2025 Mazda CX-90 Hybrid Review: Expert Insights, Pricing, and Trims
The CX-90 PHEV doesn't have any direct mainstream plug-in competition, but standard hybrid rivals include the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and Kia Sorento Hybrid. What's New
New for 2024, updates for this year's CX-90 PHEV consist of: Expanded standard tech including a larger infotainment screen
A Premium Sport trim level, which replaces the Premium model What We Think
The Mazda CX-90 PHEV stands out with bold styling and a rewarding driving experience. It doesn't quite check every box for three-row SUV shoppers, however.
True to Mazda's reputation, the CX-90 excels at delivering a sporty, engaging ride. The powertrain is strong enough, though the transmission can feel unpolished at lower speeds. Ride quality is generally composed, but larger bumps can unsettle its otherwise firm and controlled demeanor.
Inside, the cabin is impressively upscale, with the same high-quality materials as the gas-only model. Space in the second and third rows—particularly rear legroom—and overall cargo capacity fall short for a vehicle aimed at families, however. Access to the third row could also be more convenient.
In daily use, the infotainment system remains a sticking point. The console-mounted dial is cumbersome, and although the touchscreen works well with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it's frustrating that Mazda limits its functionality to those platforms rather than enabling it universally.
The CX-90 PHEV has clear strengths, especially in driving dynamics and design, but standard hybrid rivals from Hyundai and Toyota offer more space and lower prices. That makes the Mazda a tougher sell in this subset of the segment. Top-Ranked Competitors: MotorTrend Tested
All 2025 CX-90 PHEV are equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, electric motor, and battery pack. Mazda pegs system output at 323 hp and 369 lb-ft torque. In MotorTrend testing, the plug-in hybrid can accelerate to 60 mph in a decent 6.2 seconds.
The CX-90 PHEV is the only plug-in hybrid model in the class of traditional hybrid three-row SUVs. In terms of engine displacement, the closest competitor is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which utilizes a 2.5-liter inline-four and two electric motors to develop a total of 243 hp. This much less powerful SUV took a considerably slower 8.4 seconds to sprint to 60 mph in MT testing. MPGs and Range
With a combined fuel economy rating of 56 mpg-e, the 2026 Mazda CX-90 PHEV can travel as far as 490 miles with a full tank and a fully charged battery. That includes 26 miles of all-electric driving range.
Standard hybrid rivals can't claim any all-electric driving range. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid does return strong combined fuel economy, though, with 35 mpg. It can also travel some 598 miles on a full tank. Safety Ratings and Features
The CX-90 PHEV is an IIHS 2025 Top Safety Pick+. It also earns NHTSA's top award, a five-star overall safety rating. Standard driver assists consist of: Automatic emergency braking
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Lane keeping
Adaptive cruise control
Driver attention monitor
Front and rear parking sensors Cargo Space and Interior Room
Both gas and PHEV versions of the CX-90 provide the same space. Third-row legroom and standard cargo capacity compare favorably to the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. Generally, rivals are more spacious. Technology
Infotainment
The 2025 CX-90 PHEV features a new larger 12.3-inch central display that becomes a touchscreen when wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is used. A 12.3-inch driver screen is also included, as are two USB-C ports per row, for a total of six. A wireless phone charger becomes standard this year for all PHEV models.
Sound System
Eight speakers are standard with the base system. Mazda also offers a 12-speaker Bose upgrade on higher CX-90 PHEV trims.
Available Upgrades
Premium cabin features include a head-up display, second-row captain's chairs, ventilated front seats, and heated steering wheel and rear seats. A hands-free power liftgate is also on offer. Value
Standard Features
Every CX-90 PHEV scores a strong powertrain that also provides some electric-only driving range (provided you remember to plug in regularly). Family-friendly features include solid tech and a third row of seats.
