2024 Mazda CX-90 | Talking Cars with Consumer Reports #417

As long as Ive been driving, if you don't put the car in park it wont be in park.

Want to like it but on the road it looks like a humpback whale.

VERY insightful table discussion which is why I've been a CR subscriber/user for over 40 years. I expect and want details that your testers/raters provide. As for the Mazda CX90, I am interested in purchasing one in the next year or two (I already own and will keep a 2021 CX5----my third) moving from a Honda Pilot. However, Mazda made a huge mistake on the shifter design expecting us (older) customers to just get used to it. If the 2025 shifter isn't improved, I'll stick with Honda.

Mazda is now widely considered the third most reliable brand after Toyota and Honda. I think they can justify marketing some of the higher end vehicles. If they're going to last a long time, they might as well also be luxurious.

Oh my Saab.

Every ounce of engeneering???😅😅😅 I had 6 recalls and it’s been 12 days in dealer within 3000miles, many issues not fixable

Cx90 is awesome❤❤❤❤❤

I really hope people not to talk over each other and have the patience to let others finish.

Mazda is the Asian BMW…except with reliability and value.

wow, griping that the transmission doesn't automatically shift into park?? We're dumb, but we're not that dumb--even in a rental car. I can't remember what brand rental car it was but to engage cruise required pushing a button on the dash. Oh my! It took 3 seconds to figure it out! Consumer Repots is great but this is getting pretty damn picky.

The market has changed quite a bit since this was made, I think. I was able to lease a CX-90 PHEV last week for S-Plan price, plus the $7,500 lease cash incentive, and I was able to negotiate an excellent money factor for the lease too. I basically got a $60k car for $50k. I love the car and can't complain.

Here we go again, reviwers pretending actual adults sit in 3rd rows.

I find the shifter a very good fearure and easy to use and easy to learn its the same on Lexus NX I beleive and much better than a push button MDX

Boring

Acura MDX for me

Funny to hear that Mazda is making the gears too short because that 6 speed they've been using has some big and tall gears

No point in having a real shifter when coupled to an electronic box. Buttons work really well, like what Honda does. The shift is there to satisfy old habits associated to old technology, but it is just silly… I have to say CR has been a big critic of buttons, but why? It’s silly to create a placebo device to simulate old tech.

If the dummies keep paying over sticker price these greedy people will keep charging over sticker price. What's so hard to understand about that I don't get it

The cars sounds right up my alley but the thing that concerns me is the engine compartment and the lay-out. I heard that the bay is small and the engine is shoehorned into it. The other thing i heard was that the timing belt is in the rear of the engine and the engine has to be pulled out to service it. It sounds like it would be a mechanics, or owners, nightmare. Anyone heard that?

Toyota currently owns about 25% of Mazda.

Mazda is to Japan as what Saab was to Sweden.

There won't be a shortage of batteries, The Canadian Government has given both Volkswagen and
Stellantis 10's of billions of dollars to build plants to manufacturer batteries while EV cats sales
are plummeting. They'll be out of business before their completed.

My CX-90 PHEV arrives in about 5 weeks, and I can't wait . . .

I own a Subaru Ascent and I absolutely love the car….but….The one thing holding me back from buying a new Subaru is the lack of a hybrid option. So now I’m looking at Mazda cx-90 phev or Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid.

Keith, give them a break! Mazda is a quality car company. Perhaps you should set aside your bias and look into the engineering behind this vehicle. My 2015 Mazda CX5 has over 200K and running perfectly. I also have a Lexus IS which has been in the shop for a water pump and other issues, and it has under 60K miles. So, come on dude, give them a break! Mercedes does not have an up-market brand either and YES; Mazda can compete anytime. I have owned German vehicles, and they require a lot of love and care. You never mention the cost of repairs. It is ridiculous. I do not like this report.

Love the work you guys do at CR, great podcast on the CX 90. i'll migrating from an X5 to a cx90 as i was so impressed by my test drive

Shifter ok for a man but a woman. Took my wife to look and salesman told her to jump in the driver's seat while I was on the other side to show her the backup camera then she pushed it back into reverse let the brake off and the salesman like to got run over. Hilarious a couple of those could teach someone if they don't hit something first while learning. They should have put the buttons there like Hyundai.

I did not hear them mention the fact that the Inline 6 engine has the cam chain in the rear of the engine. If this cam chain needs to be replaced/repaired, the entire engine needs to be removed. Huge task that can cost $3000+.

Can you give us a comment on " why the CX90 does not have a rear anti sway bar"?

