Mazda CX-90 2023: straight-six power output revealed before February 1 world premiere

Mazda’s upcoming three-row luxury SUV is set to become the brand’s most powerful vehicle ever when paired with a turbocharged inline-six engine

Mazda has announced power figures for its upcoming CX-90 luxury SUV ahead of its global debut on February 1.

The new CX-90 will be offered with a number of longitudinal engine configurations, with the 3.3-litre turbocharged straight-six petrol engine expected to be the flagship option at launch.

The Japanese manufacturer confirmed that it will make 254kW of power from 5000 to 6000rpm and 500Nm of torque from 2000 to 4500rpm – making it the most powerful Mazda ever.

Mazda CX-90 teaser 2023 — The original teaser for the Mazda CX-90, showing its Artisan Red paintwork

When compared to the smaller CX-60 that makes a maximum 209kW/450Nm in turbo 3.3-litre six-cylinder guise, the CX-90 is significantly more powerful and even eclipses the CX-60 PHEV that makes 241kW/500Nm.

The CX-90 will feature Mazda’s kinematic posture control (KPC) as standard on all of its CX-90 variants, a system first introduced in the MX-5 sports car. The system works by applying slight brake input while cornering to suppress body roll and improve handling.

Mazda’s flagship CX-90 will compete with the likes of more luxury competitors such as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and the Volvo XC90.

2023 Mazda CX-90 tunnel teaser image — We can see a rough outline of the CX-90, however more pictures will arrive on Feb 1

The new CX-90 is expected to launch in Australia sometime during 2023, with more details to come on February 1.

What we know so far about the Mazda CX-90

Mazda has said that the future CX-90 will be “wider, longer and more aggressive” than any current Mazda product.

2023 Mazda CX-60 static with trees — The Mazda CX-90 will be bigger and more powerful than the CX-60

A new hero colour is set to debut along with the large SUV called Artisan Red that looks much darker than the current Soul Red colour that has been sprayed on Mazdas for some time.

The CX-90 will be unlike the CX-60 in that it is classed as a wide-body vehicle that is designed to be better suited to the needs of buyers in regions such as North America where buyers desire large cabins and an all-together larger vehicle.

While a petrol straight-six engine is confirmed for the CX-90, we could also see a turbo-diesel inline-six engine to debut at a later stage.

The 3.3-litre Skyactiv straight-six engine from the CX-60

Mazda Australia has said that it won’t phase out the current CX-9 model, even with the release of the new CX-90, as it believes that each of the vehicles “will cater to very different audiences”.

In the United States, however, the Mazda CX-9 has already been phased out, so it is expected that the new CX-90 will replace the CX-9 nameplate entirely.