorns more offerings. All trims include Mazda's i-Active all-wheel drive standard, a part-time all-wheel drive design automatically reacting to changing roadway conditions. Its rear-wheel drive biased design seamlessly and automatically switching to all wheel drive when a cadre of on-board sensors detect even the slightest hint of slips.
The 2025 CX-90 now offers nine trim levels (down from 11 in 2024) including our electrified Plug-in Hybrid Electric Version (PHEV). PHEVs remain a different animal than pure all-electric vehicles (EVs) although both lump into the 'electrified' category. Electric vehicles (EVs) motivate by one or more electric/traction motors powered by a sizeable rechargeable on-board battery pack. While EV technology contributes to zero emissions, the away-from home infrastructure needed for reliable recharging during longer missions continues evolving at a slow pace, contributing to 'range anxiety'.
A PHEV such as the Mazda CX-90 alleviates said 'range anxiety' by teaming a smaller high-voltage battery pack with an electric motor and a conventional, 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder internal combustion engine. This multi-prong approach promotes approximately 26 miles of pollutant-free all-electric driving before the internal combustion engine kicks in adding 464 miles of gas-electric hybrid travel, helping ease the mind-numbing fog of range anxiety.
Helping the process move forward, a sizeable 18.5-gallon tank recommending premium fuel for optimal PHEV results most notable within the torque output. When traveling in gas-electric hybrid mode after gobbling up the 26 miles of EV travel, expect 25 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving.
The 2025 CX-90 includes three PHEV trim levels in addition to six trims operating within a 'mild' hybrid framework. All team with an eight-speed automatic transmission built with a performance wet-clutch design also enhancing torque numbers.
Mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs) place a small assist-like electric motor/generator between the engine and transmission. With this design, the electric motor acts as booster of sorts. A full gas-electric hybrid (such as the first-generation Toyota Prius) employs electric motor(s) to assist wheel/axles for short, low-speed durations utilizing pure electric power.
Both Mild and Full gas-electric hybrids qualify as 'electrified,' self-charging with no need for a nightly wall socket charge thanks to the dynamics of regenerative braking, a nifty process where kinetic energy/friction created during the braking process captures and stores in the DC battery pack for later reuse as electricity. Mild hybrids, such as the Mazda CX-90, employ a smaller DC battery (48-volts in this case) with pricing lower than full hybrids.
The CX-90 PHEV arrives with two regenerative braking levels, 'normal' and 'high' accessible via the multi-function screen under the home menu's 'settings' category. High provides more resistance and additional kinetic energy storage, leading to quicker slowing once the right foot leaves the accelerator pedal.
The six mild hybrid trims boast six-cylinder power in the form of a 3.3-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder powertrain. Four of these trims (Select, Premium Sport (new for 2025), Premium Plus and Preferred) crank out 280 horses with recommended regular 87-octane fuel. Two higher-performance trims (S Premium and S Premium Plus) pump up horsepower to 340 utilizing premium-grade fuel. The S trims represent the most powerful engines ever marketed by Mazda here in the States. Three CX-90 PHEV trims round out the selection (PHEV Preferred, PHEV Premium Sport (new for 2025) and PHEV Preferred Plus.
Mazda's large-platform CX-90 also served as a template for its identical twin, the new-for-2025 CX-70. Both enjoy identical dimensions, bone structure and DNA underpinnings but with CX-70 opting for two rows standard and gobs of room (a massive 40 cubic feet) behind the second row. It's one of the largest five-seat crossovers in the mid-size segment and arrives with PHEV and mild-hybrid electrified underpinnings as well.
Unlike the five-seat CX-70, CX-90 markets as a 6-, 7- or 8-seater. Within the three PHEV trims, the three-seat second row bench comes standard in the Preferred trim accommodating up to eight riders. Dual captain's chairs graced our Preferred Plus tester (and Premium PHEV trim) reducing overall capacity to 7 with second row riders enjoying an upscale seating opportunity.
