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2026 Mazda CX-90: Bigger, Smarter, and Still Driving Like a Mazda

Mazda has never been shy about pushing against the grain. While most three-row crossovers lean hard into beige anonymity, the 2026 CX-90 doubles down on what Mazda does best: delivering family-hauling utility without sacrificing driving pleasure. Pricing now starts at $38,800 and stretches to just over $57K for the flagship trims, keeping it competitive with rivals like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Toyota Grand Highlander.

What’s New for 2026

The CX-90 doesn’t receive a sheetmetal overhaul, but Mazda made thoughtful updates to keep things fresh. The big news is standard Alexa voice commands, packaging tweaks across trims that bundle in more equipment, and a new Polymetal Gray Metallic paint option. Every CX-90 still rides on Mazda’s rear-drive-based Large Platform, and all trims include i-Activ AWD.

Underneath, the CX-90 continues to punch above its weight with engineering not often found in this segment: a double wishbone front suspension, multilink rear suspension, and Mazda’s Kinematic Posture Control. The latter subtly brakes an inside wheel during cornering to flatten body roll and keep passengers more comfortable. Translation: this three-row actually enjoys a twisty road.

Powertrain Choices: Inline-Six or Plug-In Hybrid

Mazda keeps things simple with two core powertrains.

  • 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six (e-Skyactiv G): Available in two strengths. The standard version makes 280 hp and 332 lb-ft on regular fuel, while the hotter Turbo S tune bumps output to 340 hp and 369 lb-ft (on premium). Both are paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and an 8-speed automatic, delivering up to 25 mpg combined.
  • Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV): A 2.5-liter four-cylinder teams with an electric motor and 17.8-kWh battery, producing 323 hp and 369 lb-ft. It can travel up to 26 miles on electricity alone and tows a respectable 3,500 pounds.

The Turbo S trims unlock the CX-90’s full towing potential of 5,000 pounds, but every version has enough grunt to move a full cabin without strain.

Trim Breakdown

Mazda’s trim walk for 2026 reads like a carefully calibrated ladder:

  • Turbo Select ($38,800): Eight-passenger seating, 19-inch wheels, 10.25-inch display with wired CarPlay/Android Auto, and the full suite of i-Activsense safety gear.
  • Turbo Preferred ($42,950): Adds ventilated seats, heated second row, larger 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, and a sunroof.
  • Turbo Premium Sport ($46,980): Goes dark with blacked-out trim and 21-inch wheels, while also gaining Bose audio, panoramic moonroof, and enhanced driver assists.
  • Turbo Premium Plus ($50,270): Nappa leather, adaptive headlights, and a 360-degree camera.
  • PHEV Preferred ($50,495): Electrified grunt plus ventilated seats, wireless charging, and 21-inch wheels.
  • PHEV Premium Sport ($55,300): Blackout styling, Bose audio, head-up display, and 1,500-watt cargo outlet.
  • PHEV Premium Plus ($58,500): Nappa leather, driver personalization system, adaptive headlights, and expanded safety tech.
  • Turbo S Premium Sport ($53,940): The enthusiast’s pick—340 hp, blackout exterior, Bose audio, panoramic moonroof, and full safety suite.
  • Turbo S Premium Plus ($57,370): The flagship, with captain’s chairs, ventilated second row, Japanese Premium Nappa leather, and every bell and whistle Mazda offers.

Driving Dynamics: Still a Mazda Thing

While we haven’t yet driven the 2026 updates, the CX-90’s chassis carried over untouched—and that’s a good thing. The long wheelbase, RWD-based layout, and punchy six-cylinder give the big crossover a confident, planted feel in corners. Kinematic Posture Control remains a standout party trick, subtly curbing body lift and making the CX-90 feel more athletic than any rival this side of a luxury badge.

Interior: Premium Aspirations

Mazda’s interiors continue to punch above their mainstream price tags. Even lower trims get well-tailored leatherette, while top models indulge with Nappa leather, wood inlays, and Japanese Premium design cues. Three rows of seating remain standard, with room for up to eight, but second-row captain’s chairs are available for buyers who prioritize comfort over capacity.

Technology is no afterthought. Mazda’s latest 12.3-inch infotainment system (now with touchscreen capability) pairs with wireless smartphone integration, and the available Bose 12-speaker setup makes long trips a pleasure.

Safety: Loaded Across the Board

Every CX-90 ships with Mazda’s i-Activsense suite, including adaptive cruise with stop-and-go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims layer on advanced features like Head-on Traffic Avoidance Assist and a 360-degree See-Through View camera—safety tech once reserved for luxury SUVs.

The Takeaway

The 2026 Mazda CX-90 isn’t reinventing itself, but it didn’t need to. Instead, it builds on its strengths—sharp driving dynamics, upscale interiors, and strong powertrain options—while adding just enough tech and convenience to keep pace with the segment leaders. If you want a three-row crossover that feels like it was tuned by people who actually like to drive, the CX-90 remains the one to beat.

Source: Mazda

News

2026 Mazda3: Premium Vibes, Sensible Price Tags, and the Last Stand for Manuals

Mazda has always been the carmaker for people who want a bit of driving joy without remortgaging the house. And for 2026, the faithful Mazda3 — in both sedan and hatchback flavors — returns with its usual cocktail of sharp styling, premium toys, and the sort of driver involvement that makes Corolla and Civic owners look wistfully across the lot.

