2025 Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus - Review by David Colman

Refined, Handsome, and Gratifyingly Ccompetent

David Colman

Photos and Story by David Colman
Special Correspondent
THE AUTO CHANNEL

Recently, the buyer of a brand new Mazda CX-90 complained to Kelly Blue Book that, in the process of rectifying a brake squeal problem, the dealership made "my I-ACTIVSENSE light come on and disable all of the safety features on the vehicle." Ironically, I had just spent part of my lunch time trying to figure out how I could "disable" the "Lane-Keep Assist System" (LAS), which was proving itself a nuisance on my 50-mile freeway jaunt.

For starters, LAS proved inconsistent. If I changed lane without first signaling, LAS would forcefully jerk the steering wheel back into its prior position, forcing me to apply even more pressure to assert control. At other times, LAS would permit unimpeded lane changes for no apparent reason. Despite the fact that the right spoke of the steering wheel contains a switch bearing a lane keep moniker, operating that button had no effect on defeating LAS.

This inconsistent behavior led me to Mazda's 1.5 inch thick Owner's Manual for information regarding possible deletion of LAS. I finally found what I needed under the heading "Turning Off the LAS" which referred me to yet another chapter entitled "How to use the I-ACTIVSENSE OFF switch." You need your Sherlock Holmes sleuth cap to ferret this out. Hiding in the left-hand corner of the dashboard is a button labeled "OFF" with a tiny pictograph of a vehicle. Hitting this button got rid of the LAS system, so I could continue my trip in peace with the nanny temporarily disarmed. However, according to the Owner's Manual, doing so also automatically disables all 13 other I-ACTIVSENSE systems.

Why Mazda gangs all its safeguards together for deletion is difficult to understand. What's even more distressing is the fact that you have to hit the OFF button every time you restart the CX-90, even if you just want to delete LAN. It seems to me that if you pay $53,115 for this otherwise delectable piece of equipment, you should be able to permanently configure its behavior to your specification, and not vice versa.

Our test rig was finished in a sparkling shade of fire and ice called Soul Red Crystal Metallic, which added $695 to the SUV's base price of $49,400. Tack on another $615 for a trailer hitch and wiring harness, because the 280hp CX-90 produces 332lb.-ft. of torque, numbers that ensure you will be able to tow a 5,000lb. trailer with relative ease.

Mazda's Premium Plus level of attention to comfort and detail boosts the CX-90 into direct competition with two much pricier incumbents in the luxury SUV class: BMW's X5 and Land Rover's Range Rover Sport. I have recently reviewed both of those storied contenders, and feel that Mazda's assault on the top niche of the luxury SUV market is right on target. Instead of settling for a ubiquitous 4-cylinder engine linked to a hybrid propulsion booster, Mazda has engineered a completely new inline six-cylinder internal combustion motor displacing 3.3 liters. This double overhead cam, 24-valve prime mover boasts a long stroke cylinder configuration (86mm bore x 94.2mm stroke) guaranteed to produce abundant torque at low rpm. When you nail the throttle from a standstill, the big displacement six snaps to attention and shoves you firmly backward into your Nappa Leather chair. If you're still hungry for more grunt, Mazda also offers the CX-90 with a couple of more powerful iterations of the straight six. You can opt for a plug-in hybrid that makes 323 hp and 369lb.-ft. of torque, or go for the gold with the top echelon S model drive train, which cranks out 340hp and 369lb.-ft. of torque. In our experience, the 280 hp base drivetrain is more than adequate for all situations, including passing slower traffic on a two-lane highway.

To Mazda's eternal credit, even this sumo weight SUV (4,885lbs.) is competent on challenging secondary road switchbacks. That finesse is due to an abundance of sticky rubber anchoring each corner of the all-wheel-drive chassis to the pavement. The Premium Plus version of the CX-90 upgrades 18 or 19-inch CX-90 wheels to 21-inch rims shod with ultra-grippy (TW 300) Falken Ziex C60a A/S radials. These mud and snow-rated tires put a stout 275/45R21 footprint on the macadam. Dial up the Sport Mode from the 4 position Mi-Drive switch on the center console, and you'll instantly feel steering feedback increase. You'll also sense that the accelerator pedal has become more sensitive to application. Mi-Drive offers three other options: Towing Mode which senses trailer weight and optimizes power performance to compensate; Normal Mode which favors fuel efficiency; Off-Road Mode, which prevents the drive wheels from spinning over reduced adhesion surfaces.

The refined, handsome, and gratifyingly competent new CX-90 is worth a close look before making the decision to spend twice as much on a BMW X5 or Land Rover Range Rover.

2025 MAZDA CX-90 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus

• ENGINE: 3.3 liter inline-6, DOHC and 24 valve, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection plus lithium-ion Mazda M Hybrid Boost Battery
• HORSEPOWER: 280hp (Combined)
• TORQUE: 332lb.-ft. (Combined)
• FUEL CONSUMPTION: 24MPG City/28MPG Highway
• PRICE AS TESTED: $53,115

HYPES: Upper Crusty Plush

GRIPES: Less Than Stellar Mileage

STAR RATING: 8.5 Stars out of 10

©2025 David E Colman