UPDATE 5 August 2026: Mazda Australia has confirmed that a footnote in the CX-90 owner’s manual restricting outboard passengers when a child seat is installed in the centre of the second row was an error, and has been removed from the latest manual. However, Mazda does not recommend installing three child restraint systems simultaneously across the second row, citing potential interference between seats and restricted access to the centre child restraint. Read our full investigation here.
This week I'm testing the 2024 Mazda CX-90 with my family. This is Mazda's biggest seven-seater SUV, replacing the CX-9 at the top of their range, so let's get straight into seeing how this new family-sized SUV stacks up as a BabyDrive…
Quick Links
- How much does the 2024 Mazda CX-90 cost and what are the options?
- How big is the boot of the Mazda CX-90?
- How good is the storage in the 2024 Mazda CX-90 for families?
- How many child seats will fit in the Mazda CX-90?
- How comfortable is the Mazda CX-90 for families?
- How safe is the 2024 Mazda CX-90 for families?
- What is the 2024 Mazda CX-90 like to drive?
- Compare the 2024 Mazda CX-90
Quick Overview
- ✓ Can fit five child seats (three in second row, two in third row)
- ✓ Excellent boot space that's larger than the CX-9 it replaces
- ✓ Built-in window blinds in the rear doors
- ✓ 10 airbags including third-row curtain airbags
- ✓ 2.5-tonne towing capacity (petrol models)
- ✗ Firm ride may not suit all families
- ✗ Side mirrors could be larger for better visibility
- ✗ No ANCAP safety rating yet
Key Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Price Range | $74,550 – $100,045 |
| Warranty | 5-year/unlimited km |
| Safety Rating | Not yet tested by ANCAP |
| Engine Options | 3.3L I6 turbo petrol or diesel with mild hybrid |
| Power/Torque | Petrol: 254kW/500Nm, Diesel: 187kW/550Nm |
| Child Seat Capacity | 5 seats (3 in second row, 2 in third row) |
How much does the 2024 Mazda CX-90 cost and what are the options?
| Model Grade | Engine Type | Price (Before On-road Costs) |
|---|---|---|
| CX-90 G50e Touring AWD | 3.3L I6 Petrol | $74,550 |
| CX-90 D50e Touring AWD | 3.3L I6 Diesel | $76,550 |
| CX-90 G50e GT AWD | 3.3L I6 Petrol | $84,445 |
| CX-90 D50e GT AWD | 3.3L I6 Diesel | $85,550 |
| CX-90 G50e Azami AWD | 3.3L I6 Petrol | $93,545 |
| CX-90 D50e Azami AWD | 3.3L I6 Diesel | $92,899 |
| CX-90 G50e Azami SP AWD | 3.3L I6 Petrol | $100,045 |
| CX-90 D50e Azami SP AWD | 3.3L I6 Diesel | $99,399 |
| CX-90 G50e Azami Takumi AWD | 3.3L I6 Petrol | $100,045 |
| CX-90 D50e Azami Takumi AWD | 3.3L I6 Diesel | $99,399 |
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 is the brand's largest and most luxurious SUV, positioned above the CX-60, CX-70 and CX-80 in the range. All variants come with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CX-90 is available with either a 3.3L petrol or diesel engine with mild hybrid technology.
There are three main specification grades – Touring, GT and Azami – with the flagship Azami available with optional Takumi and SP packages that add captain's chairs in the second row (making it a six seater) and premium interior finishes.
How big is the boot of the Mazda CX-90?
The boot door of the Mazda CX-90 opens and closes with just a touch of a button and a single beep, which is great as it's not too loud and won't wake sleeping babies in the back!
The boot space and its functionality are really important. I like to have a big boot space and little side wells or areas I can divide things into. So something I don’t want to move around while I’m driving such as Tulsi’s lunch bag or her wet swimming gear can be sectioned off in a little well where it’s not going to spill or get squashed by the rest of the things in the boot.
Hooks for securing shopping bags to are also favourites of mine, I like being able to secure the bag containing more fragile things like eggs so they don’t move around on the journey.