Recommended Trim
The entry-level CX-90 PHEV preferred is right up our alley for its mix of performance, efficiency, and technology, especially with this year's upgrades. It comes with better-riding 19-inch wheels, too.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Honda Should Be Concerned About The Toyota Corolla Hybrid's Price And Efficiency
Honda Should Be Concerned About The Toyota Corolla Hybrid's Price And Efficiency originally appeared on Autoblog. Compact cars get more efficient Compact cars are known for being more efficient than their larger counterparts, and they get even more efficient in hybrid form. The Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla have one of the industry's most intense rivalries, and now it looks like that battle is extending into the hybrid realm. With the addition of the Honda Civic Hybrid to the range for the 2025 model year, these Japanese compact sedans were destined to go tire-to-tire eventually. The Toyota Corolla Hybrid is more affordable The Honda Civic Hybrid is available in both sedan and hatchback bodystyles. In sedan form, the 2026 Civic Sport Hybrid is priced from $29,295. It rides on black 18-inch alloy wheels, with LED lighting and heated side mirrors. Inside, the Civic Sport Hybrid features red ambient lighting, sport pedals, and heated seats. A seven-inch touchscreen display comes standard, along with eight speakers and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Sport Touring Hybrid starts at $32,295, with upgrades that include a nine-inch touchscreen display, a premium Bose 12-speaker audio system, and wireless smartphone connectivity and charging. The Honda Civic Hybrid hatchback comes with a similar set of amenities, minus the red ambient lighting and a few other features. Like in the sedan, there's a $3,000 difference between the two available trim levels. The Sport Hybrid model will cost you $30,495, while the top-spec Sport Touring Hybrid is priced from $33,495. The Toyota Corolla Hybrid is only available in sedan body style, but it significantly undercuts its Japanese competitor in price. In base form, the Corolla Hybrid LE starts at $23,825, which is more than $5,000 cheaper than the Honda Civic Hybrid in either body style. Practicality is the name of the game, and the base Corolla Hybrid rolls out on 16-inch wheels complemented by LED headlights. Toyota has been upping its tech game, though, and all Corolla Hybrid models come with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Hybrid SE offers a sportier look, but opting for the mid-tier model will cost you $26,265. That price tag nets you a few notable upgrades, including 18-inch alloy wheels, a sport mesh black front grille with LED lighting, and sport seats. The Hybrid SE also sees wireless smartphone charging added to its standard equipment. The Hybrid XLE, starting at $28,190, is designed for comfort with a handful of upscale amenities, like SofTex-trimmed heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is incredibly efficient Toyota is known for practicality over frills, and the Corolla Hybrid definitely got the memo. Designed to offer transportation and little else, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE and XLE earn up to 53 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway, for a combined 50 mpg. The sportier SE trim sees fuel economy drop three miles per gallon across the board due to its larger wheels. Unfortunately, Toyota doesn't currently offer a hybrid-powered Corolla hatchback. Make no mistake - driving the Toyota Corolla Hybrid isn't going to be a thrill ride. Under the hood lies a 1.8-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine that produces just 138 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly, Toyota offers all-wheel drive as an optional upgrade to the tune of $1,400, but performance remains the same. Adding all-wheel drive reduces fuel economy to 51 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway in the Corolla Hybrid LE model. Both 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid models earn similar fuel economy, which makes sense considering they share the same hybrid powertrain. The sedan is the more efficient option, earning up to 50 mpg in the city and 47 mpg on the highway, for a combined 49 mpg. The hatchback model earns 50 mpg in the city as well, but fuel economy drops by two miles per gallon, leading to a combined 48 mpg. The Honda Civic Hybrid comes equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors. It produces a combined 200 horsepower, significantly more than its Toyota counterpart. Honda only offers the Civic Hybrid with front-wheel drive, though, so if you want an all-wheel drivetrain, you'll have to opt for the Corolla Hybrid. Final thoughts The Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are two of the industry's most well-known nameplates, with the latter standing as one of the best-selling vehicles in the world. With the addition of a hybrid-powered Civic, their rivalry ignites in yet another segment. While the Honda Civic Hybrid is available in both body styles, neither can compete with the Toyota Corolla Hybrid's price. If all you care about is transportation, then Toyota's offering is the way to go. If you want a little more engaged driving experience while earning similar fuel economy, the Civic Hybrid's 200 horsepower goes a long way. Honda Should Be Concerned About The Toyota Corolla Hybrid's Price And Efficiency first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Corning forecasts upbeat quarterly core sales on AI-driven demand
(Reuters) -Specialty glass maker Corning forecast third-quarter core sales above Wall Street estimates on Tuesday, led by artificial intelligence-driven demand for its optical connectivity products. Shares of the company rose about 6% in premarket trading. AI has been a growth driver for Corning's products, such as cables and connectors, which are increasingly used by hyperscale data centers to support the massive computing and data transmission demands. "We also expect an additional growth driver to emerge in the coming months, as new and existing customers seek to leverage our large U.S. advanced manufacturing footprint," CEO Wendell Weeks said. Based in New York, Corning also sells a break-resistant Gorilla Glass for mobile phones, tablets and smart watches, and has produced durable glass with infused color for the back of Apple's iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus devices. Earlier this month, EU antitrust regulators accepted Corning's offer to waive exclusive deals with mobile phone makers and glass processing companies and scrap purchasing clauses to end an eight-month-long investigation and stave off a possible fine. Corning's largest unit - Optical communications - reported net sales of $1.57 billion in the second quarter, a rise of 41% from a year ago. Its core sales in the quarter rose 12% to $4.05 billion, compared with estimates of $3.86 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Corning expects third-quarter core sales to be around $4.2 billion, beating estimates of $4.01 billion. The company expects quarterly core earnings per share between 63 cents and 67 cents, compared with estimates of 61 cents. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Is It Ethereum's Turn to Rally? 3 Reasons This Leading Crypto Could Be About to Climb Even Higher.
