More info on the 2024 Mazda CX-90 Turbo Preferred Plus AWD:
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 is an upscale, all-wheel drive based SUV that may give some luxury models a run for their money. The standard 3.3-liter six-cylinder turbocharged engine is Mazda's first inline-six, making 280 horsepower. Six, seven, and eight passenger seating configurations are available, and a suite of active safety features is standard.
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I like the rotary dial to operate the screen. In fact, I miss it every time I drive my newer car (not a Mazda) because when you go to touch the screen I often miss because, you know, roads are bumpy. It’s also nice in the Mazda not to have to lift your arm, just use the dial. A superior system, imo.
Doubt a lot of people will be using the 3rd row. It’s a “just in case” 3rd row. I think the mid-level Preferred Plus is the sweet spot. No reason to get the Turbo S etc–why would you need more horsepower in a vehicle like this?
As a Mazda owner I really like the rotary dial. I don’t like touch screens.
I haven’t seen a lot of reviewers point out with trims that Touchscreen for Apple CarPlay / Android Auto capability. It’s standard on the Premium Plus trims plus all the PHEV trims. Hopefully that’ll trickle to some lower trims over the years!
Everything sounds so good on paper. My concern is the transmission – more specifically, the choice to not use a traditional torque converter, resulting in some jerkiness (is that a word?) at low speeds and starting up from a stop. I think I can get used to the Mazda infotainment interface.
I absolutely compliment Mazda for making a in-line six cylinder, most manufactures are going away from 6 Cylinder. Most manufacturers are using fourcylinders are pretty much the only option now, or four-cylinder hybrids .It’s so refreshing to see Mazda using this with a mild hybrid system and in-line six cylinder .Is it perfect no but at least it’s still got zoom zoom! ❤
I like Mazda’s rotary dial both for main system and even for Apple CarPlay. It is fast and responsive and I can keep my eyes on the road and my relaxed hand and arm does the work. I understand Mazda’s safety concern. I was a passenger in an Explorer Platinum and the tablet was slow, busy and distracting.
Super curious to see how you guys like the PHEV, looking to possibly buy one by the end of the year.
My wife and I both drive Mazdas: 2016 Mazda6 & 2020 CX-9. We both have grown accustomed to the rotary dial and when I’m driving another vehicle with a touch screen, I hate that I have to lean up and reach. It sounds petty but after learning the Mazda infotainment and being able to control the system without leaning and reaching, we love it. Both of our cars have Android Auto (and car play) too. Navigation is done by voice command. I think in the newest Mazda systems, the AA & CP are touch screen too; even while in motion.
Please Mazda, don’t go to touchscreen only!
Had a rental Mazda 6 for a couple weeks. Pretty impressive, now cancelled, car. It had the knob/button for the infotainment system as well. After a day or so, it became second nature and I liked it quite a bit. You could operate it by feel and it became second nature to not have to move your hand up and to the screen and instead keep your arm on the armrest and move/push the knob.
2:11 wow the top of the driver’s door window frame angles down sharply toward the A-pillar. That may prove to be an obstacle on ingress/egress.
I’m surprised they didn’t mention the mild hybrid component. There are a several drawbacks to this particular application, in particular, the system does not provide continuous HVAC operation when the engine stops.
Some of these complaints just sound like old person complaining — the rotary knob, shifter and temperature controls are very easy to use. In fact, I prefer Mazda’s take on all of these things compared to the competition
There is a setting, insideBluetooth settings, to make the touch screen responsive for CarPlay. That way you can use both the rotary dial and fingers while using CarPlay.
Mazda has had the rotary knob for 10 years now, how are car testers not used to it by now 😂?
I know it is an Early Review, but you criticized about no option to touch when, if you launch Apple CarPlay, like many do every time driving, then Mazda screen allows touch entries. This combo of touch and no-touch should work out great.
I would stick with the one I know and recommend, the CX-9
It would be more confusing to me if the climate control arrows toggled in the opposite direction. Mazda did it right imo
I recall seeing a Mazda engineer stating that you can enable full touchscreen functionality if you wish – but that it is disabled by default – I believe it was somewhere buried in the connectivity settings.
Nice job by Mike in the review. I REALLY like the more traditional gauge cluster on the dashboard.. But just a normal traditional shifter would have been sooooooo much better than this new shifter.. and Mazda made a lot of things un-safe.. like operating the rotary nob and trying to focus on the screen (at the same time) to change something is extremely dangerous in my view – especially while driving down the road at 60 mph (or any speed). Another un-safe thing is the upper part of the A pillar. I am over 6 feet tall and I sit up higher.. Look at 3:12.. The outward view from 10 to 11 o’clock would be blocked by the upper part of the A-pillar. Mazda could fix this by raising the roof about 2 inches and making the A-pillar less raked back (more upright). I hope that makes sense. Mazda seems to have this lower roofline, more raked back A-pillar problem on all of its SUVS/crossovers – which really hurts outward visibility..
This is touch screen in Apple CarPlay mode