Seems like he just bought the wrong car. No glaring issues with the car, just a bunch of small annoyances its seems.
I'll save everyone a click and here is a short summary:

• Did not like it being PHEV, would rather have EV or Gas only
• Did not like lack of touch screen
• Did not like Shifter layout
• Adaptive cruise did not handle corners well
• Did not like hitting the gas cap open button
• Can't lift window wipers
• Only 25 mile range

 

Seems like he just bought the wrong car. No glaring issues with the car, just a bunch of small annoyances its seems.
I'll save everyone a click and here is a short summary:

• Did not like it being PHEV, would rather have EV or Gas only
• Did not like lack of touch screen
• Did not like Shifter layout
• Adaptive cruise did not handle corners well
• Did not like hitting the gas cap open button
• Can't lift window wipers
• Only 25 mile range

Totally agree.

We just finished a week long vacation in our new one and the only complaint that is valid is the adaptive cruise not handling corners well. That is true. It likes to hit the brakes or at least regen on and off at certain corner angles. This is much more true on mountain turns than anywhere else on an interstate honestly.

Thanks for the summary. I wasn’t going to waste my time reading his gripes.

 

He did not do his research. This car did not fit his lifestyle. There will always be haters. I so far like the car and, it fits my needs. His complaints are petty. Some are not even valid.

 

In all fairness, there are things you find when you own the car for a while that you may not have noticed during a short test drive or may not have been called out in reviews or on the manufacturers website. I've had my 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus for a little over 8 months and I have a 4 1/2 page critique of the car.

 

His initial impression video is a bit of a contrast.

Here's the Spec Deck (pdf) where you can see differences in trim level features to make sure you don't overlook option differences. Scroll down to tables.

2024 mazda cx-90 - specification deck https://filecache.mediaroom.com/mr5mr_mazdausa2/222675/download/24MY CX-90 Spec Deck_2.24.23.pdf

 

In my opinion, many of his issues are overly petty. People like to complain and the internet amplifies them.

Here are my thoughts on his complaints:

1. No touch screen as standard equipment. He didn't do his research and bought the trim with the smaller, non-touch screen. If it's important to you, buy the bigger screen. Honestly, the Mazda wheel controller is pretty nice because the screen stays fingerprint free and I can more easily control it from my driving position than leaning forward to touch a screen.
2. No memory mirrors. Mazda should have included this on the PHEV, honestly. They do include it on the inline 6 upper trims. Doesn't warrant return of the car, in my opinion.
3. Transmission is not smooth. It gets better as you drive it and it learns your driving style. Go test drive it and see if you like it or not. Keep in mind, he was coming from a Tesla, which has NO transmission, so no shifts.
4. Gas mileage not that great if you only do highway driving. This is not where a PHEV really shines. We went on a road trip and the mpg was equal to or slightly better than the inline 6 mpg. BUT, when we've had an even mix of highway and in-town driving, we get 50mpg or more (even after calculating the cost of electricity to charge).
5. Unable to refuel or open fuel door with car running. Really? This is actual illegal in some states as it's a safety hazard. Also, many newer cars pressurize the fuel system for more efficient fuel injection. That's why you have to hit the button to open the fuel door - so the car can depressurize the fuel system.
6. Shifter design is horrible. Come on now, you're going to return a car because you don't like the shifter. This is REALLY getting nitpicky now.
7. Bottoms of doors collect an unreasonable amount of debris. We went on a vacation where we drove a LOT of miles on dirt road and I noticed this. Haven't noticed it since. I'm installing the splash guards this week to aid in keeping debris from going in there.
8. Lack of power in EV and combined modes. Drive it and see what you think. He's comparing it to his Tesla. This is a big SUV. Put it in Sport mode and you'll definitely feel the horsepower and torque.
9. Windshield wipers cannot be raised without "service mode". This has been standard on european imports for a long time. It's so the wipers are more aerodynamic because they're tucked under the hood. He claims to have owned 50+ cars and has never had a car with this style of wipers?!?
10. Adaptive cruise cannot handle passing in corners. This should be fixed in a software update. All Mazda has to do is tell the system that when the wheel is turned while using adaptive cruise to turn town the sensitivity of the outside sensor. I'm hopeful they'll update.
11. Will switch out of EV mode for no apparent reason. The reason is a heavy load on the climate control, especially air conditioning. The computer is choosing this to maximize total range.
12. Charging daily for 25 miles of range becomes annoying. To each his own. Make your own decision. If you don't charge, then you get 25mpg. If you do, then it's much better. Do I wish it had more range? Sure. But, it's getting FAR, FAR better mpg than the car we replaced.
13. Headrests not comfortable. Test drive it, for goodness sakes. If it doesn't fit you, then buy a different car.
14. No Max AC button. Turn the temp down all the way, and it does that.
15. Cargo space is minimal. If this bothers you, then buy a Telluride and have fun with the underpowered engine and warranty issues. Or a Highlander and it's underpowered engine, 6-12 month wait to buy, and dealer markups. You get my point.

