Mazda built a $50k SUV that drives like it costs $70k, sharp handling, a silky inline-6, and an interior that embarrasses the Highlander, but shipped it before the transmission learned its lines. The 8-speed shudders and hesitates at low speeds across enough reports to call it systematic, not a lemon-lottery issue, and early PHEVs needed steering racks and 12V batteries replaced under warranty. If you prize driving feel over appliance-smooth operation and can live with first-year quirks (2026s show real improvement), the CX-90 delivers shocking value; if you need bulletproof out-of-the-gate execution, wait a year or stick with the boring-but-reliable competition.
The Atlas is VW's bid for the family-hauler crown: genuinely cavernous inside, with third-row space that actually fits adults and a ride smooth enough to make the school run feel civilized. The catch is concrete: 2024+ models develop brake squeal so persistent that owners are swapping pads before 20k miles, infotainment screens freeze or glitch routinely, and the EA888 turbo-four carries known oil-system vulnerabilities, all while VW cut the warranty from six years to four. Buy if you need maximum space on a tighter budget and have a trusted independent shop lined up; walk if you want Toyota/Honda peace of mind or can't stomach the depreciation hit.