2026 Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus - Review by David Colman +VIDEO

Kracker Jack Handling and Exquisite Interior

David Colman

Story and Photos by David Colman
Special Correspondent
THE AUTO CHANNEL

The statuesque presence of Mazda's CX-90 sets it apart from lesser SUVs. Beautifully finished without, exquisitely tailored within; it looks, drives, and feels like a product from Porsche, Mercedes, BMW or Range Rover. But instead of shelling out more than $100,000 for any of those exotics, you can reserve your Nappa Leather seat in this Mazda for exactly half what the exorbitant competition charges. Our test CX-90, a turbocharged metallic maroon 3.3 liter model, dressed in elegant Premium Plus trim, carried a surprisingly reasonable base price of just $50,270.

Mazda offers a mind-numbing array of CX-90 variants (9 to be exact) that carry base prices ranging from $39,300 for the entry-level CX-90 3.3 Turbo Select to $57,570 for the 340hp CX-90 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus. They also offer a $58,700 Premium Plus PHEV hybrid, which provides increased driving range plus short-trip EV operation. But after having sampled them all, I've discovered that the 280hp gas-fed Turbo we tested this week is your best buy in the model range. Although the pricier PHEV and Turbo S variants boast slightly more horsepower and torque than our CX-90 Turbo, you really don't need that bump in horsepower.

The 280hp Turbo Premium Plus ran like a scalded cat when tweaked by my heavy right foot. With 8 gears on tap, this sizeable 4,885lb rig generates instantaneous acceleration from a standing start. The 0- 60 mph run is done in just 6.8 seconds, and the quarter mile evaporates in 15.2 seconds at 94mph. Top speed is governor limited top speed to 130mph. More relevant to your everyday driving is the 45- 65 mph sprint you deal with every time you hustle up a freeway on-ramp. I had several occasions to evaluate the CX- 90's performance on this mission, and can report that it's blindingly quick to merge with the passing parade. Especially satisfyingly is its bodacious exhaust note as it sprints from the number 5 lane to the number 1 lane in two blinks of your eye. Handling too is crackerjack, with Mazda's advanced "Kinematic Posture Control" (KPC), which suppresses body lift on tight corners and generates more intuitive handling and grip from the grippy (TW 300!) Toyo Open Country A50 radials (215/45R21).

Mazda offers two interior layout options for the Premium Plus class. Our tester was fitted with a pair of handsome, comfortable, and supportive front row chairs covered in cream colored Nappa leather set off with narrow central black racing stripes. The second row provided a similar pair of matching leather-covered lounge chairs, though Mazda also offers the option of replacing them with a 3-person bench seat. Since this is a 3-row family-friendly design, a narrow rearmost bench exists for major transportation undertakings. Just make sure the occupants of Row 3 are no older than 10. Conversion of the CX-90's interior configuration proved satisfyingly easy. When you transition from three rows of seating to just one by folding flat rows 2 and three, you will gain 75 cubic feet of mostly flat interior storage space. With row 2 up and row 3 flat, space shrinks to 40 cubic feet. With all 3 rows up, this SUV's interior storage space shrinks to just 16 cubic feet. So if you bring the family, leave the camping gear home. Or bring the camping gear but leave the family home.

I found the Premium Plus's interior design format intriguing. Instead of the usual shiny black plastic uniformly favored by the Korean (Hyundai, Kia) and Japanese (Honda, Toyota) SUV builders, Mazda has taken a different tack altogether on design aesthetics. In addition to that striking array of luxury seats, you'll be enlivened by a white fabric cloth material covering the entire width of the dashboard. This apparently delicate material consists of upper and lower swatches stitched together with prominent white thread. I have never encountered anything quite so whimsical or bold in a mass-use product like an SUV, let alone one that sells for just $50,000. The longevity of this delicate construction, however, remains in doubt. So you may want to clean your hands before you climb aboard and make the kids wear gloves.

Equally inventive is Mazda's choice of material for the console surfaces and prominent touch points. Our test CX-90 sported a lemon/cream colored hard shell surface which resembled weathered Formica in terms of its variegated color transitions. Either you will love this inventive look or hate it. At first I recoiled from the treatment because it looked so irregular and blotchy. However, by the end of my week, I welcomed the whimsical brightness it brought to the Premium Plus interior. You will also enjoy the other details that brighten the cabin, like the delicate aluminum escutcheon plates adorning the upper door panels. Mazda has invested significant energy to create something different from the status quo. It's an attitude and a state of mind that distinguishes the products of this company from all the rest.

2026 MAZDA CX-90 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus

• ENGINE: 3.3 liter inline-6, turbocharged, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
• HORSEPOWER: 280hp
• TURBO: 323hp
• TORQUE: 369lb.-ft.
• FUEL CONSUMPTION: 24MPG City/28MPG Highway
• BASE PRICE: $50,270

HYPES: Superb Handling, Great Grunt

GRIPES: Notchy and Balky Shifter

STAR RATING: 9 Stars out of 10

©2026 David E Colman