When Mazda said that it was aiming for the luxury car market a few years ago, it could be said that it was greeted with a couple of raised eyebrows. These days, however, that plan is in full swing, and more people and other luxury automakers are taking notice.
The warning shot was fired by the CX-60, launched in the country just a few months ago. This time around, the company is bringing out the big guns in the form of the Mazda CX-90.
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Variants and pricing
For the Philippine market, the Mazda CX-90 is available in two variants. The entry level model actually doesn’t have a variant name per se, as it’s simply called the CX-90. On the other hand, the range topper with the bells, whistles, and more is dubbed the Exclusive.
Like the CX-60, the CX-90 isn’t a competitor for the mainstream Japanese marques such as Honda or Toyota. It’s setting its sights on brands like BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz. With that, some of main competition include the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and Lexus RX. Yes, Mazda is aiming that high.
As for prices, check out the list below:
Mazda CX-90 2024 prices
- Mazda CX-90 3.3L AWD HEV Turbo – P3,680,000
- Mazda CX-90 3.3L AWD HEV Turbo Exclusive – P3,780,000
The list price includes a five-year free service plan that covers periodic maintenance service expenses at either six-month or 10,000km intervals for up to five years or 100,000km, whichever comes first.
Exterior
There’s no doubt that the CX-90 is Mazda’s largest crossover to date. It measures 5,120mm long, 1,994mm wide, and 1,745mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,120mm. For reference, those numbers make it even larger than the former largest Mazda crossover, the CX-9.
In terms of design, the CX-90 follows the form of the CX-60. There’s a bold grille at the front with its large headlights ‘fused’ on the sides. The subtle chiseled bumper corners are a hint to the Mazda’s sporting intentions, while the front apron has a chrome piece for added class.
Unlike its smaller brother, the windows are larger, and the roof is taller. The flanks are devoid of any acute angles on the bodywork, giving a cleaner look. Meanwhile at the back, there’s a pair of slim LED taillights, a wide opening tailgate, and a rakish windshield.
There’s little to differentiate the standard model from the Exclusive trim level from the outside. The only ways to tell are with the body moldings and, more obviously, the wheels. The Exclusive models come with body-colored moldings whereas the base version has those in black. As for the wheels, both variants have 21-inch pieces, but the Exclusive wears two-tone diamond cut alloys while the base has a simpler, single-tone design.
Interior
Drivers and passengers are greeted by acres of leather inside the CX-90. From the dashboard to the door cards, the flagship crossover’s interior is finished in that hide with each panel being soft to the touch. A wide 12.3-inch infotainment display sits proudly at the center of the dashboard, and unsurprisingly, the instrument cluster is of the digital (and customizable) variety.
Ten-way power seats are a given in both variants, so too is the memory function for the driver’s side. Seat ventilation for the front occupants is standard, along with three-row seating and a driver’s heads-up display.
Depending on the variant chosen, the CX-90 comes with either six or eight seating capacity, and different interior colors and trims. The standard model comes with black Nappa leather, aluminum trims, and room for eight. Move up to the Exclusive and ditches the second-row bench for a pair of captain chairs with ventilation. Its cabin is then trimmed in tan Nappa leather with quilted patterns, along with graphite pieces with gunmetal highlights.
Engine and specs
There’s no diesel option here. Both variants of the CX-90 come with a 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six engine paired with a 48V mild hybrid system. Also known as the Turbo e-Skyactiv-G, it packs 280hp at 5,000-6,000rpm and 450Nm of torque at 2,000-3,500rpm.
Its mild hybrid system is called the M Hybrid Boost. It consists of a 0.33kWh lithium-ion battery that sends its charge to a lightweight and compact electric motor. That motor then gives the engine a boost of 16.7hp and 153Nm of torque.
The only way to shift the CX-90 is with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard, in this case dubbed I-Activ AWD.
Extra features
Aside from the captain chairs in the Exclusive model, there are several tech highlight worth mentioning in the CX-90. Some basics include wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports in all rows of seats. Audiophiles will then appreciate the 12-speaker Bose sound system, again standard in both variants.
One technical highlight is the Driver Personalization System. It aids the driver in finding the ideal driving position based on height. Simply enter the driver’s height (in centimeters) in the car’s infotainment system, and the seatsand steering wheel will adjust accordingly.
In terms of safety, the large crossover comes with a full suite of advanced driver assist systems. Known in Mazda as i-Activsense, in has features that can help prevent a collision from happening in the first place. The active safety system includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking for the front and rear, and lane departure warning with lane keep assist as some of the basics. On top of that, there’s front and rear cross traffic alert, forward obstruction warning, driver monitoring system, and driver attention alert.
Mazda has made it clear that it wants to shake the luxury car market. From mainstream automaker, the Hiroshima-based automaker is making a greater impression upmarket with each new model. The CX-90 is perhaps its boldest statement yet, and one that can shake up the establishment.
Walkaround: Mazda CX-90 2024
More photos of the first-ever Mazda CX-90:
