With so many SUVs on the market in the US these days, it can be difficult to sort through the different options so that you can land on the perfect specimen that fits your everyday life. For buyers with larger families to take care of, you'll likely need to find yourself a full-size SUV with three usable rows of seats. Not only will this allow you to carry seven or eight passengers at a time, but you could also bring along a decent amount of belongings, too.The trouble is, finding such a vehicle that comes with all-wheel drive, which makes it a safer family bus, can cost a fortune. You can always consult the used market, but there's nothing like getting your hands on an untouched machine. Finding an SUV that ticks all these boxes is challenging, but thanks to Mazda's CX-90, it is possible. The CX-90 Is The Cheapest Three-Row SUV In The US With Standard AWD MazdaMazda's CX-90 offers impressive value when you factor in the level of grunt and versatility offered by its powertrain. The base Select trim comes with a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six engine, as well as a single electric motor that not only boosts power, but also fuel efficiency by taking some strain away from the powerplant. In standard Select guise, the duo produces 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. Mazda's engineers worked hard to keep the combination as light as possible, hence the block and cylinder heads both being crafted from aluminum.The power is channelled through an easy-to-use eight-speed automatic transmission, with all four wheels getting a share of the grunt. For a base MSRP of just $38,800, this is a pretty potent technical makeup. Indeed, despite weighing just shy of 4,800 pounds, this plus-sized SUV can sprint to 60 mph in just under seven seconds. Mazda's Full-Size SUV Isn't As Thirsty As You Might Expect Mazda The news gets better too, as, despite its heavyweight frame, the CX-90 won't decimate your bank balance by forcing you into every fuel station you pass. Thanks to the influence of the mild-hybrid powertrain, the CX-90 can achieve an average MPG figure of 25. It won't be giving a Prius nightmares anytime soon, but it's solid for such a large machine. The CX-90 Comes With The Essentials Needed For A Daily Family Cruiser Mazda While having AWD is a solid benefit at this price point, you may be wondering about the kind of refinement you can expect from a base CX-90. Well, you get a fair bit, actually. Aside from the three-row leatherette-trimmed seating plan, which means eight passengers can clamber aboard, the vehicle also comes with a leather steering wheel and tri-zone climate control as standard. In addition, a 10.3-inch infotainment screen controls the CX-90s entertainment capabilities, and is also home to a useful reverse camera and Alexa voice controls.Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are natively featured in Mazda's infotainment setup, as is Bluetooth connectivity, which you'd expect with a brand-new 2026 model. Another useful addition is radar-guided cruise control, which means the CX-90 will match whatever speed the car ahead of you is doing on the highway, ensuring it maintains a safe distance at all times to reduce the chances of a crash. Mazda's Big Family Bruiser Is Loaded With Safety Gear Seeing as you'll probably have a large family loaded into the rear of your CX-90, you'll be mindful of the safety it provides. Well, it was awarded a five-star safety rating by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, and also comes as standard with a ton of systems that are designed to prevent accidents from happening in the first place. Alongside the rear camera, you also get blind spot monitoring, as well as lane-keep assist and departure capability.A tire pressure monitoring system is also thrown in to ensure that your rubber is correctly set, while bread-and-butter traction and dynamic stability control systems are present to keep the vehicle on all four wheels. Higher models come with extras such as front and rear parking sensors and traffic avoidance, though the sub-$40k Select trim comes with all the essentials needed to keep you and your family safe should the worst happen. All-Wheel Drive Enhances The CX-90's Safety Further Still Mazda The same can be said about the CX-90s AWD setup, which can be immensely useful when you have to deal with adverse weather conditions. With all four wheels sharing the engine's 280 hp, it can be better distributed between both axles, which will help each tire to make the most of the grip they have. This will come in clutch if you have to accelerate along a slippery road or through puddles, as you'll find yourself not spinning up the wheels. In a front or rear drive car, this could cause a loss of control, and subsequently, a potential crash.The CX-90s active system is designed to make the most of its AWD, with the principal aim to keep you safe and the vehicle free of the nearest ditch. Speaking of which, the CX-90 also comes with an off-road mode, which alters the character of the engine and stability systems to better deal with slippery and uneven terrain. This will come in useful when trying to escape that muddy field that was completely dry when you parked there earlier in the day. Simply having the knowledge that your CX-90 has AWD will help you feel more relaxed behind the wheel, especially when the heavens open. The CX-90 Was Developed To Ensure Mazda Could Cater To Large Families Mazda The CX-90 first appeared in 2023 as the successor to the three-row CX-9 SUV. The midsize CX-9 had come under fire during its extended production run for not providing enough cabin space, so Mazda elected to elevate the CX-90 to the full-size category by making use of its new Large Product Group platform. This base debuted with the CX-60 in 2022, and is also utilized by the CX-70 and CX-80 nameplates. Despite only being a couple of inches longer and around half-an-inch taller, the CX-90 offered much more in the way of practicality.For starters, an extra seat was included in the third row, affording it room for eight passengers rather than the seven of the CX-9. There was also more headroom for all three rows of passengers, while those in the front and third rows got around an inch of extra legroom. The trunk was also larger, with 14.9 cubic feet of space, comparable to popular midsize sedans like the Toyota Camry. Lower the rear seats, and you have 74.2 cubic feet of room at your disposal. The CX-9 only had 71.2 cubic feet of cargo space when both rear rows of seating were collapsed. That said, despite its lack of space, it remains a strong used bargain.For the price, you'll struggle to find a three-row full-size SUV that boasts as much versatility as the CX-90, especially given that you'll get full AWD capability.Sources: Mazda.
