New cars are ridiculously expensive these days. With the average new car costing about $50,000, it’s not surprising that many buyers are looking beyond the most popular brands in search of better bang for their buck. Mazda is one of the underdogs that continues to impress with its luxury look and feel for less money than its competitors.
Luxury SUVs are among some of the most expensive segments on the market. Mazda lets buyers get a foot in the door for far less than competing brands with the CX-90 three-row SUV. It starts relatively affordably, and can still feel as luxurious and powerful as rivals like the Lexus TX 350 and Acura MDX.
Prices are correct at the time of writing, and exclude destination charges, options, incentives, and potential dealership fees. Automakers reserve the right to change prices at any time without notice.
Mazda Undercuts Traditional Luxury Rivals
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If Mazda is known for anything, it’s the brand’s more affordable pricing than any comparable luxury automaker. The CX-90 is a midsize three-row model with a choice of either a mild hybrid inline-6 or a plug-in hybrid inline-4-cylinder; the former is the least expensive, with pricing that starts at just $39,300 before destination. That said, there are six gas trims to choose from. The base model is the 3.3 Turbo Select. The entire trim lineup lays out like this:
- 3.3 Turbo Select: $38,800
- 3.3 Turbo Preferred: $43,450
- 3.3 Turbo Premium Sport: $47,480
- 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus: $50,270
- 3.3 Turbo S Premium Sport: $54,140
- 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus: $57,570
Acura’s three-row unibody luxury SUV, the MDX, starts at $12.5k higher than the most basic CX-90. It’s available in six trim levels as well, with the base model starting at $51,800 with front-wheel drive, or $54k with all-wheel drive. Five of the MDX’s trims use a 3.5-liter V6 – the most luxurious form of the model with this engine is the A-Spec Advance Package, which starts at $68,900. Then, the Type S Advance tops them all at $75,850.
Finally, there is the Lexus TX 350. There are four trims, with three of those coming in either FWD or AWD. The cheapest option is the FWD base 350 that starts at $56,940 before destination, or $58,540 if you want AWD. The most expensive version is the TX 350 F Sport Handling that comes standard with AWD, which costs at least $66,210.
Does The CX-90’s Base Model Feel As Luxurious?
2026 Mazda CX-90 Interior view of the front cabinMazda
One might expect the least expensive model to lack its rivals’ luxury features. That’s true to some extent, but Mazda does a great job at making an affordable SUV appear and feel far more luxurious than its price suggests. For example, the CX-90 3.3 Turbo Select comes with tri-zone climate control, leatherette upholstery throughout the cabin, an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and more.
The most basic Acura MDX costs over $10,000 more, but it still gets faux leather (leatherette) upholstery. Some standard features that the basic CX-90 doesn’t get include 12-way power front seats, heated seats, Active Sound Control, and an 11-speaker audio system, to name a few.
Lexus charges the most for its basic TX 350, but it makes sure you’re comfortable. You can expect NuLux (faux leather) upholstery again, plus eight-way power front seats, a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, a power trunk with a kick sensor, and more.
The Top CX-90 Rivals $70k Flagships at $57,570
2025 Mazda CX-90 Interior View of the Second RowMazda
If the base model surprises you, the top-tier CX-90 goes even further – and still undercuts its fully loaded rivals by thousands. All three brands offer far more luxurious trims for their family SUVs. In Mazda’s case, the CX-90 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus comes equipped with Nappa leather upholstery, second-row captain’s chairs, heated and ventilated front and second-row outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, second-row retractable window shades, and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
The Acura MDX Type S Advance might be the most expensive, but it aims for a sportier feel. For a softer, more luxurious ride, the A-Spec Advance Package comes with features like quilted and perforated Milano leather with contrast stitching and piping, 16-way power front seats with a nine-way massage function, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, second-row sunshades, a leather-wrapped flat-bottom heated steering wheel, 27-color ambient lighting, and much more.
If you have a larger budget than most other buyers, then Lexus offers the TX 350 Luxury AWD with semi-aniline leather upholstery, 10-way power front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a panoramic glass roof, and headlight washers, in addition to many other standard features.
The CX-90 Is Just As Powerful For $10k Less
2024 Mazda CX-90 Inline Six Engine Detail ShotMazda
2026 Midsize 3-Row Luxury SUV Specs Comparison
Mazda CX-90
Acura MDX
Lexus TX
Base Powertrain
3.3-Liter Turbo Inline-6
3.5-Liter V6
2.4-Liter Turbo Inline-4
Power
280–340 hp
290 hp
275 hp
Torque
332–369 lb-ft
267 lb-ft
317 lb-ft
Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
10-Speed Automatic
8-Speed Automatic
Drivetrain
AWD
FWD or AWD
FWD or AWD
Mazda offers the CX-90 with either a 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-6 or a 2.5-liter four-cylinder plug-in hybrid. This comparison focuses on the six-cylinder, which makes either 280 hp in most trim levels or 340 hp in the two Turbo S trims. No matter which trim you choose, you get an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.
Expert
insight
Acceleration in both the Turbo S and PHEV models is prodigious, making many naturally aspirated V6 competitors feel sluggish in comparison. We love the low hum of the new inline-six, though the natural sound enhancement in the PHEV was surprisingly throaty. Acceleration in EV mode isn’t brisk, but the CX-90 can easily keep up with traffic.
Neither rival offers standard AWD, and their base engines cannot keep up with Mazda’s Turbo S trim levels. Only the Acura MDX Type S Advance beats it, but it uses a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 to do so with 355 hp (and it costs $18,280 more than the most luxurious CX-90).
The Most Expensive Option Has Five Recalls – Including A Dangerous Axle Defect
2025 Mazda CX-90 White Side View Towing Motorcycles on a TrailerMazda
All three models are relatively reliable, with the Lexus coming out on top as the most reliable of the group. That said, the CX-90 has only been on sale for a few years, and it has not really had the time to prove itself yet. JD Power rates all three nevertheless. For the 2026 model year, the CX-90 earned a 74 out of 100 for initial quality and reliability, while the MDX earned a 78/100, and the TX earned an 82/100.
According to the NHTSA, the 2026 CX-90 does not have any recalls to date. There are only 12 owner complaints to count, with most pertaining to various electrical issues. There aren’t enough reports to call any issues especially common, though. The Acura MDX has a single recall pertaining to airbags that may unintentionally deploy during a crash (affecting 98,892 Honda and Acura units), and only nine complaints.
Lexus surprised us with five recalls affecting its 2026 TX at the time of writing. A few of them aren’t too serious, as two pertain to the rear backup camera failing to display an image, and one pertains to an incorrect load capacity label. However, affecting 5,408 units is a recall that pertains to a weak rear axle carrier that could break and cause the driver to lose control. Finally, the most recent recall affects just 617 units, and has to do with a manufacturing error affecting the steering knuckle that could cause it to crack and break.
Road Tests Confirm What The Price Sheet Promises: The CX-90 Overdelivers
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Mazda undercuts the competition by over $10,000 while continuing to deliver a luxurious, powerful rival to the market. Its CX-90 is affordable when you need it to be, and luxurious when you want it to be. Road tests have proved that the CX-90 is worth getting behind the wheel, especially at its lower price point.
Base Trim Engine
3.3L Skyactiv-G 16
Base Trim Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
280 hp @ 5000 rpm
Base Trim Torque
332 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
24/28/25 mpg
Infotainment & Features
8 /10
Sources: Mazda, Lexus, Acura, NHTSA, JD Power
