2024 Mazda CX-90 vs KIA Telluride: Battle of the 3-Row SUVs

• The three-row 2024 Mazda CX-90 starts at $39,595 and is in stock here at SB Mazda Chantilly, VA!
• Plug-in hybrid variants of the 2024 CX-90 can go an impressive 26 miles between charges.
• All-wheel drive and a robust Turbocharged engine are standard on the CX-90.

The 3-Row SUV Showdown of the Year

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 has won the hearts of many car shoppers since its debut earlier this year. After all, how could you not swoon over the CX-90? With its elegant design and commanding presence, the CX-90 delivers a ton of capability and future-proof technology that many SUV shoppers look for. With the US market demanding larger and larger vehicles by the year, it was only a matter of time until the CX-90 had to butt heads with similar vehicles. Today, we’ll answer that question and compare Mazda’s flagship SUV (PHEV compared separately) with the 2024 KIA Telluride and see which one’s deserving of that empty spot in your garage.

CX-90 vs Telluride: Performance

Under the hood, the CX-90 is equipped with a standard 3.3-liter turbo inline-6 mild hybrid, outputting a robust 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. You’d think a full-sized SUV with standard AWD would guzzle gas, but Mazda’s hybrid setup returns 24 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. Trims with “Turbo S” at the end of their names are fitted with a tuned version of the inline-six and deliver 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, a 21.43% increase in horsepower and 11.14% in torque. Interestingly, a significant bump in power doesn’t translate to a decrease in efficiency as Turbo S trims provide 23 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

Starting at $36,190, the KIA Telluride provides a single-engine option for shoppers; a 3.8L V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the CX-90 however, the Telluride comes with standard FWD and produces 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Regarding Fuel economy, the FWD Telluride goes 20 mpg city/ 26 mpg city while optional AWD lowers efficiency to 18 mpg city/ 24 mpg highway. 

Sure, the CX-90 costs around $3,000 more than the Telluride. But that’s where the “benefits” of the Telluride stop. The CX-90 comes with standard FWD, a standard engine with more torque, and fuel economy that puts the Telluride to shame.

CX-90 vs Telluride: Interior & Comfort 

When it comes to pure interior size, the CX-90 trails behind the Telluride. When it comes to comfort and convenience, the Telluride severely lags behind. Here’s why. The interior of the 2024 CX-90 is laden with your choice of leatherette, Nappa Leather with Kakekuni Stitching, Quilted Nappa Leather, and Available Genuine Matte Finish Wood and Aluminum trim accents. To keep costs down, the Telluride employs cheaper SynTex faux leather and wood-like material.

2024 Mazda CX-90 Interior Dimensions: 

• Max Cargo Volume: 75.2 ft³
• Front/Rear Headroom: 39.7/ 39.3 inches
• Front/Rear Hiproom: 56.2/ 55.5 inches
• Front/Rear Shoulder Room: 59.2/ 58.1 inches
• Front/Rear Legroom: 41.7/ 39.4/ inches 
• Third Row Headroom: 36.9 inches
• Third Row Hiproom: 43.7 inches 
• Third row Shoulder Room: 53.3 inches
• Third Row Leg Room: 30.4 inches

CX-90 vs Telluride: Technology & Safety

When it comes to technology, both the CX-90 and Telluride are quite evenly matched, with only a few discrepancies. For example, both the CX-90 and Telluride offer Apple Carplay and Android Auto, but the Telluride only offers these as wired features. The CX-90 does come with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but higher trims come with wireless options; allowing for more customization.

2024 Mazda CX-90 Tech: 

• 360 View Monitor with See-Through View
  The available 360° View Monitor with See-through View feature gives drivers an enhanced view of the area directly ahead of and beside their vehicle that would normally be obstructed, visible on the center display.
• Available 12.3-inch Center Display
  A full-color display is available in 10.25” and 12.3” sizes—the latter being the largest Mazda display. This enables you to easily view a range of vehicle status information, weather, messaging and more.
• Blind Spot Assist
  When changing or deviating from a lane, this available feature can provide alerts and momentary steering assistance to help avoid roadway departures above about 40 mph.
• Active Driving Display
  The available Active Driving Display has an increased display area for optimal visibility and functionality, providing easier access to essential information about your vehicle.
• Rear Seat Alert
  Equipped with awareness for every moment. The Mazda CX-90 features Rear Seat Alert, to help you avoid leaving occupants or objects behind when exiting the vehicle.
• Wireless Charging
  Simply place your compatible smartphone on the available Wireless Charging Pad until the indicator light turns green to indicate charging.

In terms of safety, the CX-90 boasts a 2023 Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS, thanks to its arsenal of high-tech and safety features.

Concluding Thoughts

Both the CX-90 and Telluride are great vehicles, but only one is really worth your time. With more advanced tech, more power, and better fuel economy, the CX-90 is obviously the better vehicle. Syre, the CX-90 is marginally larger than the Telluride, but if you can live without an inch or two of space, the CX-90 is a much better buy in every metric. If you’re interested in the 2024 Mazda CX-90, come visit us here at SB Mazda Chantilly, VA! for a test drive! We have plenty of Mazda SUVs in stock!