Is the CX-90 perfect. Nope. No car is. But he is really overplaying many of these issues.

Count me in the group of people who are happy with the car.

 

Very well said.

This may come across as petty, but I am actually relieved that he is selling his CX-90 and will hopefully stop making content on it, because I believe his videos have been casting it in a negative light based on a combination of--with all due respect--irrational bias and lack of knowledge. The fact that he was a Tesla owner and fairly well spoken amplified this effect, as I figure many viewers granted him credibility by default.

@bharkey covered everything very well. I'll chime in on a few points:

• Rotary controller: this is the single biggest thing I miss after selling my BMW and moving into a car with a touchscreen. (CX-90 PHEV Preferred will be the wife's car when it arrives). Touch screen is vastly inferior when the car is parked, and downright hazardous if in motion
• Wiper service position: I myself have had over 15 cars in the last ten years. Only one of them didn't require wiper service position when cleaning the entire windshield, so I can only shake my head that he named this as a problem.
• 25 mile range->charging annoyance: pick your poison here. Having fewer options to recharge/refuel can be annoying too, and as good as Tesla's charging network is, nothing compares to petrol availability. We are changing from BEV to PHEV for fueling flexibility, and regardless of battery capacity and state of charge, we charge every night. A Tesla owner should already be in this mindset, as Elon Musk is famously credited for the saying "A.B.C. Always be charging".
• Shifter: This is a superior design. Why? Because the driving positions are separate from the parking position, meaning you can make drive direction changes without looking to make sure you didn't go into Park instead of Reverse. This should be a major benefit when having to make a multi-point turn with traffic approaching.

 

Thanks guys! Good to know there're happy phev owners out there.

 

Yeah...I call click bait on this. If the weird shifter is enough of a reason to sell a car then it was enough of a reason not to buy it in thr first place. He bought it knowing almost all these things and knew he would trade it just for more clicks. Moving on...

 

I called him out on the click bait issue on Facebook. one thing he tried to say was “I’ve owned over 50 cars, how many have you owned”. That’s where I gave up on him. I don’t care how many cars a person has owned, that doesn’t make them necessarily a good reviewer.

The fact that he’s owned that many cars just tells me he hasn’t owned anything for very long.

 

Gotta ask, what’s the service mode for wipers?

is the button to open the fuel door phev specific? I have no button….

 

Gotta ask, what’s the service mode for wipers?

is the button to open the fuel door phev specific? I have no button….

You can't flip up the wipers when in their normal "parked" position or else they'll hit the edge of the hood. They stay tucked under the hood for better aerodynamics. When placed into service mode, they rotate up slightly onto the windshield and then they can be flipped up.

You do this by turning the car on, then off. Then push the windshield wiper stalk up to mist position 2x within 30 seconds. The wipers will move up.

To move them back to their parked positions, turn the car on and push the wiper stalk up to mist position 2x within 30 seconds. They'll move back down to their parked position.

I guess you're right about the fuel door. Mine is a PHEV and it has the button to open the door. I just looked at the inline 6 manual and it doesn't have it. I presume that's because they have 2 different combustion engines. The 4-cylinder in the PHEV must have a pressurized fuel system and the inline 6 doesn't.

 

You can't flip up the wipers when in their normal "parked" position or else they'll hit the edge of the hood. They stay tucked under the hood for better aerodynamics. When placed into service mode, they rotate up slightly onto the windshield and then they can be flipped up.

You do this by turning the car on, then off. Then push the windshield wiper stalk up to mist position 2x within 30 seconds. The wipers will move up.

To move them back to their parked positions, turn the car on and push the wiper stalk up to mist position 2x within 30 seconds. They'll move back down to their parked position.

I guess you're right about the fuel door. Mine is a PHEV and it has the button to open the door. I just looked at the inline 6 manual and it doesn't have it. I presume that's because they have 2 different combustion engines. The 4-cylinder in the PHEV must have a pressurized fuel system and the inline 6 doesn't.

Noticed that they were tucked in. Thought they just live that way
Thanks! Going to have to give that procedure a try.