Key Points Ethereum was falling sharply in the first half of the year. It's now climbing rapidly. There are solid reasons to suspect that the climb will continue for a good while. 10 stocks we like better than Ethereum › Through this past spring, Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), the second‑most valuable cryptocurrency, slogged along as investors fretted about scaling, regulation, and lackluster demand. Fast-forward to July, and the coin has roared back to life, forcing skeptics to ask whether the comeback has legs. It's up 56% during the past 30 days alone (as of July 28). No crystal ball can promise where prices will stand tomorrow, but three forces are converging that make a fresh advance look plausible, so let's dive in and explore the prospects of Ethereum flying higher. 1. Reversion to the mean Markets rarely stay depressed forever, and Ethereum was a textbook case of an oversold crypto with persistently abysmal sentiment. From January to mid-June, its price tumbled, at one point being down by more than 50% year to date. Even diehard evangelists were starting to publicly fold their positions after years of holding. By June 20, the amount of positive social chatter about the chain was at multiyear lows -- but the recovery was already quietly underway by then. Meanwhile, the network kept adding roughly 1 million new wallets per week, evidence that adoption hadn't stalled. That disconnect didn't last too long. Ethereum has more than doubled since April, jumping from the low $1,800s to around $3,800 as of July 28. There's also still no evidence of froth that often caps bull cycles. In other words, the crowd is now increasingly optimistic but not exuberant, which is a setup that can support further upside so long as macro winds stay calm. 2. The Pectra update is working as intended The second catalyst is that on May 7, Ethereum pushed the Prague‑Electra update, better known as Pectra. The update introduces higher validator staking limits, lighter wallets that feel more like regular apps and can operate smart contracts, and twice the data room for Layer 2s (L2s), which also helps with scaling the chain's throughput. Furthermore, bigger validator limits let institutions compound staking rewards, and cheaper L2 roll‑ups translate into lower transaction fees for everyday users. If activity rises because Ethereum is faster and less clunky, demand for the coin should increase. Bugs are always a risk after any upgrade, yet so far network stability looks solid. And that means the party for holders is likely to continue. 3. Capital is gushing in Institutions are directing a firehose of cash toward exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that hold Ethereum, and it's having a big impact on the price. In the week ended July 19, U.S.-based spot Ethereum funds absorbed nearly $2.2 billion, including an impressive single‑day haul of $726.7 million on July 16. Each new ETF share minted requires issuers to buy coins in the open market, shrinking supply and nudging prices higher. Because institutions tend to build positions in stages, the first wave of buying is rarely the last. That steady purchasing activity is a structural tailwind Ethereum has never enjoyed at this scale until now. Additionally, there are a handful of businesses that are seeking to become crypto treasuries that hold Ethereum as one of their main assets. These buyers are keen to issue new shares of their stock, as well as new debt, with the sole goal of buying and holding the coin. Though the wisdom of this approach in the long haul remains to be seen, for now these treasuries are price-insensitive buyers, and they're a big part of the reason Ethereum is climbing so stridently now in a way that it wasn't before. And, if past heydays are any indication, there will be a lot more well-heeled buyers of this type coming along before there's any kind of slowdown. Taken together, a sentiment reset, a smoother and cheaper network, and significant inflows of capital from ETFs and treasurers tilt the odds toward more upside for Ethereum. Long‑term investors may look back on this summer as a moment when the chain's fundamentals finally started to really catch up with its promise. Should you invest $1,000 in Ethereum right now? Before you buy stock in Ethereum, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Ethereum wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,063,471!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,041% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 28, 2025 Alex Carchidi has positions in Ethereum. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Ethereum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is It Ethereum's Turn to Rally? 3 Reasons This Leading Crypto Could Be About to Climb Even Higher. was originally published by The Motley Fool
