2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 presented itself as a formidable contender in the luxury SUV market, challenging the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz with its sophisticated design and high-quality materials. Mazda had surpassed its Japanese counterparts, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota, in terms of design and material quality, edging closer to the luxury arms of these competitors. The CX-90's exterior was a supersized version of the elegant design language seen in the smaller CX-30 and CX-5, featuring a big grille, wide-set front end, and large wheels that demanded attention. Inside, the top-tier models boasted interiors that could rival luxury brands, with brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic bits, creating an upscale atmosphere.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a true crossover built on the TNGA-K platform, sharing its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models. It was larger than its competitors, offering a spacious interior that benefited from its 5,115 mm length and 2,950 mm wheelbase. The Grand Highlander's design was more conservative and blockier, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. Inside, the Grand Highlander offered a comfortable and well-built environment, with black Softex synthetic leather on the XLE trim and real leather on the Limited and Platinum trims. The spacious interior and thoughtful design made it an excellent choice for road trips and family outings.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid option and a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system. The base turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, while the upgraded version in the GT-P and Signature trims increased power to 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. All CX-90 models came with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CX-90 Signature trim offered three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, with noticeable differences in behaviour between Normal and Sport modes. The PHEV model combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a 17.8-kWh battery and a 68-kW electric motor, producing 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an all-electric range of 42 kilometres.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options: a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with 245 combined net horsepower, and the Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. All powertrains came with all-wheel drive. The Hybrid Max delivered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander featured three drive modes: Sport, Eco, and Normal, with additional modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models. While the Grand Highlander was larger and less manoeuvrable than the smaller Highlander, it offered solid brakes and adequate acceleration.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 offered various seating configurations, with lower trims seating eight passengers and mid-level trims seating seven with captain's chairs. The Turbo Signature trim featured an exclusive six-seat configuration. Cargo space varied depending on the seating arrangement, with up to 2,129 litres available. While the CX-90 improved on the CX-9's cargo space, it still fell short compared to competitors like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. The interior featured clever storage options, comfortable seats, and a panoramic sunroof, creating a comfortable environment despite its smaller capacity.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, offering a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres. With seats in position, it provided 1,640 litres behind the second row and 583 litres with all three rows up. The spacious interior offered ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for adults in the third row. The Grand Highlander's design and storage space made it an excellent alternative for those seeking a spacious vehicle without opting for a minivan.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 focused on eliminating distractions with its Mazda Connect infotainment system, which used hard buttons and a rotary control knob instead of a touchscreen. While the intention was to reduce distractions, the system's quirks and idiosyncrasies often led to more distraction. However, the CX-90 offered personalization software that adjusted settings based on facial recognition, and it came standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with touchscreen controls for these systems.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. An intelligent assistant was available via a connected-services subscription, responding to voice commands for tasks like adjusting the temperature. The system included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 11-speaker JBL stereo on higher trims. While Toyota's tech offering had improved, shoppers were advised to carefully consider subscription options.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 came standard with i-Activsense, Mazda's suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and more. The CX-90 Signature trim added 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 based on the CX-9's accolades.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, and more. The updated lane-departure alert could identify three-dimensional objects, reducing false warnings. Traffic jam assist and a head-up display were exclusive to the Platinum grade. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.