Picture yourself choosing a midsize SUV that seamlessly blends luxury, performance, and cutting-edge tech—it’s a tough choice with options like the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and Honda Pilot all vying for your attention. Each brings unique strengths: the Palisade and Telluride impress with spacious, family-friendly cabins, while the Pilot offers a smooth ride and practical space. But that’s just the start of what you should consider.
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Key Takeaways
- The Mazda CX-90 competes with midsize three-row SUVs like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Honda Pilot, blending luxury, performance, and family-friendly features.
- It offers a powerful 3.3L turbocharged inline-six engine with 340 hp, superior to the Telluride and Palisade’s 3.8L V6 engines producing 291 hp.
- The CX-90 features a premium interior with Nappa leather, advanced infotainment, and better third-row comfort, contrasting the more utilitarian cabins of competitors.
- Competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride excel in cargo space (up to 87 cu. ft.) and provide spacious interiors, while the CX-90 balances space and upscale materials.
- Standard all-wheel drive, advanced safety technologies, and a plug-in hybrid option with electric-only range make the CX-90 stand out in its segment.
Mazda CX-90: Luxury Performance and Design Highlights
The Mazda CX-90 stands out with its powerful 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six engine that produces up to 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, delivering a driving experience that’s both dynamic and responsive.
You’ll appreciate its luxury interior crafted with high-quality materials like Nappa leather and Japanese bookbinding-inspired elements, providing comfort and elegance.
Advanced technology shines with a 12.3-inch infotainment display featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The CX-90 also balances performance and fuel economy, achieving up to 28 mpg highway, while the standard all-wheel-drive system guarantees traction and agile handling in diverse conditions.
Hyundai Palisade: Spaciousness and Value Leader
You’ll appreciate the Hyundai Palisade’s spacious interior, which offers generous legroom and passenger volume across all three rows, making it especially comfortable for families.
Its competitive starting price near $35,000 delivers strong value without sacrificing features, including advanced technology and driver assistance.
Plus, with up to 86.4 cubic feet of cargo space, the Palisade stands out as a practical choice in the three-row SUV segment.
Spacious Interior Design
While comparing spacious interior design, the Hyundai Palisade excels by offering more passenger volume and generous legroom than the Mazda CX-90, comfortably seating up to eight people with ample headroom and legroom across all three rows. Its spacious cabin uses high-quality materials and user-friendly technology, including a large 12.3-inch infotainment display, enhancing passenger comfort and convenience. Thoughtful storage solutions and easy third-row access add to practical cargo space and usability. Overall, the Palisade’s interior design makes it a standout choice for families needing room and refinement.
| Feature | Benefit | Emotion Evoked |
|---|---|---|
| Spacious Cabin | Comfort for all passengers | Relaxation & freedom |
| Thoughtful Storage | Organized journeys | Control & ease |
| High-Quality Materials | Premium feel | Pride & satisfaction |
Competitive Pricing Value
Although the Mazda CX-90 offers a luxurious and high-performance three-row SUV experience, you can find similar spaciousness and advanced features in the Hyundai Palisade—often at a much more competitive price.
The Palisade stands out by offering:
- Competitive pricing starting around $35,000–$45,000, much lower than the CX-90’s nearly $62,000 MSRP
- Spacious cabin with more passenger volume and impressive cargo capacity up to 86.4 cu.ft.
- Advanced safety features and technology options rivaling premium brands while maintaining affordability
This combination makes the Palisade a smart value leader for families seeking space and features without the premium price tag.
Kia Telluride: Family-Focused Comfort and Features
Kia Telluride stands out as a family-focused SUV thanks to its spacious interior and smart comfort features designed to meet diverse needs.
You get up to 87 cu.ft. of cargo space, powered by a robust 3.8-liter V6 engine delivering 291 horsepower for capable driving.
The Telluride’s user-friendly technology includes a large touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
To keep you safe, it offers advanced driver-assistance features like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist and Blind Spot Monitoring.
Inside, available heated and ventilated seats and an upscale cabin crafted from high-quality materials guarantee comfort on every trip.
Honda Pilot: Ride Comfort and Cabin Space
You’ll find the Honda Pilot excels in ride comfort, delivering a smooth and cushioned experience that effectively absorbs bumps and isolates vibrations.
It also offers impressive passenger space, ranking near the top for both overall roominess and second- and third-row comfort.
The cabin features a practical layout with thoughtful comfort touches, making it a solid choice for families who prioritize space and a comfortable ride.
