Eric's Autos: 2025 Mazda CX-90

It's not easy to pick a crossover from among all the other crossovers because so many of them are more or less the same.

One that's different in a big way is the Mazda CX-90 -- because it comes standard with an inline six-cylinder engine. This bucks two trends. The first is the one that's been trending toward the replacement of six-cylinder engines with four-cylinder engines.

The other is that inline sixes are generally found under the hood of luxury-brand (and luxury-priced) crossovers, such as those made by BMW.

What It Is

The CX-90 is a full-size crossover with three rows of seats and room for seven or eight passengers, depending on the configuration -- but that isn't what makes it unusual. There are a plethora of full-size crossovers that come with three rows of seats, among them the Volkswagen Atlas -- one of the Mazda's main rivals in the class.

What makes the Mazda a standout in the class is that it comes standard with a six-cylinder engine; the Atlas used to come standard with a six but now comes only with a turbo four.

And the Mazda's six isn't just a six.

It is an inline six rather than a V6.

The distinction being not just the way the cylinders are arranged but also that inline sixes are usually available only in much more expensive luxury-brand crossovers like the BMW X6, which stickers for $74,500 to start. The Mazda -- which comes standard with an inline six that's bigger than the BMW's -- stickers for $37,845 to start.

The CX-90 is also available with a four-cylinder engine -- paired up with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that can go about 26 miles on a fully charged battery, which you can charge up overnight at home via a standard 120V wall outlet. This version of the CX-90 stickers for $49,945.

A top-of-the-line CX-90 Premium Plus with the plug-in hybrid drivetrain stickers for $57,950.

What's New for 2025

The main change for the new model year is the addition of the Turbo Premium Sport trim, which comes standard with a digital/configurable instrument panel and integrated navigation system, along with a panorama sunroof, 21-inch wheels, a heads-up display, LED headlights and a Bose premium sound system, plus some trim upgrades.

What's Good

-- Standard inline six bucks the trend toward standard turbo fours.

-- Costs less than rivals like the VW Atlas that comes only with a turbo four.

-- Luxury look/feel -- without the luxury MSRP.

What's Not So Good

-- Not as practical as the slightly larger -- and significantly roomier -- VW Atlas.

-- MSRP of the Turbo S -- which has the stronger version of the 3.3-liter six -- is $52,950 (a more than $10,000 price bump to get that stronger six).

-- Seating capacity of Turbo S models with the stronger version of the 3.3-liter six goes down to seven -- or six -- depending on the trim.

Under the Hood

When even Lexus and Audi crossovers no longer come standard with six-cylinder engines, it is happy news to discover a Mazda crossover that does.

The CX-90's 3.3-liter inline six is available in two different versions. The standard version makes 280 horsepower and 332 foot-pounds of torque. The higher-output iteration that comes standard in Turbo S models makes 340 horsepower and 369 foot-pounds of torque. Both versions of the six are turbocharged and augmented by a mild hybrid system that consists of a 48-volt electric system and a high-torque starting system designed to allow the engine to be shut off while the accessories are still powered and automatically turned back on extremely quickly and quietly when its power (to propel the vehicle) is needed.

Both versions of the six tout roughly the same gas mileage numbers: 24 mpg city, 28 mpg highway for the 280-horsepower six, and 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway for the 340-horsepower version. Both also tout better gas mileage than the much smaller -- and less powerful -- 2.0-liter turbocharged four that comes standard in the VW Atlas, which only manages 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and tops out at just 269 horsepower.

On the Road

Crossovers are vehicles you buy because you need one more so than because you want one. People buy Miatas because they want one -- even if they don't need one. No one needs a Miata. Just as no one needs a New York strip steak. Hamburger has just as much protein, and you can feed more people for less.

That is why people buy crossovers. They have kids to haul. That's a need more so than a want.

The CX-90 fulfills needs as well as wants. It is inarguably the most fun-to-drive large crossover you can buy for less than $40,000 because it is the only large crossover you can buy for less than $40,000 that has that sweet six. Which gets even sweeter if you can swing the price of the Turbo S.

It's not a Miata, of course.

But it is a crossover for the person who wants a Miata but needs to have a crossover.

At the Curb

The CX-90 is probably the most stylish model in the class; it has a longer hood relative to its passenger cabin that emulates the lines of a sport sedan more so than the usual boxy/egg shape of the typical crossover. On the downside, the CX-90 is somewhat less practical than others in the class that have more room inside like the Atlas.

Specifically, more room behind their third row -- and with their second and third rows folded.

The Mazda has 15.9 cubic feet of space behind its third row -- versus 20.6 cubic feet for the Atlas. With its second and third rows down, the CX-90 has 75.2 cubic feet of total cargo capacity versus 96.6 cubic feet for the Atlas, which is almost exactly the same overall size (200.7 inches long versus 200.8 inches for the Mazda).

But all of this is kind of the point -- in that the Mazda is meant to be an alternative to the boring usual. It has more personality -- and looks to go with it -- than the others. But it is still practical enough to be an alternative to the others.

The Rest

One small gripe that can be leveled at this otherwise very attractive and very appealing luxury-sport (in all but badge) crossover is that it does not come with the older-style rectangular charger power points; it only has the new-style rounded ones. That's fine if you have a new iPhone, but it's a minor hassle if you have an older phone with the rectangular plug.

The Bottom Line

The complaint that crossovers are so much the same that they're as interesting as one bottled water versus another is valid.

Here's one that's not.

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Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.