Fast Facts | 2026 Mazda CX-90 PHEV
🔋 Powertrain: Plug-in hybrid system with 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine
⚡ Output: 323 horsepower total system output
⛽ Fuel Economy: 56 MPGe combined using gasoline and electricity; 26 mpg combined after the usable electric charge is depleted (AWD)
🖥️ Infotainment: 12.3-inch touchscreen standard
🚗 Drive Feel: Unrefined motor, great handling
💰 Price Range: $52,225 to $60,230 MSRP, including delivery
Style and Handling Come With Conditions
I’ll admit to having a soft spot for Mazda. I’ve owned many a Miata and always recommend the brand to folks who need a bit of space but don’t want to compromise style and fun. After spending a week with the 2026 Mazda CX-90 PHEV, my love for the brand hasn’t diminished one bit, although I’ve realized style and fun can come at a price.
Premium Ambitions Without the Luxury Badge
The CX-90 PHEV is a three-row SUV that comes in Preferred, Premium Sport, or Premium Plus trims. There's also a gas-only version with its own set of trims, but this review focuses on the PHEV Premium Sport trim. There aren’t too many updates for 2026, but you can now get Alexa technology and a new gray paint option. Though why anyone would choose gray when Mazda’s signature Soul Red is so wonderful is beyond me. My tester came in the blinding Rhodium White Premium — this is a white that you can see from outer space. It almost hurts my eyes, it’s so bright.
Regardless, the CX-90 is a handsome thing, with 21-inch wheels, roof rails, and LED lighting all around. However, it’s the inside that takes the cake. Mazda has always been a notch above its rivals when it comes to materials and design. Consider it a bit of luxury at a mass-market price. Up to seven people can fit on leather seating with tri-zone climate control, surrounded by sleek lines and attention to detail. This cabin punches above its weight.
Plugging In Changes the Entire Experience
The CX-90 is a plug-in hybrid, meaning you can get an EPA-estimated 26 miles of all-electric range from the 17.8-kilowatt-hour battery. After that, it functions as a regular hybrid. Mazda says a Level 2 charger fills the battery in a bit over two hours, but my garage charger did it about 30 minutes quicker. You can also charge it overnight through a standard household outlet if you don’t have a Level 2 home charger.
The CX-90 delivers its best efficiency when charging becomes part of the routine, so see how Level 1 and Level 2 charging work for a plug-in hybrid ➜
When I first received the car, the battery was depleted. That doesn’t mean there were no electrons in the battery, just that there were only enough for hybrid driving. For the first half of the week, I eschewed charging and just drove the CX-90 as a hybrid, averaging 27.8 mpg combined. For the second half, I kept it charged up for short drives, let it go to hybrid on a longer drive, and even added 14 miles back into the battery while on a long downhill. I walked away with 33 mpg combined.
Both numbers are above the 26 mpg combined number quoted by the EPA, but the takeaway is that the more you keep it charged, the less time and money you’ll spend at the gas station. The PHEV's 26 miles of all-electric range is enough for around-town driving, and you’ll get better fuel economy if you make a habit of plugging it in.
A PHEV’s value depends heavily on trip length, overnight charging access, and how often the battery is replenished, so see whether a plug-in hybrid fits the way you actually drive ➜
That said, I wish the powertrain itself felt a bit more refined. It’s happiest with some extra juice in the battery, but it’s still a little rough off the line in Normal mode, with a few shudders making their way into the cabin. Sport mode helps a bit by tuning the throttle to be a bit more aggressive, but I’ve been in PHEVs with smoother power delivery.
Like most Mazdas, the CX-90 handles like a boss. Here, a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system gets the power to the pavement, and it’s much more nimble than its three rows suggest. It hustles through corners with a grace that puts other large SUVs to shame. If you need three rows but don’t want to sacrifice your sense of fun, the Mazda makes an excellent case for itself.
Seven Seats, but Not Seven Full-Size Spaces
Just because you’ve got three rows, however, don't assume there'll be plenty of room for kids and their gear. The CX-90 has about 16 cubic feet of space behind the third row, expanding to 41 and then 75 cubic feet as you fold down the third and second rows. Competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride offer more space and more comfortable third rows. Neither are plug-in hybrids, of course, but for folks who are looking for the most practicality they can get, the CX-90 falls a bit short of other three-row SUVs.
Thankfully, the climate controls are physical buttons, so there's no need to dig through the infotainment screen just to dial in your preferred temperature. Good thing, too, because Mazda’s system is a bit of a mess. The 12.3-inch screen is big enough, but the graphics feel dated, and the rotary control knob is more tedious and distracting than just tapping the screen. I often found myself digging through multiple menus to find the feature I was looking for, including the option to enable touch functionality for the standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. So, Mazda, you can make your system a touchscreen, you just don’t want to. Got it.
There are plenty of standard driver’s aids on tap here, like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. But don’t look for lane-change assist or the fancy hands-free, eyes-on highway assist systems found on some General Motors, Ford, and BMW models.
How Does It Stack Up?
The 2026 Mazda CX-90 starts at $52,225, including destination. That seems like a fine price for a well-built, stylish three-row SUV that can toddle around town using only electrons. However, the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid costs just under $48,000 with all-wheel drive and manages 29 mpg combined. Nix the all-wheel drive, and you save $2,000 and gain 2 mpg. It’s a similar story with the new Kia Telluride Hybrid: the least expensive all-wheel-drive trim is about $2,000 less than the CX-90 and returns 31 mpg combined. Front-wheel drive brings the cost down to about $48,000 and bumps efficiency up to 33 mpg combined.
My real-world experience matched or beat the Korean twins, but keep in mind, I got some free miles by traveling downhill from the high desert to the low desert. I wasn’t able to test the return trip to see what would happen to the efficiency.
However, if you're set on a three-row plug-in hybrid SUV, the CX-90 is the only thing you’ll find in this price range. It’s a blast to drive and allows for gas-free driving some of the time, but you’ll need to keep it charged to see the best results. If you can plug it in every night, then heck yeah, go for it. But if daily charging sounds a bit too onerous, there are more fuel-efficient three-row SUVs to choose from.
Families comparing electric range with passenger space, car-seat access, and cargo capacity can consider more efficient vehicles built around real household needs ➜
More Efficient Three-Row SUVs to Consider
2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid Review
The Rogue PHEV offers three rows, standard all-wheel drive, and 38 miles of electric range at a lower starting price, though its third row is considerably tighter.
Read More ➜
2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Review
The Palisade gives up gas-free commuting but counters with more passenger space, a smoother hybrid system, and up to 34 mpg combined.
Read More ➜
2026 Lexus TX 550h+ PHEV Review
The Lexus provides a roomier and more refined three-row plug-in experience, along with stronger towing capability, at a significantly higher price.
Read More ➜
