2024 Mazda CX-90 D50e Azami review

2024 Mazda CX-90 D50e Azami

Mazda’s transition from mainstream to upmarket is continuing apace, the Japanese brand making no apologies for its push to position itself as a premium player.

And leading the charge is Mazda’s flagship CX-90 family-sized, seven-seater SUV that replaces the brand’s long-serving stalwart CX-9.

But more than just the addition of a chromed ‘0’ on the tailgate, the erstwhile flagship takes Mazda in a new direction, blurring the lines between mainstream and premium, with prices nudging – and in some cases – over the $100,000 mark.

That’s a tall order, asking buyers to hand over in excess of one hundred large for what is still, essentially, a mainstream Japanese offering.

So are buyers ready and willing to pay the price premium Mazda is now commanding? That’s the $100,000 question Mazda is asking, although, as then vice chairman Seita Kanai said back in 2014, “Mazda cannot decide if our products are premium enough. That’s something that our customers will decide”.

How much is a Mazda CX-90?

The Mazda CX-90 range spans three trim levels – Touring, GT and Azami – and two engine choices – a 3.3-litre petrol or 3.3-litre diesel. All are all-wheel drive.

The range kicks off from $74,550 for the entry-level petrol Touring and tops out at a whopping $94,630 for the petrol Azami, the second-most expensive Mazda ever sold in Australia behind the RX-7 SP sports car that carried a price tag of $101,515 back in 1995. For context, the Mazda CX-9 it replaces topped out at around $75,000 before on-road costs and options.

On test here, though, we have the most expensive diesel variant in the line-up, the CX-90 D50e Azami, which starts at $93,515 before on-road costs. But, upping the ante, our CX-90 came fitted with the optional $6500 Takumi pack that pushes the before on-road costs price to $100,015.

Throw in a $995 lick of Artisan Red paint and the total price, before on-road costs, runs to $101,010. That translates to $108,832 drive-away in NSW, according to Mazda’s configurator. Note that final drive-away price may vary depending on the state or territory you live in.

That’s certainly premium money, and an amount that sees the CX-90 nudging into the lower rungs of some of the prestige European brands and sitting above – and in some cases well above – mainstream offerings from the likes of Toyota, Hyundai and Kia.

The CX-90’s equipment levels reflect its positioning in the market, a smorgasbord of technology and materials that speak to high-end buyers.

Highlights in this all-you-can-eat top-spec Azami include 21-inch alloy wheels, dusk-sensing LED headlights, LED tail-lights, three-zone climate control, a hands-free powered tailgate, nappa leather seat upholstery, 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless (and wired) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, and AM/FM/DAB+ radio.

That’s on top of heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, 12-speaker Bose sound system, ambient interior lighting including in the rear footwell, a ‘See-Through View’ 360-degree camera, as well as body-coloured wheel cladding and side cladding.

The addition of the $6500 Takumi pack sees your seven-seater shrink to a six-seater, the headline act of this option the individual seats in the second row, aka captain’s chairs. The seat trim changes too, and starkly, the Takumi pack brings an eye-catching Pure White nappa leather interior in place of the standard black nappa leather.

Other garnishes brought by the Takumi pack include a cloth upholstery on the dashboard embellished with what Mazda calls Kakenui stitching, based on “the traditional art of Japanese braiding”. If that all sounds a little like marketing guff, it is, but it does look very cool and adds more than a dash of visual flair to the, well, dash.

Certainly, if Mazda is gunning for a slice of the premium pie, then the CX-90’s showroom appeal is a decent opening salvo.

How big is a Mazda CX-90?

It’s in the cabin where the Mazda CX-90 really makes its statement of intent, certainly in this top-of-the-range Azami variant with the addition of the Takumi pack.

This is a big SUV, make no mistake, measuring in at well over five metres long (5120mm), 2157mm wide mirror-to-mirror, and 1745mm tall. The wheelbase stops the tape at 3120mm.