For science sake, this creaky 64-year-old frame tested out comfort and roominess of row tres. Second row captain's chairs manually slid forward within a vertical floor track once the backrest tilts forward allowing for entry with acceptable contortions. With a little leg power applied to the backside, the 'easy-slide-and-tilt' captain's chairs glide forward when exiting the vehicle. All four side doors swing out extra wide, benefitting both back row entries, a welcome design for those with mobility issues. The convenient and conventional 8.1-inches of ground clearance also aids in the process. Row three headroom provides enough clearance for a six-foot frame with leg room needing negotiation with row two.
Mazda's marketing claim that the PHEV Premium Plus' 60/40 split third row welcomes three riders holds some truth as long as the trio register as pre-teens in age and height. Otherwise, it's a two-passenger region. The PHEV Premium Sport trim includes a 50/50-split third row designed for two riders. The CX-90 includes third-row cupholders molded into side elbow rests. Interestingly, the CX-70 two-row doppelganger boasts these exact same side builds with no apparent beneficiary unless a spirited group of tailgaters needs a place to hang with a safe oasis capable of holding frosty beverages on game day.
Row three seatbacks fold down manually and pop back up with the aid of standard, black back-mounted pull straps. Behind the third-row seat awaits 15.9 cubic feet of usable room.
Starting CX-90 pricing checks in at $38,245 for a Select mild hybrid with the six-cylinder 'electrified' mild hybrid engine. Our Premium Plus PHEV tester started at $57,950 stuffed with just about every available comfort. The one exception; premium machine gray exterior paint ($595). That, along with a $1,455 destination charge, brought the bottom line to an even $60,000. The generous number of CX-90 trims arrive at dealers well equipped with limited numbers of stand-along or option packages helping to speed along the purchase process. The higher one travels up the trim-level latter, the higher the standard content.
Kudos to Mazda for choosing not to elevate premium paint pricings to ridiculous heights. One particular luxury brand tacked on $4,500 delivering a premium hue with little distinction from Mazda's silky-smooth selections. The yummy Soul Red Crystal premium color (available with CX-90) stands as an eye-appealing top choice among all worldwide competitors and for less than $600.
Through the winding, narrow two lane roads and 200-year-old oaks dotting Kiawah Island, CX-90 delivered a planted yet sporty ride with driving precision thanks a double wishbone front suspension, multi-link rear suspension and performance-friendly rear-wheel bias. Kinematic Posture Control suppresses body lift during tight corners enhancing grip and keeping occupants in a natural upright position. For a three-row build, CX-90 enjoys a rather tight turning radius notable in parking lots with minimal wiggle room. This vehicle feels nimbler than its hefty 5,267-pound weight would suggest. The high-voltage battery pack, electric motor and onboard charging module add about 500 extra pounds compared to mild-hybrid CX-90 trims.
Exterior wise, the CX-90 PHEV enjoys lots of curves but few sharp angles contributing to an athletic posture. The long, hood leads into a wide and low front facia with a sizeable elongated 'U" shaped front grille with black honeycomb filling and winged Mazda logo front and center. A short, narrow bridge connects the grille to single bulb light housing at each end, doubling as amber turn signal indicator/beam. Circular wheel wells include black cladding framing the wells and continues along door bottoms and front/rear bumpers.
While not considered or marketed as a high-end luxury automaker, Mazda takes great pride presenting a welcoming interior with soft-touch materials and pleasant optics and CX-90 continues with this philosophy. It's not the plastic-looking ambiance mainstream brands once to gravitated towards in decades past.
The standard across all trims eight-speed automatic transmission shifter between the supportive front buckets includes a stubby short grab handle. Park remains the sole selection summoned on the far left. Otherwise, engage the brake pedal, move the grab handle slightly right to engage inline reverse, drive and neutral. Dual inline cup holders (with retracting cover when not in use) reside immediately right. A large, nicely padded, deep storage bin/arm rest includes vertical side-by-side door/top opening in wing-like fashion and home to Type C USB plug ports. All three PHEV trims include a flat wireless phone charge pad fore of the transmission shifter.
Also ahead of the shifter, a push plate summoning one of four drive modes (Sport, Normal, EV, Off-Road). Each selection provides its own unique animated display within the sizeable, digitally-enhanced 12.3-inch instrument panel.