 

Makes sense; hadn’t thought about that.

It’s interesting to see all the little differences between the two models and the different trims.

Guessing that’s the one blank button on the S PP

 

I'm curious. How did the sell back go? Did you have to deal with Mazda directly or the dealer? Did you lose money on it? Lose your down payment? etc....

 

To the best of my knowledge the guy who made that video is not on this forum. However, he claims he lost money on the sell-back, which would be expected. No idea how much.

 

7 Most Common Mazda CX-90 Problems (Explained) - Engine Patrol

None of this issues addressed by Mazda going on three months! I have six of them.

MAZDA release some firmware UPDATES! Before the CX-90 reaches Tesla level disappointment due to issues.

7 Most Common Mazda CX-90 Problems (Explained)
Pickups & SUV / By Ian Jarvis / June 11, 2023
The new CX-90 full-size SUV is Mazda’s first foray into the world of electrification.
Much like its CX-9 predecessor, the CX-90 promises great handling, attractive styling, upscale interiors, and third-row seats, but it also adds the benefits of mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the issues and complaints CX-90 owners have had since its release.
Table of Contents

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1. Sensitive Blind-Spot Monitoring
Several CX-90 owners have complained about the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system giving false alerts.
Although the system does a good job of alerting you when other vehicles are in your blind spot, it will often light up even if you’re driving on a completely empty road.
Owners have reported that this issue occurs on the driver’s side more than the passenger side.
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Here is how a few owners described their experience on CX90Forum.com:
“The driver side BSM has issues though, am getting into a state where it just starts putting out a false positive. Weirdly enough even when this is occurring, when I am on the highway, the system will still accurately get real cars driving through my blindspot, then after a period of nothing in my blind spot the monitor will come on and hold for 15-30 seconds at a time.”
“I may have found a particular ‘pathway’ or section of a county road where BSM has given false driver side warnings (couple times).”
“I’m also consistently getting false alerts on the driver-side BSM… better than a false negative, but annoying nevertheless.”
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“My driver-side BSM is getting worse though, thankfully it works perfectly fine at highway speeds. But from 30-50 mph, it will just come on (alerting) and hold for long periods of time 30-60 seconds at a time. I have also had it trigger for the vehicle exit warning in an empty parking lot. So clearly there is something wrong with that system, and with so many reporting the same issue on just the driver side probably a software bug.”
Other CX-90 owners on the Mazdas247.com forum had this to say:
“We were experiencing driver side blind spot monitoring system malfunction. It would randomly and falsely warn us of a car in our blind spot when there isn’t. It sometimes just stays on for no reason when the car is in motion and even when stationary.”
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“Had the false positive trigger an emergency braking when backing out of a parking spot in a parking lot this weekend. Driver side was the “closer” corner to the row of cars behind me, absolutely no movement what so ever.”
False alerts from the Blind Spot Monitoring system are not unique to the CX-90. Many owners of the latest generation Mazda 3 and CX-5 have also reported similar issues.
Although there is no fix yet for this issue, it will hopefully be resolved in the future with a software fix or a calibration of the blind spot monitor hardware.
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Most Mazda owners take comfort in the fact that the BSM has no problems detecting actual hazards on the road. But if you’re always getting alerts, you might eventually dismiss and ignore them altogether, making them essentially useless.
If you’re always getting false alerts, it’s best to take your car back to the dealer for a proper diagnosis, since the issue might be caused by faulty sensors.
If your dealer is having trouble replicating the issue, you can have a passenger take a video of the problem while you’re driving it so they’ll have more information to work with.
2. Driver Personalization Issues
The Mazda CX-90 has a cool new feature that uses facial recognition to automatically apply the saved seat, steering wheel, side mirrors, head up display, radio presets, and climate control settings for a specific person.
However, a few CX-90 owners have been frustrated by the driver recognition system’s inconsistency.
Here is how one owner described their issues on the CX90 subreddit:
“The selected driver doesn’t always recognize you. I’d say 60% of the time it gets it wrong and defers to Guest.”
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Another owner on CX90Forum.com also had issues with driver recognition:
“The driver recognition system usually sets all my settings correctly but has stopped midway once it twice. The bigger failure is to recognize our faces, which happens ~30%. Failure increases in low light but can still happen on a bright, sunny day. When it fails to detect it then moves off the selection screen to quickly a quarter of the time. I have to go back into settings to select my profile.”
