I’ve done a lot of traveling in the Mazda CX-90, Mazda’s excellent three-row SUV. This time around, I drove the latest plug-in hybrid version, which pairs a four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. That powertrain delivers an all-electric range of up to 26 miles, according to Mazda. New for 2026, it adds standard Alexa voice commands.
You may remember that I drove the six-cylinder, nonplug-in version of this SUV earlier this year and called it “one of those rare three‑row SUVs that manages to check almost every box.” This plug-in hybrid is a little less powerful than the CX-90 3.3 Turbo S Premium Sport I praised, and while the engine feels a bit more strained here, it offers the potential for real gas savings. Handling remains remarkably sharp for a bigger SUV.
Goodies here include ventilated front seats, along with heated seats in both the first and second rows. This version seats up to seven, with a choice between a second-row bench paired with a two-seat third row or second-row captain’s chairs paired with a three-seat third row, Mazda said. There is also usable trunk space even with the third row up, which is always nice.
This CX-90 also comes with Mazda’s Driver Personalization System, which can size you up and automatically “provide the optimized seating position for a comfortable, commanding drive,” in the automaker’s words.
The interior looks stunning in white leather, a color that could also be labeled “Dear God, please don’t spill anything!”
And when you think safety, what brand comes to mind? It should be Mazda, which is building some of the safest vehicles on the road right now.
There aren’t many drawbacks. The third row can feel a bit cramped, and the center infotainment screen relies primarily on a knob-and-button controller on the center console, which takes some getting used to.
The 2026 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus starts at $60,030, including shipping.