Mazda CX-90 Australian powertrains confirmed! Thumping petrol and diesel engines in, plug-in hybrid out, as brand takes aim at the premium players

Mazda Australia has confirmed the engine line-up that will feature in the CX-90 when its premium flagship launches in the second half of 2023, with two six-cylinder engines locked in – and a plug-in hybrid powertrain on the ropes.

Like its smaller CX-60 sibling, the CX-90 will appear with two potent inline six-cylinder engines, one petrol and one diesel, both supplemented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. 

Let's start with the petrol option, because it makes the CX-90 the brand's most powerful vehicle. The 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder turbo petrol churns out a sizeable 254kW and 500Nm, making it the "most powerful mass production petrol car ever developed by Mazda".

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Option two is a same-capacity diesel, with the 3.3-litre six-cylinder diesel producing a CX-60-equalling 187kW and 550Nm. Both powertrains pair with an eight-speed automatic.

“Our second entrant into the new large platform family brings with it even more of everything – more power and performance, greater versatility and heightened luxury," says Mazda Australia managing director, Vinesh Bhindi.

“The First-Ever Mazda CX-90 is the absolute pinnacle of Mazda premium; our most advanced model ever with exceptional levels of sophistication throughout that can enjoyed not just by the driver, but the whole family.”

There is a third powertrain option available overseas, a potent plug-in hybrid setup that pairs a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and 17.8kWh battery, producing a total 240kW and 500Nm. 

Inside is a 12.3-inch centre screen.

That powertrain won't be arriving in Australia at launch, but Mazda is yet to rule it out for 2024 and beyond.

The CX-90 will join the CX-60 in Australia in the second half of 2023, acting as the next rungs in Mazda's climb up the premium ladder. 

The exterior design is modern and clean, with the CX-90 looking a lot like an enlarged version of the CX-60, only with a more shapely rump and the option of big 21-inch alloy wheels.

The CX-90 wears large 21-inch alloy wheels.

Second-row captain’s chairs are an option, and the tech appears strong too, with a big head-up display, a 12.3-inch centre screen, and USB-C charging points in all three rows.

In the cabin, expect a a focus on high-quality materials like Nappa leather, real wood and soft, layered tones across the dash and doors. The fabric on the dash, for example, using “hanging stitches” (a technique Mazda borrowed from hand bookbinding), and a Japanese weaving technique known as Kumihimo.

Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, but given we know the CX-60 starts at around $60k for the entry-level petrol and climbs to $75k for the top-spec diesel, you can expect the bigger CX-90 to sit comfortable above those brackets.