Other CX-90 owners had this to say:
“Wife had the same problem with driver recognition, I had her redo. If it does the re training too quickly, it is still broken. When it asks to turn your head side to side, do so slowly. Also had her do an alternate appearance with sunglasses on, and it has been working well since.”
“My success rate on driver recognition went way up if I just wait for it to recognize before I turn on the car. It is a program sequencing thing where if it hasn’t detected you before turning on the car, it just defaults to guest.”
The CX-90’s driver recognition system certainly isn’t perfect, but it works decently enough for the few times that you have to switch drivers, especially since it’s extremely cutting-edge tech for the automotive industry.
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To get the facial recognition and driver personalization system to work as intended, you should give the car a couple of seconds to recognize you before pushing the start button.
If the system is really having trouble recognizing your face, redo the driver profile setup in better lighting conditions.
When the facial recognition fails and automatically sets the profile to ‘Guest’ you can always go into the settings and manually select your desired driver profile.
3. Hesitation at Low Speed
Mazda CX-90 owners and professional car reviewers have complained that the car has a tendency to shudder and hesitate when driving from a stop or at slow speeds.
Most people would attribute this behavior up to the transmission, but it’s likely caused by the mild hybrid system’s transition from EV to ICE power.
Here is how a few owners described their experience:
“Engine is and has plenty of power (Turbo S) but the transmission stutters occasionally in low speed. This happens most often from a full stop.”
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“I’ve noticed some jerkiness with the tranny. Almost like someone trying to learn a manual. I think it is because it shifts as soon as it can. Mine is doing it less with 1k miles now. I stop off or on doesn’t matter. I noticed it less in sport mode when it holds the gear longer.”
“Since the electric motor takes over as you roll to a stop, if you don’t come to a complete stop (i.e., you do a rolling stop or a stop/immediate acceleration), there’s definitely a weird delay when (it feels like) the electric motor is switching back to the gas engine. And if you do come to a complete stop, when you press the gas pedal to go, if you accelerate lightly, you get a noticeable shift between first and second. If you accelerate with a little more intention, or accelerate hard, the delay isn’t present.”
All these seem to be in line with how Top Gear magazine described their experience with the Mazda CX-60 which uses the same platform and powertrain:
“On the move, things with the CX-60 aren’t quite as positive. At low speed the calibration between petrol and electric power is a little clunky, with some alarming noises as the internal combustion engine and auto gearbox sort themselves out.”
Ironically, mild hybrid systems are supposed to make the gas engine’s start-stop behavior more seamless by using the electric motor to help move the vehicle when the engine isn’t running.
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Many Mazda CX-90 owners also report that the engine routinely shuts off while coasting or driving at moderate speeds and notice that the electric motor takes over seamlessly when it does happen.
But when you’re trying to accelerate from a stop or while driving in stop-and-go traffic, the CX-90 can be quite jarring and not as smooth as one would expect from a vehicle that markets itself as an upscale model.
Some CX-90 owners say that turning off the i-Stop start-stop system can help smooth out the slow speed shuddering.
Others say that the shuddering will also become less noticeable over time. This could be because the vehicle has learned your driving habits or people have just gotten used to the slight jerkiness and adjusted how they used the accelerator subconsciously.
If you want to make sure you don’t regret your purchase, it’s best to take the CX-90 out for a test drive and see for yourself if the shuddering is truly a major concern, especially if you’re thinking about buying the mild hybrid versions.
It’s also worth noting that this can also be eventually fixed through a software update.
4. Low Battery Warning
Mazda CX-90 owners may encounter an error on the dash saying ‘Battery Saving Mode. Drive Vehicle to Charge Battery.”
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This same error has been popping up on other new Mazda models like the CX-30 and CX-50, as well as the CX-60 which is exclusively sold in other markets around the world.
The “Battery Saving Mode” warning on the dashboard, which is then followed by several chimes, typically only happens if the car’s electronic accessories have been active for 30 minutes or more with the engine turned off. Despite the warning, the car should still start with no additional errors or issues.
However, in some cases, owners have found that the battery gets fully drained soon after seeing the warning, and are only able to get the car to turn on after getting a jump start.
The following can keep the Mazda CX-90’s electronics awake and drain the battery:

• Leaving the doors and/or tailgate open
• Listening to the radio
• Leaving the car in ‘Accessory’ mode
• Adjusting the seats
• Turning on the cabin lights
• Leaving the key fob nearby
• Installing aftermarket accessories like dashcams

