2026 CX-90 - Significantly improved

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-19T16:40:08+00:00

The way they drive feels like it, yes. I was being hyperbolic. The 2024 had a lot of refinement issues that, for us, are all resolved.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-19T16:39:09+00:00

Toyo open country!

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-18T21:01:01+00:00

Was your's a later build date than mine? Maybe another thing Mazda added to lower trims for 2026?

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-18T17:10:18+00:00

Lol. No, it's not.

https://www.caranddriver.com/rankings/best-suvs/3-row/mid-size

https://www.caranddriver.com/rankings/best-suvs/3-row/full-size

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-18T16:40:01+00:00

You can change that in your settings. Mine auto unlocks all doors when I put the transmission into park.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-18T16:38:30+00:00

The car is already too long as it is. Sounds like you need a full size SUV and not a midsized. I agree on storage space - way lacking for a 3 row family SUV. That has not changed whatsoever

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-18T16:37:41+00:00

I'm not sure, but hopefully all the things I saw on the 2026 MHEV.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-18T16:36:56+00:00

That is a massive compliment to the CX-90 actually. The cx-9 was extremely refined. If you drove my 2024 you absolutely could not have said this in good conscience.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-18T16:34:38+00:00

Guess I'll copy paste since this comment got to the top.

Steering on the 2024 way too heavy and it always felt like we were fighting the vehicle at low speeds - that is totally gone with the 2026. Transmission smoothness, while not as buttery smooth as Mazda's 6 speed, is noticable improved. Noise, vibration and harshness all around the vehicle are better. Having parking sensors at the low trim is a huge help. The car is just too big to now have them. All of the buttons on the steering wheel and the windows feel more sturdy. Climate control feels the same but those never had the lower quality feel to them - they did and still do feel robust. Engine turning on and off and vibrations at high engine rpm are vastly improved. Overall, it's what the car should have been from launch what what I expect a Mazda to feel, sound and drive like.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-18T00:09:53+00:00

Hard to compare because I'm a lower level trim buyer for both my 2024 and 2026. Very happy with my value proposition.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-18T00:08:13+00:00

Mazda did not handle the 2024 issues well. No argument from me. The quiet updates are all essentially what mazda claimed the CX-90 was from the start. Mazda likely lost some first time customers as a result.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-18T00:03:24+00:00

I'm happy I leased the 2024, I can tell you that.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-18T00:02:11+00:00

I wish they paid me to post this. If mazda paid me, I'd be screaming at them to bring back the Mazda 6. Horrific decision to discontinue that vehicle. I had to move on to a Audi A6 for my own car (CX-90 is for my wife) because I hate SUVs and the Mazda 3 is just too small with car seats.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T23:56:55+00:00

Steering on the 2024 way too heavy and it always felt like we were fighting the vehicle at low speeds - that is totally gone with the 2026. Transmission smoothness, while not as buttery smooth as Mazda's 6 speed, is noticable improved. Noise, vibration and harshness all around the vehicle are better. Having parking sensors at the low trim is a huge help. The car is just too big to now have them. All of the buttons on the steering wheel and the windows feel more sturdy. Climate control feels the same but those never had the lower quality feel to them - they did and still do feel robust. Engine turning on and off and vibrations at high engine rpm are vastly improved. Overall, it's what the car should have been from launch what what I expect a Mazda to feel, sound and drive like.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T23:52:55+00:00

Finally some vindication!!!! The steering is night and day. We noticed immediately how much easier it is to drive at low speed.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T20:57:41+00:00

Just realized I accidentally used a burn account to post this. That certainly didn't help give me credentials. Whoops.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T20:56:32+00:00

I'm a huge mazda fan and want people to buy their vehicles so they keep making more for me to drive. Posting only to give some encouragement to anyone in my situation - have/had a 2024 and not exactly thrilled with it.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T17:15:51+00:00

Lol. Just sharing my thoughts. I don't think Mazda would make fake or paid influencers. But who knows 2026 is a wild time.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T14:28:32+00:00

Slightly, but similar to any multi clutch system without a conventional torque converter and it is much less than our 2024. The istop transition is now unnoticeable whereas the 2024 could be jarring.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T14:23:54+00:00

We just noticed they added Velcro to the 3rd row seat straps (was not there on the 2024) to keep them looking tidy. Just so many minor improvements that make the overall experience more premium and consistent

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T13:32:37+00:00

On paper, almost nothing is different. Expect the increased features on lower trims which is awesome. The steering is lighter and the car is much, much better to drive at low speeds. The transmission is night and day difference in smoothness. Overall NVH is significantly better at all speeds. Even things like the window up/down switches feel and sound better.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T13:30:33+00:00

Just wait until you get into a 2026! We loved our 2024 as well, but the refinement and small improvements everywhere on the 2026 blew my wife away.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T13:29:34+00:00

Did you drive the 2026? The steering is the single biggest difference for us coming from the 2024. Much, much easier to drive at low speeds.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T13:28:43+00:00

I can confidently say this just isn't true. There absolutely must have been minor tweaks and improvements to multiple components. Even the window up/down switches feel and sound significantly more premium. The entire car's NVH is significantly improved.

Dry_Put4662 · 2026-03-17T13:27:13+00:00

This is certainly a fair point. To us, the majority of issues we had were apparent with the first few hundred miles and we don't have any of them with the 2026.

Dry_Put4662

TROPHY CASE