Those exterior dimensions pay dividends inside, where there is a sense of spaciousness that’s only enhanced by the acres of Pure White nappa leather of our test car.

The power-adjustable – and heated and cooled – front seats are comfortable, even on longer drives. You sit up nice and high in the cabin, as you’d expect in an SUV of this size, and with a commanding view over the CX-90’s bonnet and on to the road ahead.

The centre console area takes up a lot of real estate, wide and embellished with white maple trim that looks and feels classy. It also garnishes the door cards.

Storage amenities include a central storage bin with a bi-fold lid that, despite its exterior dimensions, is a little on the shallow side. Still, there’s plenty of room for your smaller daily accoutrements like keys and wallets. A pair of cupholders provide some added storage, while the door pockets are more than capable of accepting bottles.

Mazda deserves credit for resisting the modern temptation to bury the CX-90’s climate controls inside the infotainment system. Instead, a pleasing series of switches and nicely damped toggles control the ambient temperature inside.

Climate controls extend to the second row, although third-row occupants are at the whim of their fellow passengers with air vents the lone concession to interior comfort.

The second row is a highlight, certainly with the addition of the Takumi pack, which swaps out the traditional three-across row of seating for individual chairs that are as comfortable and plush as those likely found in your lounge room.

Space is in abundance too, as you’d expect from a big, family SUV, with plenty of room in all key areas. The seatbacks can recline, and by a good margin too, for those looking for some added lounging ability, while second-row occupants, as those travelling in front, enjoy seat heating and cooling.

A fixed centre console houses a pair of cupholders and, as it does in the front, a bi-fold lid reveals a shallow storage area. The door pockets, as they do up front, can accommodate bottles.

The overall feeling of spaciousness extends to row three, which is one of the better iterations we’ve experienced recently. There’s enough room for average-sized adults to sit comfortably, and getting in and out of the third row is easy thanks to the easy nature of the tilting and folding second-row seats.

Third-row customers also score two USB-C outlets for their phones as well as four cupholders, presumably, in lieu of door pockets, one for each hot and cold drinks. Air vents help keep the ambient temperature comfortable.

For those looking to lug little ones, the second-row seats are fitted with ISOFIX child seat anchors as well as top-tether mounts on both second- and third-row seatbacks.

Despite the generous amount of room afforded passengers, the CX-90’s cargo area offers decent storage. With all three rows of seating in use there’s a handy 257 litres to play with, with the caveat that capacity includes a decent cubby under the boot floor.

Fold the third row away and the cargo area expands to 608L, while stowing those luscious armchairs in row two liberates a total of 2025L.

Pleasingly, the CX-90 does not come with the blight on modern motoring that is an inflation kit. Instead you’ll find a space-saver spare, a much less anxiety-inducing solution to getting out of a flat tyre hole.

Does the Mazda CX-90 have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

A 12.3-inch dash-mounted screen hosts Mazda’s infotainment system, which runs the usual array of modern technologies. Apple CarPlay and Android, both wireless and cabled, satellite navigation, digital radio, as well as a 12-speaker premium Bose sound system speak to modern in-car entertainment expectations.

But Mazda’s system continues to frustrate with its befuddling user experience. Connect your smartphone via cable or wirelessly, and the screen allows you to swipe through your apps and effect inputs with the touch of a finger, provided the CX-90 is at a standstill and in park. On the move, and even when stopped at traffic lights, you’ll need to use the rotary dial located in the centre console to effect changes.

That’s marginally better than using Mazda’s native software, though, where the only way to interact with the system is via the rotary dial. There is an option to enable touchscreen capability while driving, but Mazda does a good job of hiding this setting within the Bluetooth menu.

No doubt, this is done in the name of safety, but it’s hard to accept that using the dialler and checking the screen constantly to see what you’re about to select, is what you want to select, is any safer than effecting inputs via the touch of a finger.

