2024 Mazda CX-90

2024 Mazda CX-90 - Design Review

Overall Grade = C+​

Front End: C
    Good: Grille layout and accents
    Bad: Flat faced
Rear End: C
    Good: Light fixtures
    Bad: Spare tire on the waistline
Side: B-
    Good: A near perfect flow
    Bad: Wheel well execution
Overall Appeal: B-
    Good: Premium appeal
    Bad: Shoulder shrug​

​​​​Score: 57.63%
Grade: C+
Rating: AVERAGE
AutoLooks Rating: 5.8 out of 10

Front End: 52.73%
Rear End: 54.44%
Side: 61.62%
Overall Appeal: 61.74%

AutoLooks Buy List: YES
Recommended Tuner: MAYBE
Trent Setter: NO
Future Classic: NO
Stock Value: INCREASE

      For the first time since it's inception, the CX-9 has been changed from top to bottom.  Mazda has decided to finally move away from enhancements to the original design and finally give this model a complete makeover.  And not only did its name change by one number, but so did its overall appeal.

      From front to rear Mazda's all new full size product offering has changed its image.  Moving away from its near premium look, this new model is a step right into the premium world.   Mazda may not be a company you associate with premium products, but that may soon change.

      Up front, this new model has made a grand move away from the chrome slat grille which kept this product from being seen as a premium product.  Mazda has kept the bottom accent line, which helps add a touch of luxury to the front of this product.  But unfortunately that's where this product offering seems to stop from being a great looker.

      Following the beltline, the side air intakes do flow, but are in need of some accents.  Without this, you would be hard pressed to really notice that they are there, as Mazda has decided to make the feature breaking portion of this part, the same color as the rest of the front.  Doing away with this color integrated accent could help improve the overall flow of the front end.

    Riding along the side, you will find yourself gazing upon one clean expanse of sheet metal.  This does give the CX-90 a very clean look similar to the rest of the competition.  But the addition of inset wheel wells, gives us the feeling that something either a last minute add on or missed completely.  Without a clean line here, this side profile has a break in its perfect flow.

     The addition of both the side sill accent strip and fake exhaust port, makes us wonder if Mazda was trying to break up this ocean.  The lower strip seems to be a cheap add on which does not fit with the rest of the flow.  As for the fake exhaust port, this feature may look good on Buick and Jaguar, but its follow through on the CX-90 was not executed to its full potential.

      Out back is where you find the one area of this product, which seems to blend away from the rest. A spare tire residing on its beltline, seems to take away from the free flow of the rest of its design.  Protruding from the rear, this feature may add to cargo space, but in all reality it takes away from its sleek appeal.  The slight notch which resided on the rear of the previous models, helped to give a sport appeal to them.  Something a spare tire waistline does not.

     All around it seems that the rear of the CX-90 was where Mazda designers seemed to have stopped work a bit too early.  Leaving us with a spoiler which is too small, lower accents which do not flow and light fixtures which seem to need a push in, make this an area in need of some T.L.C.  But I guess that what mid-cycle refreshes are for.
​

     For a complete overhaul of the original, Mazda has done a wonderful job in recreating the premium appeal of top tier products from its past.  But with a few areas in need of some T.L.C., this model is still far from being a true over the top product which can rule over the competition.
 
     It's time for this product to hit the gym, as bikini season is coming and they need to lose that spare tire before they hit the beach.

Everett J.
#autolooks

​COMPETITION:
Buick Enclave - 56.82%
Lynk & Co. 09 - 57.16%
Hyundai Palisade - 55.32%
​Li Auto L9 - 58.33%