2025 Mazda CX-90 vs. the 2025 Toyota Highlander

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 and the 2025 Toyota Highlander are fierce rivals in today’s midsize SUV battlefield. Fresh updates to both models make this comparison especially timely. At Hiley Mazda of Fort Worth, we’ve studied everything you need to know about these two models. Our analysis tackles many areas, including power, comfort, and cargo space, to help you decide which SUV fits your lifestyle.

Pricing Comparison

The 2025 CX-90 base trim costs $38,045, a price that climbs to $56,650 for the highest version. Toyota’s base Highlander starts higher at $39,820, but the range peaks slightly lower at $53,975. The CX-90’s premium interior might justify its higher top-end price if you crave luxury touches. It’s worth noting that every CX-90 includes all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard, while Toyota makes you pay extra for this feature on the Highlander. Both brands hold their value well, so you won’t take a beating if you sell in a few years.

Performance and Engine Options

Pop the hood on these two, and you’ll find very different engines. Mazda equips the CX-90 with a gutsy turbocharged 3.3-liter I-6 pushing 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The Toyota Highlander runs on a smaller 265-horsepower turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The CX-90 sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, but the Highlander stretches this to 7.2 seconds. Both SUVs boast automatic transmissions, but because the Mazda’s AWD is standard, it has an advantage over the Toyota.

Fuel Economy and Efficiency

The Mazda CX-90 manages 24 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, which is impressive for its size and power. Real-world testing backs this up: The CX-90 3.3 Turbo S Premium achieved 29 mpg during Car and Driver’s 75 mph highway test-drive.

The Highlander falls behind the CX-90 in city gas mileage, managing 22 mpg, but its 29 mpg highway figure beats its rival’s. Remember that the Highlander’s numbers will drop if you add AWD, which the CX-90 already includes. On the whole, the Mazda sips fuel more efficiently despite its beefier engine.

Safety Features

Both brands take keeping your family safe seriously. Every CX-90 includes Mazda’s i-Activsense safety package, which means automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist on every trim.

Toyota packs its Safety Sense 2.5+ into every Highlander, giving you automated emergency braking, lane departure warnings with lane-keeping assist, and road sign recognition features. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts show up on most Highlander trims.

Interior Design, Cargo Space, and Passenger Comfort

Interior comparisons of these Toyota and Mazda three-row vehicles reveal similarities and contrasts. Mazda’s reputation for fancy interiors holds true in the CX-90. Expect high-quality materials, clean design, and room for eight people, depending on how you configure it. Behind the third row, you’ll find 16 cubic feet, enough for three carry-ons. Fold the back row down, and that jumps to 40 cubic feet, making the CX-90 perfect for hauling cargo and people simultaneously. Lowing the second and third rows opens up 75 cubic feet.

The Highlander’s space behind its third row matches the CX-90’s 16 cubic feet. This third row fits adults comfortably, and you can access it without performing gymnastics. But the Highlander takes the storage crown if you don’t need to carry eight passengers. You get 48 cubic feet with its third row down and 84 cubic feet when you also lower the second.

Both SUVs offer heated and ventilated seats on higher trims, multizone climate systems to stop everyone fighting about temperature, and enough sound insulation to keep road noise outside. It’s close, and which model wins this interior car specification comparison is your call.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Both these SUVs have excellent technology. Every CX-90 except the base trim sports a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that works via touch or a handy rotary knob. You’ll find Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless versions on fancier trims.

The Toyota Highlander matches the CX-90’s screen size, but only on its higher trims. You’ll otherwise have to put up with an 8-inch infotainment screen. Toyota’s latest software feels snappy and user-friendly. Like the Mazda, it handles Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with wireless options in the more expensive versions. Both cabins scatter USB ports throughout, ensuring nobody’s devices die on road trips, and wireless charging pads appear in higher trims.

Towing and Off-Road Capabilities

Both SUVs can handle 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. That’s enough muscle for small boats, campers, or utility trailers. This capability is commendable for family SUVs that aren’t full-size brutes.

If you need to deal with snow, rain, or occasional muddy roads, the CX-90’s standard AWD could be a deciding factor. Just don’t mistake either for a rock crawler; these are essentially road vehicles with some bad-weather capability, not true off-roaders. You might want to shop elsewhere if you plan to tackle serious trails.

Exterior Styling and Color Options

Mazda’s CX-90 wears the company’s sleek Kodo design language — all flowing lines and sporty proportions. For 2025, the manufacturer has added the 3.3 Turbo Premium Sport trim that blacks out the grille, badges, mirrors, bumpers, and roof rails. The effect is a more athletic, sophisticated look that turns heads without screaming for attention.

The Highlander plays it safer with styling but still looks thoroughly modern. Toyota added two new colors this year: Cement and Heavy Metal. The Highlander offers wheels ranging from 18 to 20 inches depending on trim; the choices with the CX-90 are diameters of 19 or 21 inches. LED lighting packages vary by model.

Making the Right Choice

When the 2025 Mazda CX-90 is compared to the 2025 Toyota Highlander, which suits you better depends on what matters to you. If cargo space tops your list, Toyota’s Highlander owns this contest with its 9 extra cubic feet of maximum room. The model also boasts that genuinely adult-friendly third row.

While both vehicles offer similar safety tech, towing capacity, and comfort features, the Mazda CX-90 edges out the Toyota Highlander in many areas: power, sportiness, infotainment, and standard AWD across the range. Considering that you can acquire these advantages in the lower trims for less money than you’ll pay for a Highlander base, the Mazda CX-90 wins hands down.

Experience the CX-90 Today at Hiley Mazda of Fort Worth

Now that we’ve whetted your appetite, we hope you’re ready to get behind the wheel of a 2025 Mazda CX-90. When you enter our dealership in Fort Worth, Texas, you’ll find a knowledgeable and dedicated team happy to answer all your questions about this exciting SUV. We’ll walk you through all the options to find what fits your life best. Contact us today to schedule a test-drive.