2025 MAZDA CX-90 PHEV

Mazda launched the CX-90 lineup last year and uses it to go down a different road from its traditional driver-focused vehicles. It gives a few luxury marques a run for their money, especially the more affordable badges like Infiniti and Acura. Mazda does this not only with quality cabin materials and plentiful tech, it also dresses the CX-90 in style.

To accompany all this, the CX-90 PHEV brings power without the fuel economy penalty. Those initials mean “plug-in hybrid electric vehicle,” which signifies that it’s a hybrid with both an electric motor and a gasoline-fed combustion engine, while the plug-in part points to a large battery that can propel this midsize SUV without burning a drop of gas. In the case of the CX-90 PHEV, the electric-only range is 26 miles. That’s useful for weekday commutes and errand-running. Yet the CX-90 PHEV also has plenty of combined power — as well as space, comfort, and top safety scores — to make road trips enjoyable instead of just endurable.

The regular, non-plug-in 2025 Mazda CX-90 SUV is reviewed separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of of PHEV SUVs, including the Mazda CX-90 PHEV.

Premium Sport is an upgrade of last year’s mid-range Premium trim, distinguished mainly by black exterior details. All CX-90 PHEV variants gain a 12.3-inch infotainment display, wireless phone integration, wireless phone charging, and parking sensors at both ends.

All three trims sell in similar numbers. Since the Preferred trim begins with a decent amount of equipment, we recommend looking at that, going higher if the budget allows. If three rows aren’t necessary, but the idea of a Mazda PHEV SUV still appeals, there’s always the 2-row Mazda CX-70 PHEV which is new for 2025.

Other 3-row SUVs with plug-in hybrid drivetrains include the Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Both are priced below the CX-90 PHEV — the Kia is a tad smaller, the Mitsubishi is much smaller.

Before buying a new CX-90 PHEV SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. We expect resale values to be at least average for the class. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The CX-90 PHEV makes a total of 323 horsepower, a great amount of muscle for a midsize SUV, beating the Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid’s still-respectable 261 horsepower. And all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard.

We’ve found the CX-90’s overall ride skews somewhat to the firm side, while the cornering abilities are reassuringly predictable — thanks to Mazda’s Kinematic Posture Control. This handling aid applies the brakes to an inside rear wheel during cornering, reducing body roll while optimizing stability. We think Mazda could have taken the CX-90’s handling abilities even further with quicker steering and a bit more playfulness to the chassis, but those aren’t typical requirements among midsize SUVs.

Our editors agree the CX-90 PHEV has plenty of power, but some would like the transitions between the electric and gasoline power sources to be a bit more refined.

Fuel Economy

Factor in the 26 miles covered on battery power alone, and the CX-90 PHEV is rated at 56 MPGe in combined city/highway driving. Operating as a regular hybrid, it achieves 25 mpg combined. For reference, the Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid runs to 79 MPGe or 34 mpg combined, and has a 32-mile electric-only range.

Mazda recommends premium gasoline for the CX-90 PHEV’s combustion engine to produce its peak output.

If we had to describe the CX-90 PHEV’s cabin in one word, we would probably go for “gorgeous.” We think some contemporary cabins can look a bit bleak when the designers give them a large touchscreen and then strip away as many buttons as possible in pursuit of tidiness. To our eyes, the CX-90 PHEV’s interior still looks tidy in an upscale way, and Mazda retains a useful amount of switchgear while using high-quality materials.

There’s seating for up to eight in the entry-level trim, with the option of a pair of captain’s chairs for the second row. The new-for-2025 Premium Sport accommodates seven with a 50/50 split-folding second-row bench. The captain’s chairs become standard in the top Premium Plus model.

The regular second-row seats can slide and recline, while offering up 39.4 inches of legroom. The third row has 30.4 inches. For comparison, the Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid enjoys 40.3 and 29.6 inches, respectively. It’s not especially roomy in the CX-90 PHEV’s rearmost seats, but smaller family members should still find them comfortable and supportive.

Depending on how many seats are folded, cargo space in the CX-90 PHEV goes from 14.9 cubic feet to 74.2. That’s only a negligible difference compared with the non-PHEV CX-90, and competitive against the Sorento PHEV.

Every new CX-90 PHEV has a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The infotainment system itself is arranged smartly, and is controlled primarily by a knob on the center console. We’ve found it fairly easy to operate and get used to. However, many people expect the main screen to be a full-time touchscreen like their phones. The CX-90 PHEV’s display functions as a touchscreen only with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In this sense, Mazda is going against most people’s expectations.

We like the Mazda CX-90 PHEV’s elegant body surfaces and its upscale proportions that include a long hood. It might seem odd that we wax so lyrical over a midsize SUV, but that’s Mazda styling for you. It’s an approach that definitely fits into the luxury vehicle bracket. Take away the badges and someone could easily think the CX-90 SUV was made by a company like Jaguar or Genesis.

Mazda also has a way with the color red. A few years ago, it created Soul Red Crystal Metallic (available with the CX-90 PHEV). All those people who say they don’t like red cars could probably get on board with that hue. The company’s latest crimson creation is a deeper and richer Artisan Red.

For an idea of size, the CX-90 PHEV is longer than the Honda Pilot by about an inch.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Cable-free phone integration is standard in the 2025 CX-90 plug-in hybrid. We love the convenience.

Digital driver information display
Every new CX-90 plug-in hybrid SUV has a configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, adding to the luxury/tech feel of the cabin.

Powered tailgate
Another standard feature that we’re always happy to see in SUVs. This one includes programmable heights, while hands-free operation comes in the two higher trims.

Mazda Connect
This standard array includes voice control for the infotainment system, Pandora integration, and automatic emergency notifications.

Head-up display
Standard in the second trim (Premium Sport), projecting vital information on the windshield directly ahead of the driver.

Heated second-row seats
These are exclusive to the Premium Plus trim, which also has heated/ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

On the gasoline side of the CX-90 PHEV is a naturally aspirated (no turbochargers or the like) 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. An electric motor slots between this engine and the 8-speed automatic transmission. Their combined output is 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. This output compares well with the most powerful non-PHEV CX-90, the Turbo S, which has 340 horsepower and the same amount of torque. It also outguns the Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid by a considerable margin. All-wheel drive is standard.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Mazda’s new-vehicle warranty is for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, while the hybrid battery and related hardware have an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty. This is all typical for mainstream manufacturers, although Kia does better.

Safety Ratings

The CX-90 has taken the highest accolade of Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also earned the maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.