Mazda already updated the software in its other vehicles to make sure the battery warning doesn’t pop up unnecessarily.
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If you can still start the car, you should just let the engine run for 15 to 30 minutes so it can charge the battery back up. Otherwise, you can jump start the car or replace the 12-volt battery for a known good unit to get the car running again.
Mazda also recently released a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) for the CX-90 which recommends simply disconnecting the 12-volt battery’s negative terminal for up to 6 hours so that the computers can reset themselves which usually sorts out any software bugs and glitches.
If the car’s 12-volt battery continues to drain on its own, the dealer should be able to check if it’s caused by a wiring issue or faulty hardware. Removing any aftermarket electronics can also help narrow down the cause of the parasitic drain.
If you’re worried about getting stranded due to a drained battery, you can keep a portable jump starter inside the car at all times. You can always open the door using the emergency key inside the key fob if the keyless entry system stops working.
5. Door Noise
Some Mazda CX-90 owners may notice a strange squeaking, rubbing or rattling noise when closing the front doors.
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This problem shouldn’t affect the car’s reliability or drivability, but it can leave a negative impression of the vehicle especially considering its higher price and otherwise luxury trimmings.
Mazda has already released a TSB to address this issue. It instructs dealers to place some padding or felt material around the door wiring harness to get rid of the rubbing sound.
The TSB also states that Mazda is working on a fix to make sure the issue doesn’t affect newer models of the CX-90.
6. Engine Malfunction Error
A few CX-90 owners have reported encountering an error on the dash saying ‘Engine Malfunction. Have the vehicle Inspected.”
The message usually appears while the vehicle is being driven and the engine doesn’t completely shut down, but it does go into ‘limp mode’ and reduces engine power significantly.
Several users on the Mazda CX-90 subreddit had this to say:
“I bought a brand new CX-90 and in less than a week it went into limp mode while I was coming home. Speed was limited to 20 or 30 mph or less and basically drove like a grandma until I got to my driveway.
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“So we picked up the car (GS-L) and needed to drive it home (around 500km away). Great time to break it in. Was doing 120-130 on highway mostly and all good. Stopped for coffee around 300kms in and now there is a warning on the dash showing “ Engine Malfunction, have the vehicle inspected “. In the app it states that there is a malfunction, to drive at moderate speed and go to dealer. Fantastic, 2nd day with the car and now starting off like this.”
“I just did a test drive on the S and the dash was lit up like a Christmas tree. 270mi on the test drive car so maybe it was redlined a lot, but yikes. I-stop malfunction, engine malfunction, hybrid drive malfunction. I brought it up to 5k RPM and was greeted with a LOUD banging noise. Like someone just bowled a strike right under the hood.”
CX-90 owners who have encountered the ‘Engine Malfunction’ error say that their dealers didn’t report any major issues with the vehicle. It’s likely that they merely reset the car’s electronics and the message went away on its own.
This issue will likely be addressed in the near future through a software update as it doesn’t seem to point to any specific problem with the vehicle.
If you do encounter the error while driving, you can try the following to make it go away:

• Turn the vehicle on and off several times
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• Shut down the vehicle for 20 to 30 minutes
• Disconnect the 12-volt battery for 30 minutes

These steps can usually get rid of minor software glitches and bugs and are much safer than continuing to drive in limp mode with the error message on the dash.
7. Wireless Charging Issues
Some CX-90 owners have had issues with the vehicle’s wireless charger.
In a lot of cases, the charger heats up the phone really quickly which eventually causes it to stop charging altogether. Sometimes, the charger doesn’t even recognize or charge the phone at all.
Here is how one owner described their experience:
“I’d like to add that the wireless charger just doesn’t work. We took it back to the dealership yesterday to diagnose. Yes, it works for five minutes sitting at the shop but not on the drive home. We took a two hour trip and my iPhone didn’t gain any more charge despite getting very warm, hot actually. Yesterday, my wife’s Samsung charged 1-2% in 25 minutes then started cycling white/green on the charger status. My iPhone went 15 minutes, didn’t charge and started flashing red. They both heated up in that time.”
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Similar wireless charger problems are fairly rampant across many vehicles from different car manufacturers, so it’s not exclusively a CX-90 or Mazda issue.
To fix the wireless charging issues, you can try:

• Removing your phone case
• Placing your phone in the center of the charging pad
• Turning on NFC on your Android phone
• Updating your phone’s software

If the issue persists, take your car back to the dealer so they can check if there are any issues with the wireless charger or the wiring. This type of work should be covered while the vehicle is still under warranty
Related: 9 Most Common Mazda CX-9 Problems (Explained)
Mazda CX-90 Pros & Cons
Pros

• Attractive styling
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• Great handling
• Luxurious interior materials
• Roomy cabin
• Good engine performance
• Available plug-in hybrid
• Standard rear-biased all-wheel drive

Cons

• Expensive
• No 2nd row bench seats on higher trim levels
• Untested platform and powertrain

 

Go watch his vids about the CX90.

