Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus
Specs
Class: Compact Automobile
Colour: Platinum Quartz
Seating Capability: 5
Miles pushed: 148
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B+ |
| Energy and Efficiency | C |
| Match and End | A |
| Gas Economic system | B+ |
| Worth | C+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and should not replicate Shopper Information’s impressions of all the mannequin lineup. | |
| Large & Tall Consolation | |
| Large Man | A |
| Tall Man | B+ |
| Large & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Large” ranking primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 323-horsepower 2.5-liter |
| Engine Sort | 4-cylinder turbocharged plug-in hybrid |
| Transmission | 8-speed computerized |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Actual-world gas financial system: 24.5 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gas financial system: 56 MPGe/25 mpg (metropolis/freeway mixed)
EPA-estimated battery vary: 26 miles
Gas sort: Premium-grade gasoline
Base worth: $57,950 (not together with $1455 vacation spot cost)
Choices: None
Value as examined: $59,405
Professionals and Cons
The nice: Fashionable and upscale cabin, European drive expertise
The great: Loads of passenger area, first rate gas financial system
The not so good: Crude PHEV drivetrain disappoints
Overview
I adore it when a plan comes collectively. I’m additionally usually fairly blissful when a plan comes fairly near coming collectively, as is the case with the 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV. New for 2024, the 3-row CX-90 debuted with a turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine. The all-new engine, provided with two energy output ranges, has confirmed each easy and robust, although not particularly straightforward on the fuel.
Answering the decision for improved gas effectivity, Mazda added a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain to the CX-90 roster for 2025. The system swaps the 6-cylinder engine for a model of Mazda’s ubiquitous 2.5-liter 4, pairing it with a 68 kW (91 horsepower) electrical motor and customary AWD. Complete system output is 323 horsepower, slotting the PHEV CX-90 in engine output between the usual CX-90’s 6-cylinder engine (280 horsepower) and the high-output variant (340). Word that each one CX-90 PHEVs are fitted with customary AWD.
However by way of gas financial system, the PHEV scores a singular victory, with an EPA-estimated mixed MPGe (miles per gallon equal) of 56, versus 25 mpg for the non-hybrid CX-90s. Apparently, and relatively disappointingly, the PHEV’s customary gas financial system—use when not benefitting from plug-in cost) is similar 25 mpg as standard CX-90s.
All CX-90 PHEVs come geared up with a 15-kWh battery which, when totally charged, supplies an EPA-estimated 26 miles of electrical vary. As soon as the battery is depleted, the CX-90 PHEV operates as would any standard hybrid automobile.
For 2025, the non-hybrid lineup is comprised of six trim ranges, ranging in worth from $39,300 to $57,905. The PHEV lineup is comprised of simply three trim ranges, together with the bottom Most well-liked ($51,400), midlevel Most well-liked Sport ($56,355), and topline Premium Plus $59,405.
The three-row CX-90 is joined within the Mazda lineup by the surprisingly related CX-70, which differs from the ’90 primarily in providing seating for simply 5, versus the ‘90s 3-row association. In PHEV guise, the latter is obtainable solely in two trim ranges: Most well-liked Sport and Premium Plus. In any other case, the 2 crossovers are very a lot alike.
Shopper Information just lately spent every week behind the wheel of a completely decked-out 2025 CX-90 PHEV (Mazda alternately refers to those automobiles as PHEV and Hybrid. We want the previous because it extra precisely describes the powertrain.)
Our Premium Plus instance, seen right here in flattering Platinum Quartz, got here to $59,465 together with vacation spot cost.
Having just lately hung out with the conventionally powered CX-90—and subsequently naming in a Shopper Information Greatest Purchase—our expectations for the PHEV had been excessive. And, by nearly measure, the PHEV lived as much as our earlier expertise, save for the drivetrain.
We concluded in regards to the standard CX-90, “Whereas $60,000 seems like some huge cash for a Mazda, this massive crossover definitely delivers the premium-experience items. And, although Mazda is intent on transferring the model upmarket, loads of its mainstream rivals providing midsize crossovers that worth out over $50,000. Although we’ve to pattern a much less well-equipped CX-90, we suspect that even a base $41,000 3.3 Turbo Choose feels fairly particular. Mazda has constructed one thing fairly particular within the CX-90, and we’re utterly comfy calling it a luxurious automobile.”
Sadly, the CX-90 PHEV drivetrain feels underdeveloped. At low pace the system is given to awkward and infrequently obtrusive hand offs between the fuel engine and electrical motor. Moreover, acceleration from a cease can embrace sudden moments of decreased throttle response adopted by a shocking return of energy. Moreover, our noticed gas financial system was nothing particular, both. Over about 150 miles of largely metropolis driving, have charged the battery totally simply as soon as, we averaged simply 24.5 mpg, solely barely higher than we noticed in a 6-cylinder CX-90. That stated, in pure electrical mode, the CX-90 is a honey of a commuter automobile, serving up a refined trip, quiet cabin, and glorious dealing with.
It’s vital to recollect, too, that the CX-90 PHEV provides up the silky new 6-cylinder engine for much less refined 4-cylinder unit, giving up extra of the refinement we admire within the CX-90.
Should you plan to spend most of your time in your subsequent automobile driving withing the 26-mile battery vary of the CX-90 PHEV—and thus not need to cope with the crude hybrid system—take a look at driving the PHEV would possibly make sense. We will’t endorse the mannequin nevertheless, and proceed to endorse the usual 6-cylinder fashions that are benchmarks of midsize-crossover consolation and refinement. Additionally, if you happen to don’t want all of the area the CX-90 supplies, think about the wonderful CX-50 Hybrid, which isn’t a plug-in hybrid, however is very refined. All that stated, we’ll name the CX-90 PHEV a plan that got here collectively—however solely fairly effectively.
Hearken to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus Footage
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