2024 Mazda CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid Consumer Reviews
Pricing
PHEV Preferred - $51,400 MSRP
Edmunds suggests you pay
$47,453Prices based on sales in OH thru 8/11/25
Final assembly in Japan
After a exhaustive search I found my car.
Jack Handy, 12/18/2023
2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I test drove many 2 and 3 row SUVS and just loved the CX90. It is quick, comfortable, and very good looking. The fit and finish is stellar, lots of soft surfaces the interior has a high class feel. The infotainment system has lots of features but is not intuitive to set up. I hope with daily use it will become easier. Mazda hit a home run.
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CX-90 PHEV - Good start, but Mazda omits stuff
Dash Riprock, 12/21/2023
2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
12 of 15 people found this review helpful
I traded out of a 2021 CX-5 to begin tiptoeing into electrification (and a larger vehicle). The 2024 CX-90 PHEV looked really good, so I grabbed a Premium Plus about 2 months ago. The vehicle itself is quintessential Mazda. It's definitely a driver's vehicle with its rear-drive bias, taut suspension and driveability, interior and exterior attention to quality and beautiful build quality. The 30-mile electric range works well for me 95% of the time, and the ICE engine means no range anxiety. I have no patience for a forced 30-45 minute break on long trips to recharge a full EV would impose so this is a great alternative. The transition from EV to ICE is transparent once you exceed its EV-only range. One (or a few) nit(s): Mazda had the chance to make the Premium Plus PHEV its flagship, but left out some things I like: Adaptive headlights (had them in the CX-5 and loved them), auto-lowering rear-view mirrors when backing up, and iStop cancellation. None of these are show-stoppers for me, but Mazda, add them! Driving experience is wonderful, be it highway cruising, backroads carving, or ordinary-day driving. One issue I've had (but dealer is working) is an error message at the end of a long trip that told me there was a fuel malfunction, that locked me out of refilling my gas tank. This error has not recurred and my dealer is working with Mazda to investigate. I'm comfortable with first-year problems being the source. Overall, I am very happy with with my purchase. Mazda's CX-90 is a great flagship model and the PHEV is a great variant to consider!
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2024 Mazda CX-90 for sale near you
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- 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus 4dr SUVMSRP: $39,22416 mi away
- PHEV Preferred Plug-In Hybrid 4dr SUVMSRP: $36,24116 mi away
- PHEV Preferred Plug-In Hybrid 4dr SUVMSRP: $35,4942 mi away
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Not for families drives like an 85 beetle & fails
Responsible Dad , 02/15/2025
2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
12 of 15 people found this review helpful
I was a Mazda fan for years, having owned multiple models, including the CX-5 and CX-9. Most recently, I had the CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus for 1.5 years. Initially, I was thrilled—the styling, luxurious interior, and the promise of PHEV efficiency made me feel like I had made a great choice. But over time, the cracks started to show—this vehicle is a case study in engineering misplaced priorities. Mazda Focused on Everything Families Don’t Need If you’re buying a three-row SUV for family use, ask yourself this: Do your passengers care about a double-wishbone suspension? Do they care that you’re “one with the car” while driving? Or do they care about comfort, space, reliability, and ease of ownership? Mazda prioritized “driving dynamics” over what actually matters to families, and in the end, they failed to deliver an SUV that works for real life. Safety is excellent (the only positive). Crash test ratings are strong, and that’s the only area where this SUV shines. Everything Else is a Problem: Cramped Third Row & Tight Cargo Space – Families need room for kids, luggage, and gear. The CX-90 fails miserably in providing functional space. Hard, Uncomfortable Seats for Long Trips – The seat cushions feel like stiff foam, making long trips a painful experience. Rough Ride & Heavy Steering – Instead of a smooth, family-friendly ride, Mazda created a stiff, jittery, uncomfortable drive that feels like a 1985 Volkswagen Beetle. An SUV That You Serve—Instead of It Serving You Mazda designed this vehicle like a high-maintenance luxury item rather than a functional SUV. The PHEV System Isn’t Worth It You must charge it daily for minimal fuel savings (at best, I saved about $1 per day on a 30-mile commute). If you don’t charge it, the fuel economy isn’t great—you’re carrying a heavy battery for no real benefit. Winter shrinks EV range to 17 miles, making the plug-in system even less useful. The electric motor sounds like a toy RC car—this SUV doesn’t feel refined or premium. Tires Wear Out Too Fast Due to the extra weight from the battery, tires wear faster than usual. You’ll be replacing tires sooner than expected, wiping out any fuel savings. Mazda’s Dealer Network is Limited Nearest Mazda service centers are often an hour away—that’s a problem if you need repairs. Most parts come from Japan, meaning longer wait times for replacements. Even under warranty, you’ll waste time and money traveling for service. 