He is annoyed about non-issue things... like how the wiper blades sit below the hoodline, or that he cannot leave his engine running while refueling.

I've watched nearly every cx90 video on youtube at this point, and his add nothing to the discussion.

 

I'd say don't give him the views and don't watch his videos, if anything give him a thumbs down, the video is click bait.

 

I'd say don't give him the views and don't watch his videos, if anything give him a thumbs down, the video is click bait.

Don’t give him a thumbs down either. He’s looking for engagement. Thumbs down counts as +1 just as much as a thumbs up. YouTube algorithm eats that engagement for breakfast and increases the video’s exposure.

As the old adage goes, don’t feed the troll.

 

Don’t give him a thumbs down either. He’s looking for engagement. Thumbs down counts as +1 just as much as a thumbs up. YouTube algorithm eats that engagement for breakfast and increases the video’s exposure.

As the old adage goes, don’t feed the troll.

That's good to know! I thought a thumbs down would bury it, but I guess not.

 

I agree with must of what you said. There are a lot of little things that F#%IN BUG ME.

 

I plan on purchasing a CX90 this coming spring so I have been doing some research and there is no perfect car so some features your just going to have to get used to..
I don't believe this gentleman is a hater, just uninformed on some of the features of this vehicle. For instance.
He's comparing a PHEV to a Tesla full EV or full ICE vehicle. It just operates differant.

The NON touch screen can be turned into a full touch screen in the programing on the dash screen. It will say someting like your averting a safety feature but you can choose to continue to do this.

The shifter is a little wonkey to me but there is another safety feature that will automacally place it in park or apply the parking break if you open the door before putting it into park.

The lane keeper and adaptive cruise I have heard or found nothing on this yet. So thanks to give me something to search out before I purchase.

Refueling while the engine is running is illeagle in most if not all states and the gas station attendant will shut the pump down on you if he notices, or he gets a fine.. At least in my state, and there is a state out east where they will NOT let you fill your own vehicle, I think Massachucets, probably because of people like this.

I currently have a Palisade and the windshield wipers are the same. There is a way to have them go up and stop. After I turn the vehicle off I have 10 seconds to hit the wiper control, it will lift the wipers up to a verticle position and stop there for cleaning, maintenance or placing that piece of cardboard on the windshield for those winter months..

And he wants more HP in town? then why did he buy a PHEV?

The gentleman just did not do his homework before spending 10's of thousand dollars. So he is not a hater just a uninformed bad shopper. I agree with the rest of the comments below.

P.S. If anybody out there can confirm or deny the lane keep assist and adpative cruise contol issues this gentleman had please respond to that before I spend 10's of thousands...Thanks

 

The NON touch screen CANNOT be turned into a full touch screen. Only the Apple and Android parts. Not the Mazda interface.

 

Just for the record, I'm not the one who made the video. I'm just another shopper on the fence.

Since I spent more time in this forum, I'm less concerned about what this video had to say and more worried about the reliability complaints from some other posts.

 

Just for the record, I'm not the one who made the video. I'm just another shopper on the fence.

Since I spent more time in this forum, I'm less concerned about what this video had to say and more worried about the reliability complaints from some other posts.

It is confusing that you are now disassociating yourself from a video you posted to initiate this thread???
So did you "sell your PHEV back" or did you not?

 

I watched this guy's trip to Yellowstone in the PHEV and thought did he not even do any research before he bought the CX-90? I agree with the above comments. Most issues were petty or just ignorant in his review. Of course your fuel economy at 75-80 mph will be worse than 65 mph. PHEVs are notoriously worse on the highway than around the city. Negativty attracts click-bait YT subscriptions faster than positive ones.

 

I'm on the fence about getting a phev and saw this video. Can any current cx90 phev owner comment on if this YouTuber has a point or is he just a hater?

I have the PP PHEV and I love it. Yes, there are minor things that are different for me in this car as opposed to my 2021 Highlander V6 that I trade in for this but this is not a boring or slow car by any means.

In my opinion, many of his issues are overly petty. People like to complain and the internet amplifies them.

