Meet the Mazda CX-90: Ultra-premium flagship puts BMW X7 and Audi Q7 on notice

The Mazda CX-90 has broken cover overnight, with the company’s most powerful — and most premium — SUV set to act as a three-row flagship for the Japanese brand in Australia.

The biggest application yet of Mazda’s “CX”-based premium push — like its CX-60 sibling — the CX-90 will seek to leave its mainstream competitors in its rearview mirror when it arrives in Australia later this year, instead going after premium seven-seaters from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Just how will it do it? For one, it will be the company’s most powerful vehicle, revealed overnight with the same turbocharged 3.3-litre in-line six-cylinder engine as the CX-60, only this time delivering more power.

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That engine now produces 254kW from 5000rpm and 500Nm from 2000rpm, earning the CX-90 the title of Mazda’s most powerful vehicle. That engine is supplemented by a 48v mild-hybrid system, called M-Hybrid Boost

Also available is a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which pairs a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and 17.8kWh battery, producing a total 240kW and 500Nm.

So far we’ve only seen the US specs, but we would think the brand will also offer the CX-90 in Australia with diesel power — like the CX-60 — though local specifics will be confirmed later today. In CX-60 guise, the 48v mild-hybrid, six-cylinder diesel produces 187kW and 550Nm.

Equally important, though, is how the CX-90 looks, and how it feels in the cabin, given this is Mazda’s biggest premium play to date.

In the cabin, expect a Japanese design aesthetic, with a focus on high-quality materials.

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The CX-90 will be a premium seven-seater SUV.

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From the outside, you can expect the brand’s modern and smooth design, with the CX-90 sporting a nose-forward design language, a wide body, and the option of big 21-inch alloy wheels.

In the cabin, expect a Japanese design aesthetic, with a focus on high-quality materials like Nappa leather, real wood and soft, layered tones across the dash and doors. The fabric on the dash, for example, using “hanging stitches” (a technique Mazda borrowed from hand bookbinding), and a Japanese weaving technique known as Kumihimo.

Second-row Captain’s Chairs are an option, and the tech appears to be on point too, with the preliminary specifications pointing to a 12.3-inch centre screen, USB-C charging points in all three rows, and a See-Through View parking function.

From the exterior of the CX-90, you can expect the brand’s modern and smooth design.

"At Mazda, our focus is to deliver an ownership experience that enriches the lives of our customers. With each new vehicle launch, we challenge ourselves to progress through our human-centric approach of design and engineering," says Jeff Guyton, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations.

"The CX-90 offers powerful and responsive performance, alluring design, and intuitive technology. We're very proud of our team's work on CX-90, which we know is a breakthrough vehicle in its segment."

Expect Australian pricing and specification details later today.