I’m enjoying your discussion on how you go through the process, as you words, reports, and reviews can affect the sales of a car or product. I’ve used your reviews to purchase cars and other products over the years, so I truly appreciate the efforts you are putting in here. One question I have for you is how much of our feedback on a platform like this would you say realistically gets addressed by the manufacturer such as to Mazda in this case? And do those same manufacturers then send you acknowledgements that a particular concern or review will be addressed or noted that you can report back to us viewers? Thanks again.

How wide is the 2nd row bench seat? I have 2 kids that use booster seats and a MIL that need to fit comfortably in the 2nd row. Is Mazda the right choice?

I would agree that the lower level CX-90 interiors feels cheap - especially the black, The higher end stuff is much nicer and actually feels premium. But, I would also argue that the SX level (non prestige) Telluride interior is cheap feeling as well.

It would have been ssooo much better if Mazda just would have given the CX-90 just a regular good old traditional shifter.. This works MUCH better and everyone already knows how to use it.. and it works just fine.

If you're going to buy an EV dont do it if you live in a place that floods a lot like the gulf coast. Once that water gets into those batteries those things become 🔥 TRAPS! And once the 🔥 starts it takes thousands of gallons to extinguish it...far more gallons than it takes to put out an ICE car. Thats why they advise NOT to park them inside your garage. Theyll go up and take your house with it.

💯 Promo sm

Fit and finish not up to par Keith? I’ve looked them over and sat in a couple, and they are beautiful and seem perfect. I’ve also seen a few videos where they say fit and finish is top notch and probably better than luxury brand Japanese brands.

Very weak review. I expected to hear more about technical things like transmission and engine.

"Mazda is really just going it alone here"..... no they aren't they have a shared factory with Toyota in the states.... how is that going it alone?

Good thing they put the letters (P, R, N, D) on the shifter so anyone that can read can figure it out easily. If you can't read, then maybe you shouldn't be driving.

I agree. Giving rich people tax credits probably is not the best use of money on an untested and unproven product.

First, the transmission shifting glitches can/will be cured with future software updates. Secondly, it’s worth pointing out that the CX90 is 100% made in Hofu Japan. None of the other models mentioned here are made in Japan. Lastly, the core attributes of the CX90, (rear wheel biased, AWD, inline six, true plug in model, etc) are not found in the models it competes against.

Whole the talk about EVs and not mentioning about the world largest EV manufacturer Tesla in that context. They have amazing prices for the best selling EVs for their segments, Model 3/Y. For example, I am in MA too and a new Model 3 was $38k before any incentives. Add $7500 federal tax credit and $3500 state incentive, it was a $27k EV.

Lets be clear, you go to a Toyota dealer and you cannot get a base Corolla LE for 25k…

It is such a shame to see that CR loses credibility when it comes to Tesla. I mean you have to be intentional about not mentioning them. Just drive around Boston and suburbs, it is unbelievable how much Tesla there are on the road. Even UBER drivers, whenever I call UBER a model 3 comes….

It is like the new prius over here.

And about the manufacturing of EVs. Tesla did the homework, they have built the factories and superchargers and now the whole auto sector is trying to follow their lead.

Mazda renting out its vehicles?? Or leasing?

I will get a Mazda! I’m waiting on a impressive mpg with hybrid option. Right now, 23 city ain’t cutting it. Mazda is promising, so I’ll wait!

I could see it coming that someone on this panel was going to complain about the lack of a touch screen. The automotive press is constantly clueless on this issue with Mazda. Sure, I guess maybe some people prefer a touch screen, but as far as I'm concerned the fact that Mazda is focused on the control dial instead is WONDERFUL!! It is super easy to operate by feel alone, which is great while driving, and you don't get a bunch of ugly smudge marks all over your screen that you have to constantly clean. Please Mazda, keep the control wheel and don't give in to the pressure of a touch screen!

I can see "I don't like guy" again preaching how nice Hyundai/Kia is representing his payee interests really well 😂🤣
Sorry but some diet will make you fit better in Miata or CX90 too, seats are designed for average folks ... My 6'1" 215lbs fits perfectly comfortable but at the same time I slide around in most American brands
8 seats complains are a joke , 4 adults and 4 small kids maybe ... 6 are fine , 7 squeeze and that is perfectly ok .
Shifter, no problem what so ever.
Sportier ride on 21s , just drop 2 psi to 31psi and it will be lot sorter or get 19 inch version .

The estimate of 8 weeks delay after testing to the actual road report is optimistic in some cases. The BMW X1 report took six months.

I've seen huge number of road tests over the years. I don't remember any where "dummy weight" (mass to be exact) was used to simulate the passenger plus "cargo" in the rear of the vehicle. This is not a realistic testing. Reason for this comment: "you don't need the 340."