Here are my thoughts on his complaints:

1. No touch screen as standard equipment. He didn't do his research and bought the trim with the smaller, non-touch screen. If it's important to you, buy the bigger screen. Honestly, the Mazda wheel controller is pretty nice because the screen stays fingerprint free and I can more easily control it from my driving position than leaning forward to touch a screen.
2. No memory mirrors. Mazda should have included this on the PHEV, honestly. They do include it on the inline 6 upper trims. Doesn't warrant return of the car, in my opinion.
3. Transmission is not smooth. It gets better as you drive it and it learns your driving style. Go test drive it and see if you like it or not. Keep in mind, he was coming from a Tesla, which has NO transmission, so no shifts.
4. Gas mileage not that great if you only do highway driving. This is not where a PHEV really shines. We went on a road trip and the mpg was equal to or slightly better than the inline 6 mpg. BUT, when we've had an even mix of highway and in-town driving, we get 50mpg or more (even after calculating the cost of electricity to charge).
5. Unable to refuel or open fuel door with car running. Really? This is actual illegal in some states as it's a safety hazard. Also, many newer cars pressurize the fuel system for more efficient fuel injection. That's why you have to hit the button to open the fuel door - so the car can depressurize the fuel system.
6. Shifter design is horrible. Come on now, you're going to return a car because you don't like the shifter. This is REALLY getting nitpicky now.
7. Bottoms of doors collect an unreasonable amount of debris. We went on a vacation where we drove a LOT of miles on dirt road and I noticed this. Haven't noticed it since. I'm installing the splash guards this week to aid in keeping debris from going in there.
8. Lack of power in EV and combined modes. Drive it and see what you think. He's comparing it to his Tesla. This is a big SUV. Put it in Sport mode and you'll definitely feel the horsepower and torque.
9. Windshield wipers cannot be raised without "service mode". This has been standard on european imports for a long time. It's so the wipers are more aerodynamic because they're tucked under the hood. He claims to have owned 50+ cars and has never had a car with this style of wipers?!?
10. Adaptive cruise cannot handle passing in corners. This should be fixed in a software update. All Mazda has to do is tell the system that when the wheel is turned while using adaptive cruise to turn town the sensitivity of the outside sensor. I'm hopeful they'll update.
11. Will switch out of EV mode for no apparent reason. The reason is a heavy load on the climate control, especially air conditioning. The computer is choosing this to maximize total range.
12. Charging daily for 25 miles of range becomes annoying. To each his own. Make your own decision. If you don't charge, then you get 25mpg. If you do, then it's much better. Do I wish it had more range? Sure. But, it's getting FAR, FAR better mpg than the car we replaced.
13. Headrests not comfortable. Test drive it, for goodness sakes. If it doesn't fit you, then buy a different car.
14. No Max AC button. Turn the temp down all the way, and it does that.
15. Cargo space is minimal. If this bothers you, then buy a Telluride and have fun with the underpowered engine and warranty issues. Or a Highlander and it's underpowered engine, 6-12 month wait to buy, and dealer markups. You get my point.

Is the CX-90 perfect. Nope. No car is. But he is really overplaying many of these issues.

Count me in the group of people who are happy with the car.

I bet he took a hefty loss returning this car for the reasons he mentioned. I always research any vehicle I am purchasing. Who goes to buy a car and goes in blind anymore??

 

I am going to return my PHEV because I HATE the sound the turn signal makes! It sounds like keys hitting the column. Unacceptable in a $60K vehicle!!! Seriously, I don't like the sound but coming from someone who has literally owned 1000s of cars (I had a used car lot for 6 years) the CX-90 is the best vehicle in my price range that exists. I drove them all (except the Grand Highlander Max which looks pretty good but is probably boring like most Toyotas) and bought the CX-90. I will say the shifting is fairly bad with hesitation and jerks and surges of power (going uphill when battery is low and gas engine kicks in it is like starting the engine with foot to the floor) but I think some of this will be fixed with a program update. Beyond that, there is very little reasonable thing to complain about. Sure, I would love double the EV range but 26-27 gets me through alot of my days. With charging to 100% (I know I shouldn't) every day and going to basically 5% before getting home I have been averaging around 60 mpg. I just saw a test saying the PHEV is faster than the turbo 6. They recorded 5.9 zero to 60. What other option is there for something that is so fun to drive, great looking (my opinion), has a 3rd row, goes that fast with that mpg(e), for around $60K? There is nothing. I am a little happy that not everyone appreciates it because I don't want to see them everywhere but also a little concerned that Mazda stays profitable and keeps making great (for those who appreciate it) vehicles. I can only imagine how good this CX-90 will be in a few years with just a few tweaks.

