The Mazda CX-90 PHEV Gets Electrification Just Right: Driven

The Mazda CX-90 PHEV is an interesting alternative to the typical three-row family SUV. It’s one of the few plug-in-hybrid three-row SUVs on the market. Still, it also stands out with its purposeful design, clean cabin, quality materials, and, perhaps most importantly, physical controls that keep the focus on driving.

In a world of touchscreen overload, the CX-90 puts more emphasis on the things drivers interact with every day. There are dedicated buttons for important functions like climate control, along with a rotary controller on the center console. It’s a much nicer setup than reaching across the dashboard just to tap a screen.

The Premium Plus trim also comes with the features you’d expect from an SUV pushing toward the luxury end of the segment. It’s not perfect, but the combination of a well-built cabin, useful physical controls, and a long list of features is hard to ignore.

Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus Pros

Photo by: Mazda

Pros

Upscale Cabin
Physical Controls
Peppy Powertrain

The CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus is a genuinely pleasant place to spend time. It has one of the better driving positions in the three-row SUV segment, and I’ve always loved Mazda’s steering wheels. They fit my hands perfectly and feel great to use, just like the rest of the cabin.

Unlike the CX-5, the rotary controller is still here, giving drivers and passengers a physical knob for controlling the infotainment system. It might be my favorite feature in the CX-90, especially as more people push back against the endless screens in modern cars. It doesn’t feel old-fashioned; it feels elegant.

The CX-90 also comes with Nappa leather, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic moonroof, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The cabin feels more upscale than the price tag suggests, and the Premium Plus trim packs in so much equipment that I never find myself wishing it had another must-have feature.

The 2.5-liter four-cylinder plug-in-hybrid powertrain is smooth and responsive around town, though it can still feel a little finicky at parking-lot speeds. The electric motor provides immediate torque, while the 323 horsepower gives the CX-90 plenty of punch when pulling into traffic.

I still prefer the turbocharged inline-six, but the PHEV is a solid choice if you want something more efficient without giving up too much driving enjoyment.

Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus Cons

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Cons

Short EV Range
Hybrid Weight Penalty
Price

The CX-90’s 26 miles of electric range is enough for most day-to-day driving, especially for someone who works from home, but it’s also the SUV’s biggest limitation. That’s less range than some of its three-row plug-in-hybrid competitors. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV can travel up to 45 miles on electricity, while the Volvo XC90 offers up to 32 miles.

Once your commute stretches beyond that relatively small electric window, the CX-90 essentially becomes a conventional hybrid SUV. If you’re expecting something that feels closer to an EV, you might come away disappointed.

The plug-in-hybrid hardware also adds weight. The CX-90 isn’t slow, but it doesn’t have the same effortless power or driving excitement as Mazda’s turbocharged inline-six. If I’m buying a CX-90, I want the best driving experience Mazda offers, and that’s still the Turbo S.

Then there’s the price. The CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus is loaded with equipment, but my tester came to $60,030 as tested, including the destination charge. At that price, it starts creeping into luxury territory, which makes the CX-90 a tougher sell.

Verdict: Plug It In, And It Makes Sense

Photo by: Mazda

I like the CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus. It offers enough electric range for my daily driving without the range and charging concerns that come with a fully electric vehicle. Add three rows of seats, an upscale interior with Nappa leather, and a full suite of technology, and the CX-90 is an easy SUV to recommend.

The biggest catches are the 26 miles of electric range and the price. The entry-level CX-90 PHEV is about $10,000 cheaper than my tester, making it a more compelling value. But you really get the most out of the PHEV when you can plug it in regularly.

If you can’t charge at home, skip the plug-in hybrid and go with the inline-six instead.

Competitors

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Volvo XC90 PHEV

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