10 Recalls in 1.5 Years—and Counting My CX-90 never failed on me, but it had 10 recalls in just 18 months. Software updates will continue—because that’s how software works. Power loss while driving was a real issue (recall issued, but more could come). Driving Experience: The Worst of Both Worlds Mazda wanted to blend sportiness with family practicality, but instead, they failed at both. Drives Like a 1985 Volkswagen Beetle – You feel every bump, crack, and imperfection in the road. The suspension is stiff, the ride is harsh, and the steering is heavier than it should be. Cruise Control is Jumpy – Lower gears feel jerky and unrefined, like a manual transmission driven by a beginner. Not Fun, Not Comfortable – If you want a sporty drive, this isn't it. If you want a family SUV, this isn’t it either. Hidden Costs: What Mazda Won’t Tell You EV & PHEV Registration Fees – In some states, PHEVs have extra registration fees to offset lost gas tax revenue. Higher Electricity Costs = No Real Savings – At $2.50/gal gas, the savings are nearly wiped out. Insurance & Repairs Will Be Expensive – This is a low-production vehicle with imported parts. If you plan to keep it long-term, expect repair costs to be high. Final Verdict: Don’t Waste Your Hard-Earned Money on This Gimmick If you’re looking for a reliable family SUV, look elsewhere. Yes, it’s safe. Yes, it looks nice. But it’s unreliable. It’s cramped. It’s uncomfortable. It prioritizes engineering gimmicks over real-world usability. This vehicle is Mazda’s attempt at proving they can build an over-engineered SUV—but they forgot about the people actually buying it. Don’t waste your time and money. There are better SUVs out there that actually serve families, not just look good in marketing materials. Whatever you do, if you have a family, DO NOT buy the CX-90 on either versions
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Fun and Efficient
MazdaZoomZoom, 04/14/2024
2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
First of all, this vehicle is not going to be a minivan replacement like some mid-size SUVs. If you want that you are better off looking at a Pilot or a Highlander whose main purpose is move lots of people and stuff in comfort. Mazda prioritizes driving performance and interior and exterior design, and like most Mazdas the CX-90 PHEV excels in those areas. I am loving the plug in feature. I am averaging 33 miles of pure electric driving per charge, well above the advertised 26. Of course, that will depend on weather. We live in a relatively warm part of the country, so that helps. After 4,000 miles and 3 months I have not had a single issue with this vehicle, but it is a brand new model, so we shall see. Overall, the build quality is impressive, the materials are a step above what you will with competitors, and it maintains a fun to drive character even in a larger vehicle. Very pleased.
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Good car, great deal
Howard Summers, 02/07/2024
2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Preferred 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
We got the PHEV, and I'm happy with the all-electric range. Most days we don't use any gas - only electric. I think that will save us aroun $100/month (less gas cost, more electricity cost). Power with the electric motors is functional, as is the gas mode with electic assist. There is a sport mode that is noticeably more peppy (more aggressive electric power). I feel like the interior is nicer than most Toyota/Hondas we've owned. Handling is surprisingly good for how much the car weighs, and I was pleasantly surprise by the 3rd row space. It's not as much room as a minivan, but more than I expected. I really like the styling of all Mazdas right now. I really like the lane-keep-assist feature. I haven't driven one that I liked until this one. It just feels like I'm being nudged in the right direction to stay off the lines. The Honda one feels like you are being pulled along the contour of the line (and it won't let you pull away from the line, which is disconcerting). A previous Mazda one just rumbles like I'm hitting the shoulder's rumble pattern. The Chrysler minivan was less annoying than the Honda's, but not as consistently functional. This one is more functional than any of thos options, and MUCH less annoying. Sound on the non-Bose speakers was surprisingly good. You could certainly upgrade if you want, but you don't need to unless your pretty picky. The interface between the phone/car is improved over previous Mazdas (which are pretty bad). I usually don't do leases, but with the $7500 off, plus $500 Mazda Loyalty and $1500 off sticker, it ended up being a really good deal. I did a 2 year and a 5 year comparison on costs (2 year leas then purchase after) compared to buying a use Honda Odyssey. We actually come out even in 2 years and ahead (more equity even with an ongoing payment) with the Mazda lease then purchase option. We did a single-pay lease, which gives a lower Money Factor - equivalent to 5% interest. That's better than rates at the credit union right now. (Did you know that the money factor is charged on the entire residual for the duration of the lease?) The Mazda people don't know how to do a single-pay lease though, so we had to wait for 2 hours for them to figure out the process. My only disappointment is the in-town hyrid gas mileage. I haven't done an experiment to see what real numbers we're getting on the around-town gas hybrid, but if it really is 24, that's not great for an in-town hybrid. Comparing to other similarly sied vehicles, it seems like it should be closer to 30-35. I guess we'll see.