2024 Mazda CX-90 unveiled, expected in Australia this year
The most luxurious seven-seat SUV to wear a Mazda badge has been unveiled, ahead of first Australian showroom arrivals expected later this year – with turbocharged inline six-cylinder power.
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 seven-seater – the largest and most expensive SUV ever sold by the company – has been revealed ahead of first Australian arrivals likely by the end of this year, pending any delays.
The CX-90 is the second model underpinned by Mazda’s new ‘Large’ underpinnings – with rear- or all-wheel drive, and available inline six-cylinder or plug-in hybrid power – after the five-seat CX-60, due in Australia this June.
Prices are yet to be confirmed for the CX-90, however it is expected to command a premium over the smaller, narrower CX-60 – which is priced from $59,800 to $85,675 plus on-road costs in Australia.
In North America the CX-90 will replace the seven-year-old, front- or all-wheel-drive CX-9 as Mazda’s flagship SUV – but it is yet to be confirmed if this will occur in Australia, where the CX-9 is currently priced from $47,600 to $75,165 plus on-road costs.
The CX-90 is the largest of Mazda’s new rear-wheel-drive-based SUVs, with three rows of seats and a ‘wide-body’ design intended for broader North American roads.
There will be a two-row, wide-body CX-70 version for the US later this year – while the two-row, five-seat CX-60 and its upcoming three-row CX-80 derivative are ‘narrow body’ cars intended for tighter European and Japanese streets.
Buyers in the US will be offered six or seven seats, standard all-wheel drive, and a choice of turbocharged inline six-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol, or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power.
The six-cylinder petrol engine has already been confirmed for Australia, but it’s unclear for now if the PHEV will be available locally – and if a diesel engine will be offered, as per the CX-60.
The 3.3-litre turbo inline-six petrol motor is the most powerful in Mazda’s history, with outputs of 254kW and 500Nm – up 45kW/50Nm on the same engine in the CX-60 – powering all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The engine is assisted by mild-hybrid technology to improve performance and fuel economy – while the transmission is believed to be a new multi-clutch design, similar to a Mercedes-AMG performance car, rather than a traditional ‘torque converter’ design seen in other Mazda cars.
The CX-90 is fitted as standard with the Kinematic Posture Control technology debuted on the MX-5 sports car, which is said to brake the inner left wheel during cornering to (subtly) counteract body roll.
The design of the Mazda CX-90 seven-seater is closely related to the smaller CX-60, with similar front and rear-end treatments, body lines, light graphics, and ‘INLINE 6’ or ‘PHEV’ badging on the front wheel arches.
Alloy wheels up to 21 inches – with a diamond-cut finish – are available on the new seven-seat flagship, while chrome exterior trim, and Mazda’s new Artisan Red Premium colour are offered.
Inside, the Mazda CX-90’s dashboard has largely been lifted from the smaller CX-60, with flagship models offering a 12.3-inch display placed high on the dashboard, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver.
Visible in the launch images is wireless Apple CarPlay (and likely Android Auto) connectivity, satellite navigation, tri-zone climate-control air-conditioning, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.
Mazda highlights USB-C ports and air-conditioning vents for third-row passengers, which are part of six or seven total occupants the new CX-90 can seat, depending on model grade.
Nappa leather trims the seats in flagship models, while the dashboard doors are covered in a mix of maple wood inlays, and a white fabric which uses an “intricate Japanese weaving technique known as Kakenui,” according to Mazda.
Available advanced safety features include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera with a See-Through View which can make the car’s body appear ‘invisible’ on the camera, and show objects usually obscured by the body panels.
Mazda Australia is yet to confirm exact launch timing, however the first examples of the 2024 Mazda CX-90 are expected to arrive in Australia before the end of this year, pending any delays.
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