Every fleet has a flagship. The term’s history is easy enough to understand — typically the largest, most powerful, most advanced ship of a fleet, the flagship is where the commanding officer of a group of ships does their work.
Automakers’ fleets have flagships, too. Every automaker builds one model to show off. It showcases their latest technologies, their best designs, and their most capable powertrains.
Mazda’s fleet has a new flag-bearer, and it features an entirely new powertrain. The 2024 Mazda CX-90 is the first Mazda to offer a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option.
An EV in Town, a Gas Car for Road Trips
Like traditional hybrids, a PHEV has both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Traditional hybrids can use their electric motor to get up to a certain speed, then use gasoline to go faster. PHEVs, however, can get all the way to highway speed and past it on electric power alone.
Instead, they travel a certain distance under electric power, then use their gasoline engine to go further. They can charge from a standard wall outlet and burn gasoline only when their batteries run low.
Mazda hasn’t revealed how far the CX-90 can travel on electric power alone. We’ve seen PHEVs with all-electric ranges as short as 17 miles (the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid) and as long as 42 miles (the Toyota RAV4 Prime). Mazda says the CX-90 PHEV is tuned for performance, so it may offer a little too much acceleration to sit at the high end of that range. But we expect it to land squarely within typical measures.
Most Americans drive less than 30 miles a day. That allows most owners to treat a PHEV as an electric vehicle (EV) for their daily commute and errands, yet enables them to take road trips without worrying about charging stations.
What We Know About the CX-90 PHEV
The 2024 CX-90 PHEV uses a system Mazda calls its e-Skyactiv PHEV powertrain.
It mates an electric motor to a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine. Combined, the two are good for 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque when using the recommended premium fuel.
Its engine can also work with its electric motor and 17.8 kWh high-capacity battery. Tapping both power sources simultaneously should give it quicker acceleration on demand, as when passing on the highway.
Three Trim Levels
As Mazda’s new flagship, the CX-90 is meant to showcase the best of Mazda design. Accordingly, it’s an attractive design with a real presence. It shares obvious genes with other Mazda designs but looks a step up, with luxury car details like chrome badges behind the front fenders identifying the powertrain inside. Inside, the prominent stitching borrowed from traditional Japanese bookbinding lends it a sophisticated look.
All CX-90 PHEV models get both Sport and Off-Road Modes, as well as an electric-only EV mode.
Mazda will offer gas-powered CX-90s in a base trim level called Select. They’ve skipped the base level for the PHEV model, instead offering three trim levels:
CX-90 PHEV Preferred — $47,445
The CX-90 PHEV Preferred will be offered with 8-passenger seating, including a second-row bench seat, or 7-passenger seating with available second-row captain’s chairs.
The Preferred model comes with leather upholstery in colors black or what Mazda calls “greige,” heated front seats, and a power sunroof. In front of the driver sits a digital 12.3-inch color instrument panel display, as well as a 10.25-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
CX-90 PHEV Premium — $52,900
The CX-90 PHEV Premium adds a towing mode. A 1,500-watt charging outlet located in the cargo area can power or charge appliances and equipment.
The Premium offers standard 7-passenger seating with second-row captain’s chairs. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless at this price level. A Bose 12-speaker premium audio system appears.
The Premium model rides on 21-inch machine-cut finish alloy wheels and gets a larger, panoramic sunroof, and a hands-free power liftgate.
CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus — $56,950
The top-of-the-line CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus gets a larger 12.3-inch center display. It uses softer Nappa leather upholstery available in black or white and adds niceties like heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Second-row passengers get heated seats as well.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Mazda CX-90 models for sale near you.
