Powered by a brand new 3.3-liter inline-six diesel with 251 hp, the CX-90 D50e is not excellent, however it can tick most bins of potential consumers
7 hours in the past
The Mazda CX-90 is the agency’s most costly mannequin ever offered in Australia and very like its smaller sibling, the CX-60, goals to take the struggle to the European institution of luxurious SUVs. Mazda has shot for the moon with the CX-90 however has it reached its goal, landed among the many stars, or fallen fully quick?
Very similar to the CX-60 we sampled just a few weeks in the past, the CX-90 is predicated on Mazda’s ‘Massive Product Group’ platform. It serves as a direct alternative to the CX-9 that was round for the higher a part of twenty years and Down Beneath, is the one present Mazda mannequin that may be geared up with six or seven seats.
Fast information
Design
Whereas approaching the CX-90 for the primary time, I used to be instantly struck by simply how large and imposing it’s. Whereas it does share a lot of its design with the CX-60, it’s fairly a bit bigger at 5,120 mm (201.4 inches) lengthy and 1,994 mm (78.5 inches) huge, and stands 1,745 mm (68.7 inches) tall. Whereas the SUV’s giant footprint is straight away evident in images, it isn’t till you see it within the flesh that you just admire the added aura it has over the CX-60.
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Our check automobile was the flagship Azami painted in Deep Crystal Blue Mica. This colour labored completely with the massive SUV and whereas we’re typically not a fan of chrome, the shroud across the gloss black entrance grille was a pleasant contact.
Including to the CX-90’s imposing determine are 21-inch wheels with black and silver accents wrapped in Toyo Proxes Sport tires. There are additionally a pair of intriguingly formed LED headlights that intersect with separate LED daytime operating lights that run horizontally and join with the grille.
Pictures Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Many of those components are just like these discovered on the CX-60 however the added dimension of the CX-90 is straight away obvious when it’s considered from the rear. Whereas the CX-60 has rear aspect home windows with a BMW-esque Hofmeister kink, the home windows of the CX-90 are noticeably bigger. Moreover, the D-pillars are a lot thicker, the LED taillights are barely greater, and it stands just a little extra upright.
Within the styling division, it seems to be each bit as refined as its key rivals, just like the Genesis GV80, BMW X5, and Mercedes-Benz GLE.
And the cabin?
We walked away from our current check of the CX-60 with a newfound respect for Mazda’s inside designs and felt the identical after dwelling with the CX-90 for per week. The mannequin we examined got here geared up with the AU$5,000 (~$3,300) Takumi Pack that provides second-row captain seats with air flow, pure white Nappa leather-based seat trim, a white maple wooden console panel, a middle console/armrest within the second row, and a fabric space with stitching operating throughout the dashboard.
Pictures Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Mazda Australia additionally sells the CX-90 with the identical AU$5,000 (~$3,300) SP Pack because the CX-60. It combines tan and black leather-based components with areas of soft-touch suede and a two-tone steering wheel. Customers not keen to splurge the additional AU$5,000 on both the SP Pack or Takumi Pack can order it with the fundamental black Nappa leather-based in seven-seat guise.
Whatever the inside configuration, all CX-90 fashions come well-equipped. Entry-level variations rock a ten.25-inch infotainment show and a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster whereas higher-end variations have a pair of 12.3-inch screens. All variations assist wired and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to Mazda’s acquainted working system that’s intuitive to ease, albeit just a little bit primary in comparison with among the competitors.
Just like the CX-60, there’s a system the place you possibly can enter your top and the seat will routinely transfer into what Mazda believes is the right driving place. Whereas it sounds good on paper, it didn’t work very nicely for me and put me in a slightly awkward place.
Pictures Brad Anderson/Carscoops
The cabin of the CX-90 looks like a really premium place to sit down, aided by the truth that it has a thumping 12-speaker Bose audio system. The captain’s seats within the second row are pretty however headroom is just a little compromised if the backrests aren’t reclined. It’s additionally a disgrace that Mazda doesn’t supply the CX-90 as a seven-seater with both the SP Pack or Takumi Pack as we predict the seven-seat model will swimsuit extra consumers. House within the third row is surprisingly beneficiant and you may sit again there in relative consolation.
