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.
Volvo's bestseller nails the fundamentals, plush cabin, serene ride, safety tech that actually works, but it's starting to show its seven-year bones. The infotainment lags behind touchscreen-native rivals, cargo space won't impress anyone hauling strollers and hockey bags, and the base engines feel like they're working harder than they should. The T8 plug-in hybrid is quick and efficient when it behaves, but ERAD module failures have stranded some 2023+ owners with a suddenly thirsty SUV and repair waits stretching into months. If you value Scandinavian restraint over German flash and can live with a platform that predates your pandemic sourdough starter, it's a thoughtful choice. Skip the PHEV unless you're comfortable gambling on warranty roulette.