When Mazda introduced the CX-90 Turbo S as its new flagship three-row SUV, the automotive world took notice. Promising a premium driving experience with sophisticated hardware including a 3.3-liter inline-six turbocharged engine producing 340 horsepower, rear-biased all-wheel drive, and what the company described as “crafted premium” interior quality, the vehicle appeared positioned to challenge established luxury contenders. However, after subjecting the CX-90 Turbo S to a rigorous 40,000-mile long-term test, the results reveal fundamental shortcomings that contradict its initial promise.<\/p>\n
The Mazda CX-90 Turbo S creates a strong first impression. The exterior design carries Mazda’s signature Kodo design language with a more substantial, elegant presence. The interior, upon initial inspection, features attractive materials, thoughtful stitching, and a driver-centric layout that suggests a focus on craftsmanship. The powertrain specifications on paper\u2014340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque delivered through an eight-speed automatic transmission\u2014hint at spirited performance for a vehicle of its size and purpose.<\/p>\n
During the first several thousand miles, the SUV’s character seemed to align with Mazda’s marketing. The inline-six engine provided smooth, accessible power. The steering offered decent weight and feedback, and the chassis felt composed during casual driving. The cabin remained quiet, and the infotainment system, while using a rotary controller rather than a touchscreen, proved intuitive for most testers. This initial phase suggested Mazda had successfully executed its move upmarket.<\/p>\n
As mileage accumulated past the 10,000-mile mark, the CX-90’s driving dynamics began to reveal significant flaws. The most persistent and disappointing issue centered on the vehicle’s ride quality and handling balance. Despite hardware that suggested competence\u2014including a Kinematic Posture Control system and standard all-wheel drive\u2014the Turbo S failed to deliver a cohesive or rewarding driving experience.<\/p>\n
The suspension tuning proved particularly problematic. On smooth pavement, the ride felt acceptably firm but controlled. However, on typical imperfect roads\u2014including expansion joints, pavement patches, and moderate bumps\u2014the chassis exhibited a busy, unsettled character. The rear suspension, in particular, demonstrated poor isolation, transmitting sharp impacts into the cabin and failing to settle quickly after encountering road imperfections. This behavior contradicted the premium comfort expected in a vehicle marketed as a luxury alternative.<\/p>\n
While the turbocharged inline-six engine delivered adequate power, its refinement diminished over time. The transmission programming emerged as a weak point, with hesitant downshifts during moderate acceleration and occasional harsh engagements, especially when cold. The stop-start system operated with noticeable vibration, diminishing the premium feel Mazda sought to establish. Furthermore, real-world fuel economy consistently fell short of EPA estimates, averaging just 22 mpg combined despite a stated 24 mpg combined rating.<\/p>\n
Beyond driving dynamics, the CX-90’s interior presented its own set of compromises. While materials in primary touchpoints appeared premium, closer inspection revealed hard, scratch-prone plastics in secondary areas. The third-row seating, a crucial feature for a family-oriented three-row SUV, offered minimal legroom and comfort, suitable only for children on short trips. Cargo space behind the third row measured just 15.9 cubic feet, less than key competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride.<\/p>\n
The infotainment system, initially praised for its simplicity, revealed limitations during extended use. The lack of touchscreen functionality became frustrating for passengers attempting to interact with navigation or climate controls. Wireless smartphone connectivity proved inconsistent, with frequent disconnections requiring manual re-pairing. The standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster offered limited customization and sometimes displayed confusing graphics for driver-assistance features.<\/p>\n
Throughout the 40,000-mile test, several reliability concerns emerged. An intermittent warning light for the driver-assistance systems appeared multiple times, requiring dealership visits that failed to permanently resolve the issue. The power liftgate began operating erratically around the 25,000-mile mark, sometimes reversing direction unexpectedly. Most concerning was a developing driveline vibration noticeable at highway speeds that technicians could not diagnose definitively, suggesting potential fundamental issues with powertrain or driveline mounting.<\/p>\n
When measured against established three-row SUVs, the CX-90 Turbo S’s value proposition weakened considerably. Competitors like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and Hyundai Palisade offered more spacious and comfortable third rows, superior ride comfort, and more intuitive technology\u2014often at lower price points. Even against luxury entrants like the Acura MDX and Genesis GV80, the Mazda failed to deliver the driving refinement or interior execution necessary to justify its premium pricing, which approached $60,000 for the Turbo S Premium Plus trim tested.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the greatest disappointment stemmed from the “Turbo S” designation and Mazda’s emphasis on driving engagement. Despite sporting credentials suggesting athleticism, the CX-90 felt heavy and reluctant when driven with enthusiasm. Body roll was pronounced during cornering, undermining driver confidence. The steering, while precise on-center, failed to communicate adequate road information and felt artificially heavy in sport mode. The braking system, though capable of stopping the vehicle, exhibited noticeable fade during repeated hard use, a concern for a vehicle marketed as performance-oriented.<\/p>\n
The total cost of ownership during the 40,000-mile test exceeded expectations. Scheduled maintenance costs aligned with premium competitors, but unexpected issues like the power liftgate repair and multiple diagnostics for the driver-assistance warning lights added unplanned expenses. Depreciation emerged as another concern, with the vehicle’s value declining more rapidly than segment leaders, reflecting market skepticism about Mazda’s premium pricing strategy for this model.<\/p>\n
Mazda’s i-Activsense suite of driver-assistance features performed adequately but inconsistently. The adaptive cruise control maintained appropriate following distances but reacted abruptly to vehicles merging into its lane. The lane-keeping assist system provided adequate centering but required frequent steering input to remain activated, reducing its usefulness on long highway drives. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems proved reliable and helpful, representing some of the vehicle’s more successful technologies.<\/p>\n
The CX-90 represents a critical test of Mazda’s strategy to move upmarket and compete with established premium brands. Based on the long-term test results, this strategy faces significant challenges. While the vehicle demonstrates Mazda’s ambition and includes genuinely impressive engineering elements\u2014particularly the smooth inline-six engine\u2014the execution falls short in too many areas to recommend it over more accomplished competitors.<\/p>\n
Prospective buyers seeking a three-row SUV with premium aspirations would be better served by vehicles that deliver more consistent refinement, superior practicality, and more reliable ownership experiences. The CX-90 Turbo S ultimately feels like a vehicle caught between segments\u2014not practical enough to compete with mainstream family haulers and not refined enough to challenge genuine luxury offerings. For Mazda to succeed in this competitive space, future iterations will need to address the fundamental dynamic flaws and interior compromises revealed during extended testing, focusing on cohesive execution rather than impressive-sounding specifications that fail to deliver in real-world use.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When Mazda introduced the CX-90 Turbo S as its new flagship three-row SUV, the automotive world took notice. Promising a premium driving experience with sophisticated hardware including a 3.3-liter inline-six turbocharged engine producing 340 horsepower, rear-biased all-wheel drive, and what the company described as “crafted premium” interior quality, the vehicle appeared positioned to challenge established […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":92016,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cards.overcentral.com\/cards\/en\/18264.png","fifu_image_alt":"Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Fails Long-Term Reliability Test with Significant Dynamic Flaws","footnotes":""},"categories":[2336],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-automotive"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cards.overcentral.com\/cards\/en\/18264.png","fifu_image_alt":"Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Fails Long-Term Reliability Test with Significant Dynamic Flaws","fifu_redirection_url":"https:\/\/www.caranddriver.com\/reviews\/a45873287\/2024-mazda-cx-90-turbo-s-reliability-maintenance\/","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18264\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}