I measure the boot space in freezer shopping bags, prams and dogs. Not because I think all there is to a mum’s life is food shopping, prams and dogs. (Although it can feel like it sometimes!!) But because these are visually measurable items we can all associate with. For me, the car company boot measurement of litres is not an amount I can easily visualise and 400L in one car may differ in usability to that in another due to the configuration or shape of the space.
Mazda says the boot space is bigger than that of the previous CX-9 model it replaces, and they're not wrong! When using two rows of seats (third row folded), the boot of the Mazda CX-90 will hold a whopping 22 shopping bags, which is fantastic for a family vehicle. It's comparable to the Nissan Pathfinder (22 bags), Hyundai Palisade (22 bags), Toyota Kluger (20 bags) or Ford Everest and Kia Sorento (18 shopping bags) or Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid holds (17 bags).
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat…
…will fit in the boot of the Mazda CX-90 with 13 shopping bags.
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with two sibling seats…
…will also fit in the boot with 13 shopping bags.
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat and the bassinet…
…will fit in the boot of the CX-90 side by side with six shopping bags.
…fits easily in the boot with 11 shopping bags.
…fits easily in the boot with nine shopping bags.
The Thule Spring, lightweight, one-handed folding stroller…
…fits in the boot of the Mazda CX-90 with 15 shopping bags.
You can also fit two 90-litre and two 70-litre Thule Chasm duffel bags in the boot…
…or accommodate a very large dog.
When using all three rows of seats, the boot of the Mazda CX-90 will still hold seven shopping bags, which is really good for a seven-seater SUV and helpful when you've got all the family on board! It's comparable to the Nissan Pathfinder (8 bags), Hyundai Palisade (8 bags), Toyota Kluger (8 bags) or Ford Everest (6 bags), Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid (6 bags) and Kia Sorento (5 shopping bags).
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat…
…will fit in the boot of the Mazda CX-90 with two shopping bags when all rows are in use.
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with two sibling seats…
…will just fit in the boot, but with no room for shopping bags.
The Thule Urban Glide 3, ultimate All-Terrain stroller with one back wheel removed…
…fits in the boot with one shopping bag.
The Thule Spring, lightweight, one-handed folding stroller…
…fits in the boot of the Mazda CX-90 with two shopping bags when using all seven seats.
You can also fit two 70-litre Thule Chasm duffel bags…
…or a small dog in the boot when all seats are in use.
Mazda has designed the CX-90's boot with a 5-degree incline that creates a flat loading space when the second and third rows are folded, making it easier to transport long items like furniture and surfboards.
How good is the storage in the 2024 Mazda CX-90 for families?
The front interior of the CX-90 is minimal and modern. The seats are leather, and it's a really pleasant interior to spend time in.
When it comes to storage in the front, there are two cupholders in the central console that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup.
In front of them is a phone charging pad, and there's a 12-volt socket there too.
The central console box is shallow, but you've got your USB-C ports in there for charging.
There's a glasses case in the ceiling that's lined…
…and the glove box is a good size that would hold my wallet and iPad with the manual.
The door bins are great in the front! They will hold a refillable water bottle, and there's room for an iPad too.
Storage in the back of the CX-90 is very good. In the second row, there's a fold-down armrest in the central seat back with two cupholders that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup, or a kids' drink cup fits in them too.
In the back of both front seats are map pockets that will hold and conceal an iPad.
The door bins are a good size in the back. They will hold a refillable water bottle or two, and there's a little bit more storage space there as well.
There are USB-C sockets in the back of the central console box, so second-row passengers can charge their devices while travelling.
There are also lights in the ceiling when you get your kids in and out at night, so you can see what you're doing. As well as handles above both rear doors, so if you've got little rear-facing passengers, you can hang a toy up there to keep them occupied while you're driving along.
There are cupholders on both sides of the third row, two on each side, that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup or a drink bottle.There are also USB-C ports back there for charging devices.
How many child seats will fit in the Mazda CX-90?
When it comes to installing child seats in the back of the CX-90, there are ISOFIX points in the two outer second-row seats. They are within plastic guides and lovely and easy to connect to.
There are top tether anchorages on the back of all three second-row seats, which is fantastic news.
You can fit three child seats nice and comfortably across the second row seats.
I could sit in the second-row between two child seats.
In the third row seats, there are no ISOFIX points…
…but there are top tether anchorages on the back of both of the third-row seats, which are really nice and easy to access through the boot.
