2024 Mazda cx90

Mazda gave a teaser of its upcoming CX-90 crossover, as well as the straight-six that’s powering it.

While I originally thought (wrongly) that we’d spotted the new mid-range CX-70 crossover, what’s imminently coming down the pike is in fact the 2024 Mazda CX-90. The automaker confirmed that fact on Wednesday through its social media channels. In addition to the photo, they said, “the CX-90 represents our boldest expression of Mazda design to date. More to come.”

We can’t see too much of that design, though we suspect it will share at least some cues with the European market CX-60, launched earlier this year.

In time, a midsize CX-70 is on the docket, to the best of our knowledge. This time around, though, I definitely made the wrong call that the CX-70 would be coming first. Instead, this upcoming 2024 Mazda CX-90 is one of five new models as the company makes a broader push in the competitive SUV market.

Apart from the new styling direction, Mazda made it clear this new crossover will be powered by its inline-six engine. Based on what we know so far, it should be a 3.3-liter mill. That said, we may well see a four-cylinder-backed plug-in hybrid in our market as well. Like other automakers, Mazda needs to electrify its lineup and it has committed to doing exactly that within the next seven years. The smaller CX-60, introduced four Europe, gets a hybrid option, and their CX-80 flagship will also see a gas engine paired to an electric motor.

Sticking with the six-pot for a moment, though, I’m curious to see how much power it will produce in its North American spec. The Australian version, per a CarExpert report, is slated to put out 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, which isn’t dramatically more than the 2.5-liter SkyActiv-G turbo we’ve had in the CX-9 for the past several years.

It’s unclear at this moment whether the 2024 Mazda CX-90 will directly replace the aging CX-9, but we should have more information on that in the coming months.

Mazda has earned rave reviews for their new CX-30 and CX-50 SUVs. The brand just teased its next offering, the CX-90, which will debut in January 2023. The all-new three-row SUV should end up being the replacement for the three-row CX-9, even if the CX-9 has an extended phase-out.

What do we know about the CX-90? Mazda says the CX-90 will be the brand's new flagship vehicle. It should be longer, wider, and more aggressively proportioned than any vehicle the brand has put forward before. It will debut Mazda's new Large platform in America and its new Artisan Red paint color.

The teaser image reveals "inline6" badging, which strongly suggests the CX-90 will receive an inline-six engine option; all current Mazda vehicles employ four-cylinder power. However, that six-cylinder engine may not be that much more powerful than current choices. The Mazda CX-60 released in other markets uses a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six, which puts out 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. The 2.5-liter engine in the CX-9 can generate up to 250 hp and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane fuel.

Mazda has been creeping toward being a luxury manufacturer in recent years, and the CX-90 could push the Japanese brand even further in that direction. The CX-9 starts at $38,750, and the CX-90 will likely come in at an even higher price point.

The CX-90 should be a big hit for Mazda. The CX-9 looks excellent, features a premium interior and is outstanding to drive. The only real trouble with it is its size. The CX-9 interior is not quite big enough to be a full-fledged three-row crossover and compete with big sellers like the Toyota Highlander and Kia Telluride. A bigger take on the CX-9 with the CX-90 could make that leap.

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