Long wait for Mazda CX-90 PHEV

MAZDA Australia has confirmed that the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of its CX-90 large SUV will not make it to Australia until late in 2024.

That puts it at odds with the CX-60 midsize SUV that shares the same architecture, with that smaller model launching in Australia with a choice of six-cylinder petrol, six-cylinder diesel and four-cylinder petrol-electric models.

The CX-90 is set to offer the same barrage of powertrain choices, with diesel and petrol already here and on sale, but the CX-90 PHEV model is now expected to make landfall locally until late in 2024, due to complications with the homologation process as the larger, three-row version is not sold in Europe, unlike the CX-60.

“I’m excited to be able to confirm today that we will be adding a plug-in powertrain to the CX-90 towards the end of next year,” said Vinesh Bhindi, Mazda Australia managing director, to the gathered media.

“That’s all I can say at this stage on that topic, but we will confirm more details closer to launch time.”

In a follow-up interview, Mazda Australia marketing director, Alastair Doak, told GoAuto that the priority for launch in Australia was the petrol and diesel versions of the CX-90.

“We are the global lead market for the diesel powertrain, so the resources that the team had to use. But unlike the plug-in CX-60, which is sold in Europe, the design rules [in Australia] allow you to homologate using EU homologation,” he said.

“CX-90 is only in North America, not Europe. Therefore, it's homologated to North American regulations, and you cannot just pick that up and dump it straight. So basically, the CX-90 program team has to find the resource and all of that to do that homologation work, which is very specific to our market.

“You can't do that, and do everything else, and bring cars into market to launch – so it's just basically where it falls into their work schedule to do that. So, but it is more complicated – if CX-90 had been on sale in Europe… (it would have been quicker to market).

“But there's no fundamental engineering issue or challenge. It's just basically that engineering work has to be done.”

Mazda CX-90 program manager, Mitsuru Wakiie, confirmed that the powertrain is “conceptually” a plug-and-play adaptation of the 2.5-litre PHEV unit in the CX-60, which uses an electric motor mounted between the engine and transmission and makes use of a 17.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack that allows it a claimed 76km of EV driving range.

The CX-90’s petrol and diesel offerings are some of Mazda’s most ambitious powertrains in the modern era, with both being 3.3-litre straight-six turbocharged units. The petrol engine is the brand’s most powerful ever, with 254kW and 500Nm, while the diesel has 187kW and 550Nm.

The CX-90 and CX-60 are built on the Mazda Premium premise, making use of a new architecture that features a standard all-wheel-drive layout with rear-biased power delivery thanks to the longitudinal-mounted engines, and eight-speed automatic transmission.  

The 2023 Mazda CX-90 range starts from $73,800 and tops out at $93,655 plus on-road costs.