You can install two child seats in the third-row seats, which is fantastic news for families that need to!
For large families, you can put five child seats in the back of the Mazda CX-90!
Legroom in the back of the CX-90 is good. With a 186-centimetre driver in the front, you can fit a rear-facing infant capsule in the second row behind them, and then a forward-facing child seat in the third row, which is pretty impressive.
Or you could put a 186-centimetre driver in the front, a forward-facing child seat in the second row, and you'd probably fit a 170-centimetre tall, lanky teenager in the third row too.
Accessing the third row in the CX-90 is good. The second-row seats are split 60:40, and the 40% portion is on the driver's side. If you don't have a child seat installed in this seat, you can press the button down by your feet and it will bring this seat forward with a big walk through to the third-row seats.
However, with a child seat installed in the seat using the ISOFIX rather than the seatbelt, you can just bring this seat forward and there's a great space to step-through to the third row. Not quite as easy as the CX-9 was though!
Now, if you've got three child seats across in the second row, I found that this mechanism wouldn't work. I couldn't get the two child seats in the 60% side far enough across for this mechanism to still work. So it does work better if you've got two child seats installed in the second row, rather than three.
The rear doors of the CX-90 open really nice and wide, making access in and out for rear passengers really nice and easy. It also gives you a nice big space when you're installing child seats and when you're reaching in to do up your little ones' harnesses.
How comfortable is the Mazda CX-90 for families?
The Mazda CX-90 offers some excellent comfort features for families. There are built-in window blinds in the rear doors, which is fantastic for keeping little ones in the back shaded from the sun while you're driving along. This saves you having to purchase ill-fitting aftermarket versions!
There are air conditioning vents in the back of the central console box for second-row passengers…
…and also vents on either side in the third row, which is fantastic news for keeping little passengers in the back nice and comfortable while you're driving along. This is one of the big improvements over the CX-9 which was brilliant except for the lack of third-row air vents.
There are controls for the rear climate in the back of the central console box, but ultimately the adults in the front can take control from the dash if needed.
In the second and third-rows, there are lights positioned centrally in the ceiling.
I have found our daughter does not like travelling in the dark in the car so if it gets dark whilst travelling then I reach back and turn the interior light on for her. So it’s really important for me that I can reach the rear ceiling light.
Also if I am traveling home and it is getting near to bed time and I DEFINITELY DON’T want her to fall asleep in the car as even a 5minute nap in the car means bed time is all over!!!! I lean back and pop the light on so it’s not dark and try to keep her awake!! Along with screaming/singing at the top of my voice!!!
The seats are comfortable for passengers in all three rows.
The headrests in the front do not adjust to allow for a ponytail though!
I had spent hours styling my hair this morning to get it just right too… said no new mum ever!!!
The 2025 Mazda CX-90's indicator sound was not too loud, so it did not disturb my kids while they were sleeping in the back.
The windows and doors in the CX-90 are not too loud or noisy to open and close, and they do not baby-wake!
Becoming a parent I soon realised there are some noises and sounds I feel are unnecessary and I could happily live without if it meant my baby stayed asleep!!
That often the distraction of my screaming, distressed baby is more dangerous when driving than not having a lane departure warning for example.
If it is the lane departure warning beeping that creates distress with my baby then which is safest?
It’s where I think we need to be able to strike a balance and choose when we can mute the warnings or swap them to a vibration in the steering wheel or flashing light perhaps?
A lot of these noises come with the increase in technology and especially linked to safety features and alerts. For me these all have their place.
Another thing I have realised is I spend my time in a lot more places where small children roam, parks, beaches, play gyms, swimming lessons, daycare centre etc. I have become more aware that when I’m reversing or manouvering in the car parks I have to triple check for small children running around behind me or being in my blind spot when reversing. For this I LOVE reversing cameras, I just don’t like their beeping sounds!!
I have become so much more aware of safety and potential accidents or hazards since having a child and so I love the peace of mind that I get from the cameras and sensors combined with my own vision from windows and mirrors as I don’t trust cameras alone.
The CX-90 is a quiet and smooth drive, and there are no real baby-waking noises.
The windows and doors open and close quite quietly in the Mazda CX-90 and wouldn't disturb little sleepy passengers.
