Mazda has a major update of its CX-9 crossover coming next year and it’s offering up a first teaser image that offers a few hints about what’s in store. That starts with the introduction of a new, inline-6 powertrain.
But it also brings a new name for the flagship model. As it did when it launched the replacement for the CX-5, rebadging it the CX-50, the bigger crossover will now be dubbed the 2024 Mazda CX-90.
This first teaser gives us a glimpse of the front fender done up in “Artisan Red,” the first time that hue has appeared on one of Mazda’s larger products. It helps highlight what the automaker bills as the “wider, longer, and more aggressive proportions” of the CX-90.
Expect a roomier interior
The added dimensions will allow Mazda to offer more space for passengers, especially those in back of the three-row package.
Exactly how far it will stray from the outgoing CX-9 is the question, however. In a brief statement accompanying the teaser image, the automaker noted that the CX-90 “continues Mazda’s Kodo Design philosophy of infusing life into the body of the vehicle through passion and precision.”
The interior should get a major update, as well, and that will start with new technologies, including an updated infotainment system. Mazda has moved away from touchscreens with recent offerings, opting instead for a control knob atop the center console. Whether it will stick with that formula when the CX-90 debuts is uncertain.
CX-9 debuts Mazda’s new I-6
Significantly, the image also reveals that the new model will feature an “Inline 6” engine. Mazda has been working on a family of I-6 engines for some time. They originally were expected to show up in an updated version of the Mazda6, the midsize sedan the automaker culled from its line-up at the end of the 2021 model year.
It’s unclear if there will be more than one version of the 3.0-liter powertrain once it finally arrives. Some reports suggest there will be a conventional gas model, along with a mild hybrid version. A diesel variant won’t make it to the United States. Specs haven’t been released but it’s a good bet that the I-6 package will outdeliver the CX-9’s 2.5-liter turbo-4 which makes 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque.
There could be a plug-in option, as well
It’s unclear whether Mazda will offer the new CX-90 with any other powertrain options. But there has been speculation it will share a plug-in hybrid package first offered on the CX-60, one of its European crossovers.
In the smaller crossover, Mazda pairs an inline-four engine with an electric drive system drawing power from a 17.8 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion batter pack. The PHEV produces 323 hp and 369 lb-ft, and can launch from 0-60 in 5.8 seconds, according to Mazda.
Switched to all-electric mode, the CX-60 PHEV musters a combined 39 miles per charge — though that’s based on the WLTP standard. It would likely deliver about 20% less in the U.S., and lose even more range in the bigger, heavier CX-90 — unless the new model gets a larger battery pack.
Rollout and pricing
Mazda isn’t saying much about rollout plans for the new CX-90, though it appears to be set for badging as a 2024 model. The automaker did indicate the new crossover will debut sometime in January, and dealers should be set to start making deliveries later in the year.
The current Mazda CX-9 is relatively pricey when compared to other products in its class, starting at $38,750 before delivery fees.
