Will Mazda fall behind all other automotive brands? It certainly looks that way, but we truly don’t know what Mazda’s future plans hold.
This brand has never had a robust lineup of vehicles offered in the market, but the few models offered have regularly been some impressive vehicles to drive and enjoy on most roads. The SkyActiv technology was a game-changer, but now a new transition is required. Will Mazda keep up with the rest of the market and move heavily toward electrification, or are they going to do the Mazda thing and find their own way?
The New Mazda Approach
If you’ve seen the Mazda MX-30, you’re probably unimpressed by the approach Mazda is taking toward electrification. This compact crossover hit the market with only 100 miles of EV driving range. Instead of heading deep into the EV world or partnering with an automaker that already has a foothold in this area of the automotive world, Mazda will focus on hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. This focus will remain while the brand develops three new EVs, which should be part of the automotive market by 2025. Until that time, some interesting Mazda vehicles are heading our way.
A New Engine is Part of the Mix
The latest lineup of Mazda vehicles came with nothing larger than a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. A new CX-60 crossover heads to the market with a brand-new engine that is larger than the previous Mazda power plant. This new engine is only the beginning of Mazda’s future plans in the market. The new CX-60 will use a 3.3-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine plus a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This powertrain gives the CX-60 more power than the previous top models from this brand and offers the benefits of a hybrid boost that offers excellent acceleration.
No CX-60 for the United States
To date, we’ve only been told this new Mazda crossover isn’t scheduled to arrive in the United States at all. While that might be the case, we do know the engine for this new crossover will arrive, but in a different vehicle. We’re not sure which of the next few models to arrive will hit the North American roads with this new inline-six-cylinder engine under the hood. Another question is whether or not this engine will retain the power levels offered, which are 280 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque.
What Are the Latest Mazda Crossovers in the U.S.?
The most recent Mazda crossover to arrive in the market is the CX-50, which replaces the outgoing CX-5, which was the most popular crossover from this brand. The CX-50 is slightly larger than the vehicle it replaced, and it brings us a more modern approach to driving.
Soon, the new CX-70 and CX-90 will both arrive in the United States, but we aren’t told whether either will enjoy the power of the new inline-six. This six-cylinder engine from Mazda could be destined for another Mazda altogether, but we don’t know which one.
Does it seem odd that Mazda went with a larger engine in a world where most automakers are creating more power with smaller engines? Maybe this is a result of Mazda offering a four-cylinder engine already and being unable to go smaller.
The Next Two Crossovers Ride on a New Platform
We should see the new Mazda CX-90 later this year, and the CX-70 should arrive in 2023. Both of these new crossovers ride on a new platform to show us more of Mazda’s future plans. These two SUVs should offer impressive design elements and continue to bring signature handling and driving to make these SUVs fun to drive. Expect both to be offered with standard AWD, but there’s a more interesting question looming.
Will this new platform be versatile enough to accept an electric powertrain when Mazda has a new powertrain ready for these models? We haven’t been told if this platform will be versatile enough to accept both gasoline and electric powertrains or if the transition from gasoline to hybrid to electric will be necessary for the Mazda lineup to thrive.
What do We Know About the New Mazda CX-90?
The Mazda CX-90 enters the 2023 model year as the largest SUV in the lineup. This could be the flagship model of Mazda’s future plans, making this vehicle an excellent choice for families. The CX-90 replaces the outgoing CX-9, which offers three rows of seats and AWD. We do expect this new SUV to bring the new inline six-cylinder engine that can give us an uptick in power and performance.
Eventually, the CX-90 should be offered as a plug-in hybrid model that could offer some electric-only driving range. If the PHEV version of the CX-90 reaches 35 miles of electric driving, it will be in the same class as the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV, Toyota RAV4 Prime, and Kia Sorento PHEV.
Handling Made By Mazda
How do we expect the new CX-90 to drive? Because this new crossover SUV hits the market wearing the Mazda brand name on it, we expect it to offer handling that’s light, direct, and entertaining. If the new 6-cylinder engine arrives in this model, it should have a much better front/rear weight balance than e have in the current CX-9.
Are We Looking for Improvements in the CX-90?
We’re hoping that part of Mazda’s future plans is to make the CX-90 larger than the outgoing CX-9. We don’t expect most midsize crossovers to have a spacious area in the third row, but the CX-9 is extremely tight in this area. If the CX-90 has a serious opportunity for improvement, this is the area where this SUV can show up with much better performance and driving qualities.
This new Mazda crossover will make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show just before heading to the market to be sold at Mazda dealers across the country. Even though adding this new engine and SUVs to the mix doesn’t tell us much about Mazda’s future plans for electrification, it is nice to see these upgrades and potentially more power for the entire Mazda lineup.
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