With baby asleep you can get in and out without worrying the doors will be too noisy. The same for the windows their mechanism is not too noisy and I didn’t notice them having a loud opening or closing sound. With baby asleep you want to be able to get in and out without worrying the doors will be too noisy and wake Bub up!
You can lock the windows and doors separately from the driver's door control panel.
The media system in the Mazda CX-90 is nice and easy to use and navigate using the rotary dial down in the central console.
You scroll through this list, and there is built-in sat nav, which is really nice and easy to use.
You've also got your settings in there, so you can go in and change the sound settings, which is great for families with noise-sensitive children.
You can change the safety settings and can go in and change the vehicle settings and things as well.
You also have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in here, which is fantastic for accessing your phone's navigation, music, podcast and navigation apps and other features while driving along.
When you put it into reverse, the camera images are lovely and clear, and you've got a couple of views that you can choose from.
You can also turn the parking sensors on and off using a button down by the driver's right knee.
How safe is the 2024 Mazda CX-90 for families?
The Mazda CX-90 has not been through ANCAP crash testing, so there is no safety rating for it. However, it does have 10 airbags as standard, including side curtain airbags that extend to the third row of seats, which is fantastic news for little passengers back there! There's also an airbag that comes down between the front passengers in the event of an accident.
The CX-90 comes with Mazda's comprehensive i-Activsense safety suite, which includes: Smart Brake Support (SBS) with Turn Across Traffic, Smart Brake Support (SBS): Turn Across Traffic with pedestrian and cycle detection, Emergency Lane Keep Assist (ELK), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) with Vehicle Exit Warning, Adaptive LED headlamps (ALH) on GT and Azami grades, 360° view monitor, Front and rear parking sensors, Driver monitoring system, Secondary Collision Reduction System.
The Azami model takes safety technology even further with See-through View, an evolution of the 360° View Monitor found in the Touring and GT grades. This system helps drivers see potential obstacles around the vehicle's wheels in the direction of travel, particularly useful in tight spaces like parking lots or narrow alleys.
Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound. I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Bub’s asleep!
Visibility from the driver's seat is good in the CX-90, although I do think the side mirrors could be a touch bigger. However, even with five child seats in the back, I can see a little smidge out of that back window, and I think with only three, you'd be able to see really well.
There's also a button down in the central console that you can turn a camera on at low speed so that you can see while you're parking and maneuvering.
What is the 2024 Mazda CX-90 like to drive?
The Mazda CX-90 is a nice car to drive. It does have a firm ride, however, it handles really well and it corners really well too.
When it comes to parking and maneuvering, the turning circle is really lovely and tight considering this is a very long car, which makes parking much easier. The reversing cameras are clear and helpful too.
One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and the kids have either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful. Usually I dread when we get the big cars and utes as they take longer in our tight apartment block carpark, the CX-90 was fine reverse park!
The CX-90 has four different driving modes – Normal, Sport, Off-Road and Towing. The diesel model I tested has a 2-tonne towing capacity, while the petrol variant has a 2.5-tonne towing capacity, so you could tow a little camper with that.
The mild hybrid system in the CX-90 helps improve fuel efficiency too.
Compare the 2024 Mazda CX-90:
If you're looking at the 2024 Mazda CX-90, you might also want to consider the Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Sorento, Nissan Pathfinder, or the Mazda CX-9 it replaces.
BabyDrive Verdict on the 2024 Mazda CX-90
To sum up, the Mazda CX-90 makes a fantastic family car! You can fit five child seats in the back with really good legroom in all three rows, which is fantastic news for families that need it.
The boot space is very good. When you're using five seats or all seven, you can still fit the Thule Urban Glide 3 or Thule Sleek single or double pram in the boot.
The drive is very nice, and the media system and cameras are excellent, too.
Key Pros:
- Can fit five child seats in the back!
- Generous boot space even with all seats in use
- Premium interior with high-quality materials
- Built-in window blinds in the rear doors
- 10 airbags including third-row curtain airbags
- Good towing capacity (2.5 tonnes for petrol models)
Key Cons:
- Firm ride may not suit all families
- Side mirrors could be larger for better visibility
- Top grades are quite expensive
- No ANCAP safety rating yet
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