When Mazda launched the CX-60 in the Philippines, we were floored, but when Mazda unveiled the CX-90, we were sold. While many seven-seaters would throw around the word “premium” willy-nilly, the CX-90 feels every letter and syllable in the word, and we feel it.
What we have here with the CX-90 and by extension the CX-60, is a duo of even more premium crossovers from the brand, which we thought wouldn’t be possible. Simply being in it while it is parked is already a feast for the senses, but the moment that the engine comes to life and you’re hands are on the wheel, you’ll get the feeling that you’d want to do nothing else but drive it—at least in our experience. As such, it’s one special car that we’re featuring—a well-deserved feature might we add.
Let’s run you through the experience of driving it, looking from the outside, stepping in, taking it in, and driving off and to your destination.
Just sitting in it
There is no getting around it, you will feel special in any seat of the CX-90. Whether it’s the front seat or the middle row. Okay, perhaps the back row is more like riding economy but you do get a good amount of space, still. The CX-90 is a bit big, to begin with, and the size translates to the interior, well mostly. You’re still in a seven-seater crossover which means that it won’t be the most premium riding experience ever. However, if you take note of the interior quality, the Nappa leather that envelops your body, and also the ambiance that Mazda has pretty much pinned down to a tee with its cars, it’s really something special that may as well be worth all the money that you pay, at least in our opinion.
The moment that we got a chance to drive this car, we didn’t hesitate to say yes. However, we didn’t drive right away. We took a few moments to actually soak everything in, take in the sights, learn the car’s curves on the inside, and finally start that straight six and hear the engine purr to life.
Speaking of that engine
Even before we were able to drive it, we had to indulge ourselves in the smoothness of the engine. One of the reasons why Mazda went with a straight six and went through all the engineering hassle of putting a long block in the body of a crossover is because a straight six is the most balanced engine configuration in the world right now. You could say that it is pretty much perfect and benefits driving dynamics.
With six cylinders, a turbo, and an M Hybrid Boost system in play here, we get a grand total of 280 hp and 450 Nm of torque. More horsepower than a diesel SUV, and a competitive amount of torque. This results in a gasoline engine that has pull and power at the same time. Even with all that power, however, you only get a purr when you rev it. The engine is definitely not geared for performance, and its startup and rev-up are smoother compared to straight-six sports cars. This is definitely a car that has been built to drive refined.
At this point, we’ve only sat in the car and started it up. Other things to note include all of the soft animations that don’t demand you to drive but egg you on regardless. Instead of getting our heart pounding, butterflies were welling in our stomachs. It’s hard to deny the theatrics that Mazda employs whenever you start its car and one of the reasons why it’s nice to soak everything in slowly before you drive.
Driving carries weight
It’s hard to deny the size of the CX-90. It’s a big car, and there is no getting around it. Well, there is but physically walking around the car takes a bit of time if we’re being honest. Anyway, while it may be a bit of a long walk around the car, how it gets around is another feat in itself. The CX-90 carries itself well through corners, in the straights, and on the highway. It’s no sports car, but it definitely feels about a segment smaller than it actually is while you’re driving it. Mazda has some sort of magic fairy dust that allows its cars to feel a lot nimbler than they actually are.
Technology and engineering are very different now, and coupled with Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control and other safety systems, it’s easy to feel confident behind the wheel of this vehicle. Whether it’s canyon carving or an exit ramp on the highway, the chassis feels planted, body roll is more communicative than distracting (in comparison to other cars of similar size) and the steering wheel is so direct and quite unlike other crossovers we were able to experience and test in-depth.
At this point in our drive, we’re already out and enjoying, and you know what? We really think that you should test drive this car. Now, to temper your expectations, the reason why we’re so impressed with this vehicle is the fact that it drives so well, but it balances all of that jazz with practicality and refinement. It is really one of the cars that we have no issues with the word “premium” being used to describe it. An overused term it is, but for the CX-90 it is deserving.
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