A pinch of class, a dash of style and a whole lot of drivability. That’s the short version of what it’s like to spend time behind the wheel of the 2026 Mazda CX-90 Turbo Premium Plus.
Let’s be honest: three-row SUVs are not, as a category, known for getting the blood moving. They exist to haul groceries and school carpools and occasionally a very grumpy golden retriever, and most of them lean into their utilitarian destiny with all the personality of a rental shuttle. Mazda has other ideas.
From the outside, the CX-90 is a genuinely handsome machine. Mazda calls its design philosophy “Kodo” — the soul of motion — and the CX-90 wears it well. The long hood stretches out ahead of you in a way that feels almost European, and the clean, sculpted flanks avoid the busy, cluttered look that afflicts so many American crossovers. It looks expensive without screaming for attention.
Inside, the Premium Plus trim earns its name. Quilted Nappa leather seats, suede trim panels, a panoramic moonroof — this is the kind of interior that makes you pause before closing the door. The 12-speaker Bose audio system fills the cabin with music, not noise, and the 12.3-inch center display handles wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without any fussing with cables. A fully digital gauge cluster replaces the traditional instrument pod, giving the whole dash a clean, purposeful look. Heated second-row seats mean rear passengers aren’t an afterthought. The 360-degree camera and hands-free power liftgate round out the convenience package, and all of it feels genuinely premium — not “premium for a family SUV,” but premium, full stop.
The 280-horsepower turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six — this is the non-S version, which runs on regular unleaded — sends power through an eight-speed automatic and out to all four wheels via AWD. There’s mild-hybrid assist working quietly in the background, smoothing out the low-end torque and shaving a bit off the fuel bill. On the highway, the CX-90 is composed and authoritative. The steering has real weight to it, the kind that makes you feel planted and confident rather than like you’re piloting a shopping cart. For a vehicle pushing nearly 5,000 pounds, it corners with genuine nimbleness — it’s the kind of SUV that will surprise you, and pleasantly so.
And about that fuel economy: 25 mpg combined, 23 city and 28 highway. For a three-row, all-wheel-drive SUV in this class, that is not a number you expect to see. The mild-hybrid system deserves some credit there, and in real-world highway driving you can comfortably beat the EPA estimate on a long trip.
Now, the one note of discord. The third row is tight. This is not an SUV designed to comfortably carry full-grown adults in the back seats; it really should be reserved for kids or smaller adults in a pinch. There’s also only about 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind it, which means you’ll be making choices about luggage on longer trips. None of this is unusual for the class, and it won’t be a deal-breaker for most buyers, but it’s worth knowing before you drive home from the dealer.
If your family needs three rows but you absolutely refuse to feel like you’re piloting a minivan, the CX-90 Premium Plus makes a very strong case for itself. It’s a people mover, sure. But rarely has moving people felt this good.