All three PHEV trims promote the larger 12.3-inch full-color infotainment flat screen jetting up from the multi-tier center dash region. Interacting with the screen best accomplishes through Mazda Connect, an assortment of two different-sized twist dials and four push buttons flanking the larger dial (used to monitor an in-screen highlight bar) between front bucket seats. Expect a short learning curve. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration come standard allowing some touch screen operation when fused together.
The 12.3-inch screen includes five home screen choices (information, entertainment, communication, navigation, settings). Click on any via the Mazda Connect dial to dig deeper into each nest. Audio voice commands come standard in all trims. A circular electronic push start/stop button summons the engine and locates on the dash right of the manually-adjusting steering column.
Summoning HVAC controls does not involve screen interaction, but separate, finger-activated buttons and tabs below a pair of horizontal air vents within the lower center dash. A top tier includes a pair of dual-zone up/down push tabs for selecting temperature bookending a digital information window. The bottom rung includes 15 push buttons monitoring everything from heated seats to rear/front defroster and fan mode direction.
Recharging the PHEV's on-board battery pack takes far less time than a conventional EV. Adding charged electrons from a home-bound, 120-volt alternating current (A/C) outlet first involves flipping open a circular door on the passenger's side rear fender. Utilizing a 'Level One, 120-volt common household A/C outlet, expect a six-hour and forty-minute time horizon to completely energize the 17.8-kilowatt hour, 392-pound, 355-volt lithium-ion battery back from a spent stage. It's easily accomplished overnight.
All three CX-90 PHEVs include a long, snakelike Level One electric cord/plug with a J1772 head (or J Plug, resembling a small hand-held hair dryer) connecting to the car's electrical port with a three-prong grounded plug at the other end slipping easily into a 120-volt wall socket.
Invest in a higher voltage 'Level Two' 240-volt A/C EVSE wall unit, (EVSE represents Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) and charge time reduces significantly to approximately one hour and thirty minutes with a 30-amp circuit. A 7.2-kilowatt hour on-board charging module converts the A/C current from the household outlet to D/C current stored within the high voltage 355-volt D/C battery pack when using either Level One or Level Two charging options.
Costs associated with a 'Level Two' 240-volt wall unit investment also come into play. The unit itself prices between $350 and $900 depending upon the amperage selected while labor rates vary widely depending upon several factors. Generally, factor between $400 and $1,700 for a certified electrician's handy work depending upon the hours needed for the specific install. In February of 2024, Com Ed announced a $5 million EV Charger and Installation Program awarding up to $3,750 per household to offset costs to implement at-home 'Level Two' wall units. More information is at ComEd.com/clean.
As with most PHEVs, D/C fast charging is not an option. This process overrides the vehicle's on-board charging module, sending direct current into the 17.8-kilowatt hour D/C lithium-ion battery pack. Pure EVs with their larger battery capacity and 300 miles (or more) of pure EV travel benefit from commercially available D/C fast chargers especially when far from home,
With production taking place in Japan, both the CX-70 and CX-90 twin spins fail to qualify for the Federal Government's $4,500 tax credit benefiting select EVs and PHEVs meeting certain criteria. However, leasing the CX-90 or CX-70 instead of a conventional purchase offers the opportunity to utilize some of the tax benefits. The State of Illinois offers an electric vehicle rebate program covering most electric vehicles (EVs), but Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles including CX-90 do not qualify for any portion of the rebate.
In any rate, CX-90 performed above and beyond expectations during a memorable spring break get away full of sunshine, good surprises and tennis. All three participants continue talking with each other long after the trip ended, a game-set-match victory in and of itself.
2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV
Price as tested: $60,000
Engine: 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder
High-voltage Battey Design: Lithium-Ion
Battery size: 17.8-kilowatt hours
Total Horsepower: 323
All electric range: 26 miles (est.)
Gas-electric hybrid range: 464 miles
Torque: 369 lb.-ft.
Wheelbase: 122.8 inches
Overall Length: 206.6 inches
Overall Width: 84.9 inches
Overall Height: 30.4 inches
High-voltage battery warranty: Eight years/100,000 miles
Fuel Economy: 25 mpg city/mpg highway
Curb weight: 5,267 pounds
Assembly: Japan
