The Mazda CX-90 Is a Sleeper Luxury SUV. Here’s Which Trim Actually Makes Sense.

Mazda has quietly built something most mainstream brands can’t seem to nail: a three-row SUV that actually feels premium without requiring a second mortgage. The 2026 Mazda CX-90 splits the difference between mainstream and luxury so cleanly that it makes competitors look like they’re phoning it in. Soft-touch materials, surprisingly athletic handling, and a turbocharged six-cylinder engine under the hood—this thing punches way above its price point. The problem? Mazda offers six different trim levels, and not all of them are created equal.

If you’re shopping the CX-90 lineup right now, the noise and confusion around which trim to buy is real. Do you need the extra 60 horses from the Turbo S? Is the base model actually sufficient? Which interior upgrades are worth dropping another $4,000 or $5,000? We’ve sorted through Mazda’s trim strategy so you don’t waste time chasing phantom value.

The Best Buy: Premium Sport

Skip the overthinking. The Premium Sport trim at $49,010 is where the CX-90 finally makes complete sense as a purchase. It’s not the base, and it’s not the upper-tier luxury land—it’s the sweet spot that Mazda engineered for people who know what they’re looking at.

The jump from the base Select ($40,830) is $8,180, but you’re not paying for arbitrary badge points. The Premium Sport brings a 12-speaker Bose surround sound system, built-in navigation, real leather seats (heated and ventilated in front, heated in back), a heated steering wheel, and—this is the kicker—a drive mode selector with sport, off-road, and towing modes. All of that matters if you actually drive the thing and care about the experience rather than just parking it in a driveway.

The Preferred trim ($44,980) exists, but it’s a trap. It’s too close in price to the Premium Sport while giving up tangible quality-of-life features like the Bose system and the drive modes. Mazda’s pricing here forces you to either accept the base or jump to Premium Sport. Most shoppers should jump.

The Engine Question: Standard Six vs. Turbo S

Here’s where the CX-90 gets interesting. The standard 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six produces 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. That’s legitimately enough power for a three-row family SUV. You’re not going to feel like you’re driving a golf cart.

But Mazda also sells Turbo S variants (the S Premium Sport at $55,760 and S Premium Plus at $59,100) that bump output to 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. According to Car and Driver’s testing, the S Premium Plus hits 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. That’s quick for a three-row, eight-passenger SUV. The question is whether that extra 60 horses justify a $6,750 premium over the Premium Sport.

For most buyers, the answer is no. The standard engine is responsive and turbocharged—it’s not like you’re driving a naturally aspirated four-cylinder. If you’re towing 5,000 pounds regularly or live somewhere with mountainous terrain, the S might earn its keep. But for suburban duty and the occasional road trip? The base turbocharged six does the job without breaking the bank.

Options Worth Your Money (And Those That Aren’t)

Mazda’s option list on the Premium Sport is refreshingly short, which means there’s less rope to hang yourself with. The $900 Premier Tow package includes trailer hitch, harness, tow ball mount, and brake controller—genuinely useful if you tow. The $700 Essential Tow package gives you just the hitch and harness at a lower price point.

The $800 digital rearview mirror is a nice-to-have, but not essential. The no-cost captain’s chair swap reduces seating from eight to seven, which makes sense if you never use that middle row anyway and want easier access to the back.

Skip anything else. Mazda’s straightforward option strategy means you’re not going to accidentally overpay for a sunroof bundle or some nonsense package deal.

Why the Premium Plus Trim Exists (And Why You Can Skip It)

The non-S Premium Plus ($51,800) adds nappa leather, front cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree camera, adaptive front lighting, and a windshield de-icer over the Premium Sport. None of these features will fundamentally change how you experience driving the CX-90. The Premium Sport already has real leather—it’s just not nappa. The safety cameras are nice, but modern smartphone integration has made these almost redundant for anyone paying attention.

The S Premium Plus ($59,100) takes it further with ventilated second-row seats, a rear console, and that extra 60 horsepower. If you’re someone who regularly has rear-row passengers who demand leather-trimmed luxury, this is your trim. For everyone else, it’s overkill.

The Real Story: Mainstream Pricing, Luxury Feel

The most important thing to understand about the CX-90 is that it’s a psychological win for car buyers. You get interior materials and finish quality that typically live in cars costing $60,000 to $70,000, but you’re paying around $50,000. The turbocharged straight-six is genuinely engaging for a family hauler—Mazda has been pushing the

Sources: Car and Driver