Mazda's brand-new CX-90 SUV arriving in 2023
Wednesday, 1 February 2023
Mazda has revealed its new large SUV, badged CX-90, and it’ll be coming to New Zealand.
The CX-90, like the smaller CX-60, is based on Mazda’s new Large Product Group architecture. Being the biggest of the new SUV family, it offers a wide body and three-row seating along with a degree of electrification.
In terms of size, the CX-90 gets a longer wheelbase than the 60 for better passenger room and that third-row of seats, while the cabin is quite upmarket with plenty of leather, wood and chrome. There’s a digital screen behind the steering wheel, a head-up display, wireless phone charging, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen on the dash with an array of physical controls for things like seat heaters and air-conditioning. Mazda will also give you third-row air-con, if you tick the right box.
From the outside, the CX-90 has a long bonnet, a cab-rearward design with an almost oversized rear-end, and wheels up to 21-inches in diameter. A varying amount of chrome is present too, depending on what spec you choose.
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We will also be getting the new six-cylinder engines seen on the CX-60. The only engine confirmed so far is a 3.3-litre petrol engine paired with Mazda’s 48V mild hybrid system. A diesel option is possible, considering the CX-60 gets one. At the moment, it seems the CX-90 is an all-wheel drive-only affair.
Power hits a high of 254kW and 500Nm with the petrol engine, thanks in part ot a small electric motor between the engine and the transmission grunty enough to move the CX-90 at low speeds on its own.
A plug-in hybrid model will also feature, which combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce a healthy 241kW/500Nm sent to all four wheels.
Both powertrains are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Mazda says that the new transmission and additional electrification in the CX-90 improves both smoothness and efficiency, but fuel consumption figures aren’t yet available.
Mazda’s i-Activsense safety suite will be included, with systems like active cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring included as standard equipment.
Improving handling is Mazda’s new Kinematic Posture Control, a feature first seen on the MX-5 GT, which can recognise speed differences in the rear wheels while cornering and apply a small amount of brake on the inner wheel. According to Mazda, this prevents rear-end lift, stabilising the car during hard cornering and on rough roads.
Local specifications and pricing are yet to be confirmed but a New Zealand launch sometime in 2023 is expected, following the CX-60.