The widest and longest production Mazda ever built is coming to Australia after its unveiling early next year, with six-cylinder power and three rows of seating.
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 three-row family SUV has been confirmed for Australia, some time after its global reveal planned for January 2023.
The CX-90 is the second model in Mazda’s new family of ‘Large Platform’ rear- or all-wheel-drive SUVs – joining the CX-60, due in Australia early next year – and will be a three-row, full-size family SUV similar to today’s CX-9.
While the CX-90 will replace the CX-9 in the US and Canada, Mazda Australia has so far indicated the CX-9 and CX-90 will be sold alongside each other locally – but it is unclear for how long this will occur.
As with the CX-60 – and two other Mazda ‘Large Platform’ SUVs planned for overseas markets, the CX-70 and CX-80 – the CX-90 is expected to adopt more upmarket finishes and technology, and a range of new inline six-cylinder engines, plus a plug-in hybrid.
The more luxurious focus is expected to see prices rise over today’s CX-9, which is priced from $47,250 to $74,710 plus on-road costs. The most expensive new Mazda ever sold was the 1995 RX-7 SP coupe, priced from $101,515 plus on-road costs.
According to Mazda, the CX-90 will have “wider, longer and more aggressive proportions than any current Mazda”, and be positioned as the company’s flagship model.
Spy photos published in the US have previewed a stretched iteration of the CX-60’s styling, with a longer wheelbase and rear overhang, but similar tail-lights, tailgate design and long nose.
It will be available will a new three-layer paint colour called Artisan Red Premium, designed for the Large Platform vehicles.
Power in the CX-90 is expected to come from a new 3.3-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder petrol engine, which in the related CX-60 develops 209kW and 450Nm – sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels.
A plug-in hybrid is also expected to be available. In the CX-60, a 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder is combined with an electric motor for 241kW combined – however the CX-90 may receive more power to account for its larger body.
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 will be revealed in January next year, according to Mazda Australia. An Australian launch is expected some time after that – though a date is yet to be locked in.
The smaller, five-seat CX-60 was revealed in March 2022, and was initially slated for Australian showrooms before the end of 2022 – but its launch was later delayed to the first half of 2023.
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