2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Volvo XC90 marked a significant departure from the brand's past design ethos, which was often likened to utilitarian appliances. This model showcased a purposeful yet understated aesthetic, with a stout front end and a grille that was assertive without being ostentatious. The signature "Thor’s Hammer" headlights added a modern touch, distinguishing it from the boxy Volvos of the past. The XC90's rectilinear dimensions were complemented by 21-inch wheels, adding a hint of drama to its otherwise stoic appearance. Inside, the XC90 exuded elegance with its two-tone leather steering wheel, metal speaker covers, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The minimalist design was enhanced by wood deco inlays, creating a serene and sophisticated cabin environment.

In contrast, the 2024 Mazda CX-90 embraced a luxury image with its elegant design language, drawing inspiration from smaller Mazda models and scaling it up to a more imposing SUV form. The CX-90's exterior featured a large grille, wide-set front end, and tasteful chrome trim, exuding elegance despite its size. Inside, the top-tier models boasted interiors that rivalled luxury brands, with brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic accents. The CX-90 offered a range of trims, each benefiting from Mazda's stylish design language and comfortable layout. The interior was both spacious and thoughtfully designed, with clever storage solutions and a focus on comfort and luxury.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 introduced the B6 engine, a mild-hybrid powertrain that replaced the older T5 and T6 engines. This new setup offered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, slightly less than its predecessor but with improved fuel efficiency and smoother operation. The mild-hybrid system used a 13-volt starter generator to handle functions like climate control and ignition, enhancing the driving experience with imperceptible auto stop-start technology. The XC90 delivered a reserved yet enjoyable driving experience, with its eight-speed automatic transmission providing smooth shifts and its brakes offering solid pedal feel. While it lacked extensive off-road capabilities, the XC90's simplicity in driving dynamics appealed to those seeking a straightforward driving experience.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid option and an all-new turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system. The upgraded 3.3-litre inline-6 turbo engine delivered 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, providing a substantial performance boost. The CX-90 offered three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, with noticeable differences in behaviour between them. The PHEV model combined a 2.5-litre engine with a 17.8-kWh battery, producing 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an all-electric range of 42 kilometres. Both CX-90 models excelled in handling, with a double-wishbone front suspension and agile steering, making them feel nimble despite their size.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 offered a peaceful and pleasant front-seat experience, but its Scandinavian minimalism led to some space and storage frustrations. The lack of dedicated cubby space for smaller items, such as cell phones, was a notable drawback. The second row was comfortable and spacious, but accessing the third row was challenging, especially with the standard seven-passenger seating configuration. Cargo space was decent, with 356 litres behind the third row and a maximum of 1,856 litres with all seats folded, but it fell short compared to competitors like the Audi Q7 and Acura MDX.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 provided a range of seating configurations, with the lowest trims accommodating eight passengers and higher trims offering six or seven seats. Cargo space varied depending on the seating arrangement, with a maximum of 2,129 litres in models with a two-seater third row. While the CX-90 improved on the CX-9's capacity, it still lagged behind rivals like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. However, the CX-90 excelled in clever storage solutions, with spacious door pockets, a large centre console, and well-placed cupholders. The interior materials and upholstery added to the overall comfort and luxury of the cabin.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display running on Google OS, the first of its kind in a standard infotainment system. Google Maps, Spotify, and Google Assistant were integrated, enhancing the user experience with natural-language recognition. However, the reliance on the touchscreen for key functions led to some frustration, as more physical buttons and redundant controls would have been appreciated. Keyless entry was standard, with an optional head-up display.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 focused on eliminating distractions with its Mazda Connect infotainment system, which used a rotary control knob and hard buttons instead of a touchscreen. While the intention was to reduce distraction, the setup proved frustrating for some users. However, the CX-90 offered personalization software with facial recognition, automatically adjusting settings for different drivers. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard, with touchscreen controls available for these systems, providing a more familiar and user-friendly experience.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 was renowned for its safety features, carrying a five-star rating from the NHTSA and being named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. Standard safety tech included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. Volvo's Pilot Assist technology provided hands-on driver support, maintaining distance and lane position at various speeds.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 came equipped with i-Activsense, Mazda's suite of advanced driver assistance systems, as standard. This included blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The CX-90 Signature trim featured cruising and traffic support, blending lane-centring with adaptive cruise control. While crash-test ratings were not yet available, the CX-90 was expected to perform well, given the accolades received by the previous CX-9 model.