Helpfully, there are four buttons located next to the rotary dial that serve as shortcuts to the infotainment system, calling up home, media and sat-nav with a single press, while a back button reverts to the previous screen. These work both for inbuilt functions, and smartphone pairing when active.

Keeping devices topped up is a wireless charging pad located in the centre console, while USB-C points are liberally sprinkled throughout including in the second and third rows.

Is the Mazda CX-90 a safe car?

The Mazda CX-90 range remains untested by Australia’s independent safety body ANCAP. Nor has it faced safety scrutiny from Euro NCAP.

What safety technology does the Mazda CX-90 have?

All variants of CX-90 are fitted with a comprehensive suite of active and advanced safety technologies.

Dubbed i-Activsense, standard across the range are autonomous emergency braking with junction assist and pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, vehicle exit warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitoring, adaptive cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring and, in this top-spec Azami model, a 360-degree surround view camera with ‘See-Through View’ that adds a level of visibility to the CX-90’s surrounds.

While our time with the CX-90 was, thankfully, incident free, meaning we didn’t need the help of its plethora of advanced safety systems, one issue that did crop up was the over-eagerness of the AEB to intervene in situations where it wasn’t warranted.

On more than one occasion, the CX-90’s autonomous emergency braking would intervene, a touch too eager to pick up cars parked by the side of the – admittedly narrow – street, providing a couple of heart-stopping moments behind the wheel.

How much does the Mazda CX-90 cost to run?

Mazda’s standard five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty underpins owner surety for the Mazda CX-90. That’s par for the course in today’s new car playground.

Servicing is required every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first, the distance interval on the lean side in an environment where 15,000km is the norm. And that means your CX-90 could make more trips to the workshop if your driving requirements over the year reflect the national average of around 15,000km.

That makes the cost of servicing the CX-90 a touch on the high side, running to $2149 for three years or 30,000km and $3299 over five years/50,000km. Hold onto your big family SUV a little longer and servicing costs balloon to $4958 for seven years and 70,000km.

That’s expensive when compared against some of its mainstream rivals, most of which come with 12-month/15,000km service intervals and capped or prepaid servicing ranging from complimentary for five years (Genesis GV80) to $1475 or $2445 for three and five years respectively (Hyundai Palisade).

Comprehensive insurance for the CX-90 D50e Azami with Takumi pack runs to $2222 annually, based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates will vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

That actually compares favourably against some rivals such as the Genesis GV80, which in six-seater petrol trim will cost around $3066 per annum to insure.

The Hyundai Palisade in top-spec Calligraphy diesel form asks for $2281 in annual insurance premiums, but it’s worth noting it’s significantly more affordable than the CX-90 we have here, starting at $79,219 before on-road costs.

Is the Mazda CX-90 fuel-efficient?

Mazda claims the CX-90’s 3.3-litre diesel will sip 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle. Our week with the plush six-seater returned an indicated 6.9L/100km. That was achieved over a variety of conditions including workaday commuting, suburban driving and highway cruising.

The fuel tank measures in at 74L, which gives a theoretical range of 1370km per tank of diesel against Mazda’s claim. Our real-world consumption number suggest a driving range of around 1072km between refills.

What is the Mazda CX-90 like to drive?

Here’s where the CX-90 D50e Azami puts its best foot forward. The 3.3-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder diesel makes decent numbers, 187kW and a lusty 550Nm. It’s mated to a Mazda-developed eight-speed automatic transmission sending drive to all four wheels.

Augmenting the turbo-diesel is Mazda’s 48-volt mild hybrid technology which, Mazda claims, while not providing drive directly to the wheels, takes some of the load off the engine under lower speeds and idling to help reduce emissions.

There’s plenty to like about the CX-90’s turbo-diesel, eight-speed auto combination, not least of all the effortless nature the big SUV gets up to speed. Acceleration isn’t exactly neck-snapping, and nor should it be in a vehicle of this type and size, but there’s certainly enough on tap to not leave you wanting.