The Basics: Still Sensible, Still Mazda

Every Mazda3 comes with a 2.5-liter engine, a six-speed automatic (with paddles on fancier trims), or — hallelujah — a proper six-speed manual if you opt for the hatchback-only Premium trim. Front-wheel drive is standard, but Mazda will happily sell you all-wheel drive if you fancy more grip for your morning coffee runs.

Prices start at $24,550 for the base sedan and climb all the way up to $37,890 for the turbocharged, all-bells-and-whistles Premium Plus hatchback. That’s a lot of range for one nameplate, but Mazda has carved up the lineup with the precision of a sushi chef.

Trim by Trim: Choose Your Own Adventure

  • Mazda3 2.5 S — The entry ticket. For $24,550 you get radar cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and more acronyms than your insurance paperwork. There’s also an 8.8-inch infotainment screen, an eight-speaker stereo, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Not basic at all.
  • Select Sport — Adds grown-up toys like dual-zone climate, leatherette seats, keyless entry, and black 18-inch alloys. Plus, Alexa integration for shouting at your car (or your thermostat back home). From $25,440.
  • Preferred — Think “company car with taste.” Heated seats, moonroof, power driver’s chair, and fancier alloys. Starts at $27,090.
  • Carbon Edition — Mazda’s moody fashion statement. Polymetal Gray paint, red leather seats, wireless CarPlay, and AWD as standard. $30,210 sedan, $31,450 hatch. If Batman shopped for compact cars, this is what he’d drive.
  • Premium (6MT) — Hatchback only, manual gearbox, Bose 12-speaker stereo, and a head-up display. Priced at $31,360, it’s a gift to enthusiasts. This may be the last affordable stick-shift hatchback with actual polish.
  • Turbo Premium Plus — The top dog. 250 horsepower (on premium fuel), AWD, adaptive headlights, 360° cameras, bigger screens, and all the leather and safety kit you can tick. It looks properly sinister with its gloss black aero bits. Yours for $36,740 sedan or $37,890 hatch.

Paint It (Premium) Pretty

Want it in something other than grayscale? Mazda charges $595 for all five premium paints, including Soul Red Crystal — arguably the best red paint job on any mainstream car today.

Verdict: Still the Enthusiast’s Compact

The 2026 Mazda3 continues to punch well above its weight. Even the base trim feels premium, the mid-range Carbon Edition oozes style, and the Premium hatch with a manual is a unicorn in today’s market. If you want turbocharged AWD swagger, the Premium Plus will happily play in Audi A3 territory for less money.

In short: while everyone else is stuffing CVTs and touchscreen bloatware into their compacts, Mazda’s giving you proper driver’s cars with proper choices. And for that, we raise a glass (of 93-octane).

Source: Mazda USA

News

Toyota and Mazda Join Forces in Battery Storage Tests, Paving the Road Toward Carbon Neutrality

In an era when automakers are racing to electrify their fleets, Toyota and Mazda are quietly tackling one of the industry’s most critical—and often overlooked—challenges: energy management. The two Japanese giants have kicked off field tests of Toyota’s Sweep Energy Storage System at Mazda’s Hiroshima Plant, an initiative that could reshape how automakers handle renewable energy and battery life cycles.

What makes this test particularly intriguing is the infrastructure behind it. Mazda’s Hiroshima headquarters hosts Japan’s only automaker-operated power generation system. By connecting that unique setup to Toyota’s Sweep system—built around repurposed batteries from electrified vehicles—the companies can study how to stabilize, store, and distribute electricity with high efficiency. Think of it as a testbed for the next era of smart grids, only tailored for the auto industry.

The goal goes well beyond keeping EV batteries out of landfills. Renewable energy, whether it’s solar or wind, is famously inconsistent—supply fluctuates depending on weather and time of day. Toyota and Mazda’s system is designed to smooth those peaks and valleys, providing a stable energy stream that helps keep factories humming, cars charging, and emissions dropping. In short, it’s another step in making carbon neutrality not just a corporate slogan but an operational reality.

The project also plugs directly into a broader industry effort. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association has identified “building a battery ecosystem” as one of its seven critical mobility challenges. The aim: create a sustainable loop where critical resources are reused, battery lifespans are extended, and Japan’s supply chain is shielded from global disruptions. For Toyota and Mazda, that means finding ways to redeploy the very same vehicle batteries that once powered hybrids and EVs into factory energy storage units.

This collaboration underscores a uniquely Japanese approach to carbon neutrality: multipathway solutions. Instead of betting the house on one technology, Toyota and Mazda are exploring multiple avenues—from hydrogen and hybrids to storage and recycling—that could collectively steer the industry toward a cleaner, more resilient future.

For enthusiasts, the headline might not be as flashy as a new Supra or a next-gen MX-5. But make no mistake: these behind-the-scenes innovations are just as critical to the cars we’ll be driving tomorrow. After all, sustainable performance isn’t just about what’s under the hood—it’s about what powers the factory, the grid, and eventually, the road ahead.

Source: Toyota