2026 Mazda CX-90: Green Brook Buyers Guide

One engine, two states of tune — and don't confuse it with the CX-90 PHEV

Mazda sells two entirely different CX-90s in 2026, and the naming makes it easy to mix them up. This guide covers the CX-90 Inline 6 — the gas-only, 3.3-liter turbocharged straight-six that starts at $39,300. There's a separate CX-90 PHEV, a plug-in hybrid with its own trims (Premium and Premium Plus) starting north of $50,000, that isn't part of this lineup and isn't covered here. If a salesperson or a search result mentions "electric range" or "MPGe" for a CX-90, they're talking about the PHEV, not the vehicle in this guide.

Within the Inline 6 itself, the same 3.3-liter turbo block does double duty. The 3.3 Turbo tune (Select through Premium Plus) is fixed at 280 hp and 332 lb-ft, runs on regular 87-octane fuel, and doesn't ask for anything special at the pump. The 3.3 Turbo S tune (the two Premium Sport/Premium Plus trims with "S" in the name) is retuned to up to 340 hp and 369 lb-ft, but Mazda recommends premium 91-octane to actually reach that number — run it on regular and you'll get less. It's not one engine that flexes with whatever's in the tank, the way some turbo fours do; it's two distinct calibrations sharing a block.

Standard AWD, a real third row, and where the trims actually diverge

Every 2026 CX-90 Inline 6 ships with i-Activ AWD, an 8-speed automatic with manual-shift mode, Mi-Drive drive-mode selection, and Kinematic Posture Control to keep body roll in check through Route 22's on-ramps. The 60/40-split third row is standard across the board, and cargo runs from 14.9 cubic feet with all three rows up to 40.0 with the third row folded and 74.2 with both rear rows down — genuinely useful numbers for a family hauling gear, not just people. Seating is 8 passengers on a 2nd-row bench for every trim except the Turbo S Premium Plus, which trades the bench for captain's chairs and a center console, dropping capacity to 7 in exchange for easier 3rd-row access and more personal space up front.

Towing capacity climbs with the trim, too: Mazda's FAQ gives a lineup-wide range of 3,500 to 5,000 pounds "when properly equipped," and the full 5,000-pound figure is specifically called out starting at Premium Sport, alongside Mi-Drive's dedicated Towing mode. If a small trailer or a boat is part of the plan, that's a reason to look past the Select and Preferred rather than assume every CX-90 tows the same.

Pick your 2026 CX-90

What Green Brook buyers actually say about the CX-90

The CX-90 shows up in Empire Mazda of Green Brook's Google reviews more than almost any other model, and a consistent theme runs through them: buyers naming the specific person who walked them through the decision. Laura S. wrote after a repeat purchase, "Have purchased many Mazdas here and have been extremely happy. Purchased my CX-90 from James and he never lets you down!!! Very happy!!!" Kevin M., cross-shopping against a Kia Telluride, described a team effort: "Our salesman, Brandon, couldn't have been nicer... His manager, Victor, was my kind of guy. Didn't play games with numbers... Mateo, the finance guy, was also easy to deal with." Mauricio S. singled out the test-drive experience: "I was greeted by Samir. Right off the bat he was very professional, none of that haggling or hustling you get from other car dealers." And Kikato M., upgrading out of a leased CX-5 with a baby on the way, credited both a salesperson and finance: "We ended up getting a CX-90 home that day! We also appreciate our finance manager Daurin Herera for making everything happen."

The service & repair guide covers what current owners say once the CX-90 is actually on the road in central Jersey.

Owning one on Route 22

Green Brook Township sits where I-287 meets Route 22, which means most CX-90 owners here rack up highway miles fast — on-ramp merges, stop-and-crawl rush-hour traffic, and the kind of pothole-riddled stretches a central Jersey winter leaves behind. The service & repair guide covers Mazda's maintenance schedule and what salt and freeze-thaw cycles do to a 3-row SUV parked on this corridor. The pricing & leasing guide works through New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax, current manufacturer offers, and lease-versus-buy math specific to this dealership.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2026 CX-90 a good vehicle?

For buyers who want genuine 3-row seating with a turbocharged inline-six rather than a V6 or a smaller crossover stretched to fit a third row, the CX-90 competes well — standard AWD across the lineup, a genuinely usable 40-cubic-foot cargo hold with the third row down, and up to 340 hp on the Turbo S trims. Where it asks for a tradeoff versus some three-row rivals is at the very top of the price ladder, where a loaded Turbo S Premium Plus moves into territory shared with established luxury three-rows — worth cross-shopping directly rather than assuming.

What are common CX-90 problems?

This guide isn't the source for VIN-specific reliability data or open recalls — NHTSA's recall lookup tool and Empire Mazda of Green Brook's own service department, using your specific VIN, are the accurate current answer to that question. What's confirmed on the spec sheet: the Turbo S trims are tuned to need premium fuel to hit their full 340-hp rating, and running regular in a Turbo S will cost you some power (not damage the engine) — a detail worth knowing before you decide which tune fits your budget at the pump.

How much is a fully loaded 2026 CX-90?

The top Inline 6 trim, the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus, starts at $57,570 MSRP; add the $1,530 destination charge and you're just over $59,100 before any paint upgrade, options, tax, or fees. Mazda's own "as shown" example for that trim, finished in Artisan Red Premium paint, lists at $58,165 MSRP — that figure already includes the paint upcharge and isn't the trim's base price.

Why is the CX-90 so cheap?

"Cheap" undersells it — at $39,300 to start, the Select undercuts most 3-row turbocharged inline-six SUVs by a meaningful margin while still including standard AWD and a genuine 8-passenger third row. It's priced to compete with V6-powered 3-row crossovers rather than against smaller 2-row luxury SUVs, and the engineering underneath (a proper inline-six versus most rivals' V6 or 4-cylinder-plus-turbo setups) is arguably the more expensive layout to build, not a corner cut to hit the number.

Mazda CX-70 vs. CX-90: what's the actual difference?

Same platform, same 3.3-liter turbo inline-six family, same standard AWD — the CX-70 is the 2-row version and the CX-90 in this guide is the 3-row version. If you don't need the third row or the extra length, the CX-70 is the tighter, sometimes better-equipped-per-dollar choice; if three rows of real seating matter, the CX-90 is the one to shop.

Six trims, one lot to see them on

The trim guides below go deep on what each one adds over the last, but the fastest way to actually decide between a Select and a Turbo S Premium Plus is sitting in both, ten feet apart. Empire Mazda of Green Brook keeps the current CX-90 lineup on the floor at 220 US-22, alongside its used and Mazda Certified Pre-Owned inventory.

All 2026 Mazda CX-90 guides

• CX-90 3.3 Turbo Select
• CX-90 3.3 Turbo Preferred
• CX-90 3.3 Turbo Premium Sport
• CX-90 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus
• CX-90 3.3 Turbo S Premium Sport
• CX-90 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus
• CX-90 service & repair
• CX-90 pricing & leasing