I am SO excited for the car tour on deck today! The 2024 Mazda CX90 came out this year and is replacing the Mazda CX9 with a complete rebrand as a mid-tier luxury SUV.

If this is your first time joining me- welcome! I’m Kelly the Car Mom and as a certified child safety tech, mom of three, and overall car lover it’s my goal to help you find the perfect family vehicle. I’ve been driving this car for a week now, and cannot wait to give my thoughts.

Before you dive in and start car shopping, make sure you’re fully prepared to tackle today’s market with confidence. To learn everything from dealership prep to a complete negotiations strategy, check out my Car Buying Course!

2024 Mazda CX90 Exterior

Before I break down the exterior, I want to talk about Mazda for a second because they are kind of falling in the same camp as the Subarus of the world. They're not the biggest mass market vehicle- they kind of stand on their own and do their own thing. That’s really clear in this

Mazda CX90 because this car is not cheap, it’s a slightly higher price point than a vehicle like the Explorer or Palisade pushing that $60,000 price point, which is bold to do for a non-luxury car.

Okay, let’s break down this exterior because I think it’s a pretty good looking vehicle for the most part. The chrome detailing on the front is super cool, but the proportions throughout this vehicle are a bit odd. The hood is very long, which may make you think it’s a bigger vehicle, but that’s not the truth.

Moving to the side, it’s very much a combination of the Tesla Model X and BMW X5. The doors are huge and almost look like minivan doors. The styling details with the chrome are gorgeous, but I can’t get past how weirdly large some of the elements are.

2024 Mazda CX90 First Row Details

I’m obsessed with the saddle brown and two-toned black on the interior. It’s giving lux. The suede materials and contrast stitching is so cool, but what does it look like at a hundred thousand miles and kids who have been inside it? I wish I could answer that, but I just don’t know.

As for the amenities, I felt like the AC could not keep up with the 103 degree heat in Missouri. This one was just touch, especially in the back seat. Also, cup holders do not fit my Stanley! Lame. Overall, I like the design, but the weird quirks are just a touch off putting.

Infotainment System

There is some awesome tech available in this car. Starting off strong, heads-up display is available which is not very common for non-luxury vehicles. Curious to know why heads-up display is such a game changer? Read my entire post with all the details here.

There’s a completely digital display along with a typical infotainment system, but it’s a little wonky. With Apple Carplay, it works great just like you’d expect, but when you take off Apple Carplay it’s no longer touch screen. Instead, there’s a twist control on the center console. Some people prefer this, but I just don’t get it. Why not give me both?

The camera (front, back, and surrounding) is really clear and crisp. I love it. There’s also a distracted driver alert. I’m not sure how they clock this, but it’s really interesting.

2024 Mazda CX90 Second Row Details

The Mazda CX90 comes in either a six or seven passenger option, depending on if you choose the bench seat of captain’s chairs. Not sure what the pros and cons are for each? Check out my post breaking down bench seating vs. captain’s chairs here.

I had the captain’s chairs option today and installed a rear-facing Clekk Liing car seat with the passenger seat set for someone 6 feet tall to sit comfortably. With all this in mind, I’m really impressed with the clearance in this car.

As far as car seat hardware is concerned, in this six passenger model I have lower anchors and tether anchors in the captain's chairs. In the third row, I have two tether anchors and one set of lower anchors.

As a passenger in the second row, the amenities are great. For the trim plus level, there are sun shades, door cup holders, and heated and ventilated seats. There’s a second row middle console that is honestly better than the first row as well. The only thing I am missing back here are ceiling vents- you need them for rear-facing car seats especially.

2024 Mazda CX90 LATCH Diagram:

2024 Mazda CX90 Third Row Details

The access to the second row is not great. There is no car seat friendly tilt, which was available in the CX9 with the bench seat option. This is extra annoying because the second row console is not removable, so kids have to go in through a sliding seat or as my littles did- through the trunk.

The good about this row- I like the two seats. As a passenger, I’m comfortable and not sitting on a buckle. I was also able to install a Graco Slim Fit 3LX really easily with the nice deep seats.

The bad thing about this row- the vents are not it. It’s on the very bottom near your feet which makes it really uncomfortable for kids in car seats.

2024 Mazda CX90 Trunk Details

Moving to the trunk, one of my favorite strollers, the single Mockingbird, does not fit. The size isn’t horrible, but you definitely need a more compact stroller if you need the third row kept up. Seats are really easy to fold down, although they’re not power it’s okay, and I appreciate having an outlet in the trunk as well.

I’m not disappointed, but you can tell they prioritized the third row over the trunk, which I’m not mad about.

2024 Mazda CX90 Premium Plus Wrap Up

Overall, I am impressed with this vehicle and think it’s a good option to test drive. I don’t like how some features in the car are awkwardly proportioned, along with my frustrations about the infotainment system. That being said, it’s a really comfortable car as both a driver and passenger that looks really great out on the road.

To see a complete walkthrough of the 2024 Mazda CX90, click here.

What do you think of the rebranded Mazda CX90? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with the latest family vehicles on the market, check out my newest tours:

Featured