Mazda's perceived move upmarket is less of a full-fledged leap into the luxury space than it is a step just beyond the mainstream products with which it has long competed. And the 2024 Mazda CX-90 marks the automaker’s biggest reach to date, both literally and figuratively. Built on a rear-biased platform akin to BMW or Mercedes-Benz and offered with materials that look as though they wouldn’t be out of place inside a more expensive machine, this new flagship three-row seems on paper like it’s ready to nip at the heels of proper premium products.
That’s why it’s pitted here against the 2023 Acura MDX, an SUV that’s perhaps not quite on the same level of its peers from those German brands, but it’s certainly not far behind, either. Finished here in Platinum Elite trim, it’s also handicapped by an asking price that’s exactly $7,000 richer than its range-topping rival, the CX-90 Signature.
AutoTrader.ca Editor-in-Chief Jodi Lai and Road Test Editor Dan Ilika test these two three-row crossovers that were both launched in the past year. What does stepping up to "true" luxury really get you in a vehicle?
Read the full review on AutoTrader.ca:
www.autotrader.ca/editorial/2...
00:00 CX-90 vs MDX, Premium Mainstream vs Luxury
01:27 CX-90 Powertrain and Handling
04:20 CX-90 Mild hybrid system and Fuel economy
05:15 CX-90 Ride quality
06:03 MDX Ride quality
06:35 MDX Powertrain and Handling
07:23 MDX Fuel economy
08:28 MDX User-friendliness and Cabin design
09:38 Pricing and Value
10:27 Design and Styling
11:21 MDX Third-row space
12:23 Luxuriousness
14:34 CX-90 Passenger space
15:07 CX-90 Infotainment
16:43 Pros and Cons
17:22 Conclusion