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The trunk is beneficiant with 608 liters (21.4 cubic toes) of carrying capability with the third-row of seats in place or 2,025 liters (71.5 cubic toes) with each the second and third-row seats folded down.
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Mazda has additionally crammed in loads of expertise into the cabin of the CX-90. A big head-up show is among the many highlights as is the panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, heated entrance and rear seats, ambient lighting, and a 360-degree view monitor out there solely on the Azami specification.
The CX-90 is an altogether fantastic place to spend time in and definitely feels worthy of the six-figure price ticket, though the cabin is nearly an identical to the smaller and cheaper CX-60.
Extra refined than its smaller sibling
Very similar to the CX-60 that we drove, the CX-90 D50e Azami that we examined was geared up with the out there 3.3-liter turbo diesel inline-six engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This engine is paired with an eight-speed computerized transmission driving all 4 wheels and whereas the powertrain bundle proved to be compelling within the CX-60, it was not with out fault and felt fairly lumbered and unrefined at low speeds. Thankfully, the CX-90 feels that little extra polished.
Energy figures stay unchanged, which means the six- or seven-seater delivers 187 kW (251 hp) at 3,750 rpm and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque between 1,500 rpm and a pair of,400 rpm. These in search of some further efficiency can go for the three.3-liter turbocharged petrol inline-six with its 254 kW (341 hp) and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) however for many consumers, the diesel supplies greater than sufficient efficiency. Not solely is the throttle response glorious however energy supply is clean and constant, and it feels prefer it has extra torque than it does. We wouldn’t describe the D50e as speedy nevertheless it feels faster than the 8.4 second 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time would lead you to imagine.
Pictures Brad Anderson/Carscoops
As within the CX-60, Mazda’s engineers have included an artificial sound generator to drown out the inherent coarseness of the big capability diesel engine and substitute it with a sonorous observe that’s fairly addictive.
The transmission of the CX-90 is identical eight-speed unit developed in-house by Mazda as present in its smaller sibling. We discovered this gearbox to be slightly jerky at low speeds within the CX-60 nevertheless it has been improved within the CX-90 and is far smoother at sluggish speeds and through mild acceleration. Certainly, the distinction is so important that you possibly can be excused for pondering it’s a wholly new transmission.
Enhancements have additionally been made to the journey of the CX-90. Whereas the CX-60 felt slightly clumsy and would repeatedly bounce up and down after pace bumps, slightly than rapidly settling, the CX-90’s journey is a contact firmer and doesn’t have the identical bounciness.
Pictures Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Like different automobiles on the market with 48-volt mild-hybrid methods, the CX-90 will intelligently change off the engine throughout coasting and braking and it does so in a really clean method, hardly ever interrupting the driving expertise. This setup pays dividends within the gasoline effectivity stakes with Mazda claiming it’ll sip simply 5.4 l/100 km (43.5 U.S. mpg) over the mixed cycle. We averaged 7.2 l/100 km (32.6 U.S. mpg) throughout our week with it, which was fairly good regardless of not matching Mazda’s declare.
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Dynamically, the CX-90 is a stable performer. It has fantastically weighted and direct steering and whereas it weighs over 2,200 kg (4,850 lbs), it hides its weight surprisingly nicely. It actually feels sportier than another choices on this section, just like the Genesis GV80, and might be fairly enjoyable to drive. The draw back of the agency suspension is that it isn’t as snug as another fashions from the carmaker, just like the Mazda3, and that’s one thing household consumers ought to remember. The very last thing you’d need are second- and third-row passengers complaining concerning the stiff journey so arranging a check drive is a good suggestion.
Ought to I purchase one?
Whereas we don’t doubt that the value of the CX-90 will dissuade some consumers, it feels on par with what AU~$100,000 (~$65,700) buys you nowadays and is a compelling proposition. The inside is great, it seems to be good, and the powertrain is an efficient all-rounder. Nevertheless, it will profit from even additional transmission calibration and a barely better-sorted suspension setup.