It’s quiet too, with almost none of that tell-tale diesel clatter some engines of this kind are known for. The only time the diesel engine shows its true colours is when firing up after the idle stop-start system has done its thing, with just a hint of grumble on start-up.

But, at cruising speeds, whether on suburban blacktops or out on the highway, the engine is smooth and responsive, with a relaxed mien under light throttle load yet eager to provide acceleration when asked.

Despite a price tag on the road in excess of $100K, Mazda has doggedly stuck with a passive suspension set-up. This is no bad thing, the set-up in the CX-90 nicely calibrated to provide smooth motoring over the majority of roads you’re likely to encounter.

It is a touch on the firm side, and that’s fine on highways and smooth suburban streets, but does become a little more noticeable over more uneven surfaces, such as poorly patched roads. Navigating larger obstacles, like speed bumps, sees the big and heavy SUV settle back down nicely on its wheels, with little of the wallowing or wobbling that we sometimes encounter.

Despite tipping the scales at well over 2.2 tonnes (2241kg kerb weight, to be precise), the CX-90 D50e Azami makes a decent fist of hiding its heft, never feeling cumbersome or heavy. Instead, its light and direct steering and that nicely calibrated suspension set-up work in tandem to keep the big family-hauler poised and composed on the road, whether on the straight and narrow or navigating corners and roundabouts.

Several drive modes alter the driving characteristics of the CX-90. There’s the balanced responsiveness and efficiency of Normal, the marginally more aggressive Sport that sharpens engine and throttle response while also giving the transmission a longer rev leash, and Off-Road that prioritises traction on loose surfaces.

And buyers who fit Mazda’s optional towing kit to their CX-90 will also be rewarded with a Towing drive mode that adapts the powertrain and all-wheel-drive system to compensate for the weight hitched out the back, although we didn’t tow with our CX-90.

How much weight can a Mazda CX-90 tow?

Mazda claims diesel-powered CX-90s are rated to tow a 2000kg braked trailer or 750kg unbraked with a maximum tow ball downweight of 150kg. That’s down on petrol-powered variants where the maximum braked limit is 2500kg.

The diesel-powered Hyundai Palisade offers a little more capacity at 2200kg, but if towing is your number-one priority, then the Volkswagen Touareg and its 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel can haul a braked trailer up to 3500kg.

Should I buy a Mazda CX-90?

Mazda’s transition to becoming a premium brand continues apace with the Mazda CX-90, which in this top-spec Azami trim has all the trappings buyers expect of a vehicle costing north of $100K on the road.

But it’s a significant price jump over the CX-9 model it replaces – a jump that pushes the Japanese mainstream brand into uncharted territory in Australia.

If buyers are to take the jump with Mazda, then the brand has to deliver on expectations. And by that measure, the CX-90 certainly does that. It’s a feature-filled family SUV with a powertrain that feels effortless and a beautifully finished and spacious cabin.

But whether it’s enough to open the wallets of existing Mazda customers or entice buyers away from established premium brands remains, in the words of Seita Kanai, “Mazda cannot decide if our products are premium enough. That’s something that our customers will decide”.

How do I buy a Mazda CX-90? The next steps.

As lovely as the all-you-can-eat CX-90 Azami with Takumi is, our recommendation would be to take a closer look at the mid-spec GT range, in either petrol or diesel. It’s significantly more affordable (both start at $85,530 before on-road costs) and comes equipped with most of the interior and exterior appointments that help the Azami stand out from the crowd.

A Mazda Australia spokesperson told Drive that stock levels of CX-90 remained “healthy” while wait times were “normal”.

Your next step on the purchase journey is to check Mazda Australia’s website for stock of your preferred CX-90 variant. You can also find a range of Mazdas for sale at Drive Marketplace.

We strongly recommend taking a test drive at a dealership to see if the CX-90 is the right fit for you. Find your nearest Mazda dealer via this link.

If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to this car since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.

The post 2024 Mazda CX-90 D50e Azami review appeared first on Drive.

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