 

LOL!! We have a Turbo S Premium and I can definitely say the transmission has gotten smoother over the past 4 months after "learning" our driving style. I was driving it earlier today and just thinking the shifts are now almost imperceptible.

 

PHEV owners/drivers! how do you compare cabin noise, road noise, wind noise in phew vs turbo S? if anyone has driven grand highlander what are your thoughts regarding comparing it with cx 90 phew. Ive read reviews that GH hybrid max is more powerful in practicality as well compared to cx 90. Any comparison re suspension, says GH is soft on the road , heard cx 90 phew drive is a bit harsh. Please let me know of your thoughts.

 

I got the PHEV since this post. I've test driven Turbo S, Turbo, and PHEV back to back to back. And many competitor vehicles in the segment. Here are my thoughts

• The PHEV somehow feels like a more refined package. Torque delivery is more linear, especially in Sport mode. Stop/start is much smoother compared to the 48V system. IMO the 48V system is not production ready. It feels very unrefined off the line with stop/start and certain downshifts like 3-1. Yea you can turn it off, but...
• Suspension feels very close between PHEV and Turbo/S, with PHEV feels a little firmer. When making sharp turns you do feel the extra weight of the PHEV.
• 30mph to 50mph acceleration feels much quicker in PHEV. Sport mode.
• No discernable difference in my test drive between Turbo and Turbo S. (I test drove Turbo PP and Turbo S Premium)
• Noise-wise, PHEV is quieter but the I6 sounds sportier with pumped in intake noise. I think it's cool, others might not.

I also test drove GH Turbo (no hybridmax on the lot). It's Okay. The interior doesn't feel as upscale but is a lot roomier. It's easy to drive, but not engaging. Pick your priority. Also GH has a very long wait. I placed a 500 dollar refundable deposit 2 months ago for a hybridmax limited. I'll have to contact that dealer and get that money back. Also PHEV PP with the 7500 credit is about 5000 dollars cheaper than GH hybrid max limited. Keep that in mind too.

 

Generally, the PHEV is quieter than the inline 6. Mainly because they pump more fake engine sound into the cabin with the i6. We own the PHEV, and had a loaner i6 for 3 weeks, so that’s where my opinion comes from. I felt like the PHEV was more refined overall.

I wouldn’t describe the ride as harsh. I’d say it’s sporty. If you prefer a soft steering feel, super cushy ride, etc, you’d probably be happier with the GH. If you prefer more direct, engaging, and in my opinion fun driving car, get the CX-90.

 

Thanks, did you drive GH hybrid max? Is phev better in gas mileage on highway (long trips) compared to GH 27mpg?

 

I drove the Grand Highlander Hybrid (with the 2.5L inline 4-cylinder), but not the Hybrid Max (with the 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder). I felt like the Grand Highlander Hybrid was significantly underpowered and drove like a couch to me. Depends on what you like, but I wasn't crazy about it. Maybe the Max, with the stronger powertrain will feel better?

We took our CX-90 on a long road trip and averaged between 26-28mpg, and that was with a cargo box on top. I'm sure without the cargo box, it would have been even better.

Now that we've got a more balanced mix of driving (some in-town, some highway), we're averaging over 50mpg.

Clearly, I'm biased because I chose the CX-90 over the Toyota. But, drive them both and decide for yourself.

 

Thanks , valuable info

 

Great points, how's GH suspension on harsh surface, bumps? is cx90 quieter than GH, I've heard it has acoustic glass but phev does not.

 

Suspension is good on both cars. GH is a little on the soft side but not too much body roll when turning. CX90 suspension is a little on the firmer side so you do feel the road imperfections more. I personally prefer the latter, many 3 row buyers might not. NVH-wise, PHEV has an edge imo. In EV mode it's a clear winner. In hybrid mode with engine running, it's slightly better than the GH. The 2.4t in GH can sound pretty coarse at times when pushed hard. Road noise/wind noise, 2 are similar.

I know it sounds cliche at this point, but my take is, if you're a family man, get the GH. If you want to have an engaging and somewhat fun drive when grocery shopping and picking up/dropping off kids, and you don't care too much about 3rd row space, get the cx90. Of course if your wife lets you keep a sports car then you can have a sports car AND a GH but, you get my point.

Additionally, If you have access to cheap electricity (I have 12c/kwh after 7pm and free level 2 charger at work), and your daily commute is made largely of sub 50mph backroad/city driving and doesnt exceed 30 miles total, cx90 phev is a very sensible choice.