Three-row SUVs can feel like they have started to look the same in recent years. Part of this is due to the sheer amout of them buyers have to choose from creating a segment that has rapidly become oversaturated with models.

Mazda has never been one to follow the crowd and has always tried to do things its own way. This has included its efforts at penetrating the three-row SUV market with the 2026 Mazda CX-90 being its lone knight in shining armor in that regard. We’ve talked about how it can hold its own with German offerings in the past but can it take on the best mainstream family haulers in the game?

CX-90 is a distinctly different SUV

An endearing quality about the Mazda CX-90 that will undoubtedly be noticed by many passersby is just how different it looks when compared to the competition. In a segment where bland, boring, and following the motions are three dubious styling pillars much of the segment follows. The CX-90 continues to be a breath of fresh air with the front end having a sporty look to it thanks to its shapely front grille, headlights, and its long flowing hood.

The wheel arches are filled nicely by large and stylish 21-inch wheels. Updates to the big SUV are minor for 2026 and Mazda focused on addressing some minor quibbles with Amazon Alexa coming along for the ride and a new Premium S Sport Trim. We wish some of those updates would’ve gone towards tweaking the rear of the utility a bit which is still the weakest element of the design and can look a bit cluttered from certain angles.

Mainstream never looked so good on the inside

Slip inside the CX-90 and you’ll certainly notice its ambitious personality with our tester pumping up the high quality materials that you get inside with plenty of soft touch surfaces and Premium models like our rig boasted Nappa Leather upholstery. The front and second-row captain’s chairs in our example had plenty of real estate for buyers to stretch out in but the third-row is still a space reserved for children, small cargo, and perhaps a grouchy relative or two. Some CX-90s do come with a second-row bench seat but move into the higher trims and the captain’s chairs are exclusive.

Buyers have 16 cubic feet of cargo room with the third row up. But fold both rows of seats down and the space expands to 40 and 75 cubic feet respectively. Our tester arrived with the bigger 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system which delivered crisp graphics and quick load times.

Controlling it is still a bit strange with the screen being managed alot of the time by the large rotary control knob. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard and these two functions allow the screen to change into a limited touch setup. Here’s hoping the CX-90 will eventually abandon this odd setup and go for a full touch unit moving forward. The screen is also joined by a large digital instrument cluster. A 12-speake Bose audio system helps pump out plenty of tunes.

Inline power for everyone

Performance for the 2026 CX-90 comes from a 3.3-liter inline-six but which tune you get depends on what flavor of CX-90 you get. In lower trims, it makes 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque while S versions like our tester make 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.

The engine is a spirited motor but with Mazda always taking pride in being a performance focused automaker, there were some very interesting contrasts going on with our particular tester. The inline-six is not that smooth and the transmission’s behavior at low speeds left alot to be desired. The engine has plenty of power for freeway driving but it can get pretty noisy in certain situations. When asked to do the sprint to 60 mph, it can do so in 6.3 seconds which is better than the Hyundai Palisade and the Toyota Grand Highlander

An eight-speed automatic is the only transmission here and its best to leave the transmission to its own shifting devices since the steering wheel mounted paddles are slow to respond and the computer does a better job with upshifts anyway. The EPA says the CX-90 (regardless of engine tune) can get 24/28 mpg in city and freeway driving. These figures are again, better than rivals but if you get too ambiious with the CX-90’s fun side, the fuel gauge will drop at a surprising speed.

Value Quotient

Pricing for the 2026 Mazda CX-90 reflects thekind of rivals that the model is looking tot ake on. The base Turbo Select starts at $39,300 before taxes and fees with the Preferred and the Premium Sport firmly in the $40,000 range. Make your way up to a S Turbo Premium Plus like our tester and you will be rewarded with a base price of $57,570. Some light options on our tester and those pesky fees helped push the price to just under $60,000.

This pricing is on par with other near luxury rivals but with some of the inconistencies you experience with the powertrain, it may make you ponder a bit on whether its worth it or not. If we had our say, we would encourage you to look at the CX-90’s safety equipment as a possible selling point versus its engine and transmission. All CX-90 models come bundled with a suite of safety features the company calls i-Activesense. Look past the clunky name, and the suite includes features such as automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and other goodies with all of them boosting the CX-90s curb appeal.