Talking about Mazda’s relatively new CX-90 SUV today – a new, a different design replacing the CX-9 which was highly regarded as a seven-seater over a long period. The CX-90 moves up into luxury territory – the range now kicking off from $73,800, round $25,000 more than the entry level CX-9 Sport it replaces. In fairness, the CX-90 is not necessarily the CX-9’s replacement – later this year a smaller Mazda CX-80 arrives which is much the old CX-9’s shape. However, by any measure the CX-90 seven-seater has moved Mazda into luxury territory. Five petrol and five diesel all-wheel drive models – I’m driving the CX-90 Azami at $93,655 or just over $100,000 drive-away. With 3.3-litre in-line six-cylinder turbo petrol engine and a 48-volt mild hybrid system linked to an 8-speed automatic transmission driving all-four wheels with four available drive modes. Can Mazda move so much upmarket after a fabulous run with its CX-9. Perhaps not. Just 86 CX-90’s left showrooms in January whereas the same month last year Mazda moved 340 CX-9’s. Certainly in terms of build quality, features and specification the CX-90 offers a lot but with such hefty price increases over the excellent CX-9 model it needed to – drive details next segment.

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