Ride Quality Excellence
In terms of ride comfort, the Honda Pilot excels by absorbing bumps and isolating vibrations to deliver a smooth driving experience that keeps passengers comfortable over long journeys.
Compared to the Mazda CX-90, which offers a sportier, more engaging drive with premium materials, the Pilot focuses on spaciousness and passenger comfort across its three-row SUV layout.
Key highlights include:
- Exceptional ride comfort with effective bump absorption
- Second-best passenger comfort in second and third rows
- Spacious cabin, though with less premium interior quality than the Mazda CX-90
This combination makes the Pilot a top pick for families valuing comfort and roominess.
Passenger Space Ranking
Although the Mazda CX-90 offers a more premium interior with upscale materials and a near-luxury feel, the Honda Pilot leads in overall passenger space, making it a standout for families needing roomy accommodations.
The Pilot’s interior design emphasizes spaciousness, providing ample second-row seats and third-row seating comfort that few competitors match. With generous legroom and cargo capacity, it’s an ideal choice for family needs, allowing easy entry and exit even in the rear.
While base Pilot models may feel less refined than the CX-90, its superior passenger space and comfort create a practical, family-friendly cabin.
Cabin Comfort Features
While offering a smooth ride, the Honda Pilot distinguishes itself by prioritizing spaciousness and practical comfort throughout its cabin. You’ll appreciate its ride comfort, effectively absorbing bumps and vibrations for a relaxed drive.
The cabin comfort extends through its ample room and thoughtfully designed layout, making storage and accessibility simple. Passenger comfort doesn’t stop at the front; the second and third-row seating rank second among competitors, ensuring everyone travels comfortably.
- Most passenger and cargo space for families and belongings
- Practical storage solutions enhancing usability
- Competitive interior quality focused on functionality over premium feel
Toyota Highlander: Efficient Hybrid and Compact Dimensions
When you choose the Toyota Highlander, you get an efficient hybrid option that pairs a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor, delivering an impressive EPA-estimated 36 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
Its compact design at 194.9 inches makes it the least lengthy and narrowest SUV in its class, which may limit third-row space.
The Highlander’s sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim sharpens handling, while its infotainment system offers a standard 8-inch or optional 12.3-inch touchscreen.
Starting around $36,220, this budget-friendly Hyundai remains a practical, family-friendly SUV choice.
Nissan Pathfinder: Rugged Style With Practical Interior
The Nissan Pathfinder stands out with its rugged exterior that projects an adventurous spirit while offering a spacious and practical interior designed for families.
Powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque, it balances strong performance and versatility.
You’ll appreciate:
- Spacious cabin with versatile seating configurations for up to eight passengers
- Impressive cargo capacity of up to 80.5 cubic feet with rear seats folded
- Advanced safety features including ProPILOT Assist and comprehensive driver-assistance technologies
This makes the Pathfinder a solid choice if you want rugged style combined with family-friendly practicality.
Subaru Ascent: All-Weather Capability and Utility
If you want an SUV that handles all weather with confidence and offers plenty of utility for family needs, the Subaru Ascent is a smart choice.
It comes standard with all-wheel drive, providing excellent traction on various terrains. Equipped with a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine delivering 260 horsepower, it meets the demands of family hauling easily.
The spacious interior accommodates up to eight passengers and offers generous cargo space. Advanced safety features like Adaptive Cruise Control are part of Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology.
High safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA make the Ascent a reliable family SUV.
Volkswagen Atlas: Third-Row Comfort and Cargo Space
You’ll find the Volkswagen Atlas stands out for its roomy third-row seating, comfortably fitting adults across all rows, making it ideal for larger families or those needing extra passenger space.
Its maximum cargo capacity reaches 96.8 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded, providing excellent cargo capacity for hauling gear.
Under the hood, the Atlas offers a 3.6-liter V6 delivering 276 horsepower for a good balance of power.
Safety is robust with standard driver assistance features like Forward Collision Warning and Blind Spot Monitoring.
The infotainment system is user-friendly with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, upgradeable to an 8-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- Spacious third-row seating for adult comfort
- Up to 96.8 cubic feet of cargo space
- Standard driver assistance technologies including Forward Collision Warning and Blind Spot Monitoring
Conclusion
Choosing the Mazda CX-90 or its peers like the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, or Honda Pilot is like selecting the right ship for your family voyage—each built to brave the seas of daily life with a unique compass. The CX-90 steers with sporty agility and luxury finesse, while others offer roomy decks and reliable comfort. Steering through these choices, you find a vessel ready to carry your adventures, blending safety, style, and space to chart your perfect course.
