
It seems that too many family SUVs today follow a prescribed mold: standard 4-cylinder engine, conventional conveniences, uninspired styling. Mazda, however, refuses to let their cars blend in. And that's why the 2025 Mazda CX-90 is such a superstar -- it does things its own way, and in doing so is rewriting the rules that lesser 3-row family SUVs have long ascribed to.
Our 2025 Mazda CX-90 vs. Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander comparison is all the proof you need that other SUVs would do well to follow the lead of Mazda. Where these mass-market rivals adhere to the tired old ways of doing things, the Mazda CX-90 blazes a new trail, and its success is impossible to ignore. If you want one of the best new family SUVs to hit the market in recent time, buy a Mazda CX-90 from our San Antonio Mazda dealer today.

Compare 2025 MAZDA CX-90 Performance vs. the Competition
Let's talk 2025 Mazda CX-90 specs. Unlike just about every other family SUV on the market -- including those being compared here -- the Mazda CX-90 features standard AWD as well as a standard inline-six-cylinder engine under the hood.
As any Texas car enthusiast can tell you, the qualities and characteristics of an I6 vs. V6 engine make this configuration a favorite of drivers with a taste for refined performance. You'll know what we mean as soon as you take a Mazda CX-90 test-drive -- especially if the one you sample is home to the available 340-horsepower engine. These models have an additional 49 horsepower compared to the most potent Telluride and Palisade trims, so if you want an interstate cruise missile, this is your ride.
But that engine isn't the only way that the Mazda CX-90 distinguishes itself from its rivals. It also offers an available plug-in hybrid Mazda engine, making it the only SUV in this group to have a partially electric powertrain on its options list. Buy a Mazda CX-90 PHEV in San Antonio and you'll be smitten.
2025 Mazda CX-90
- Standard Engine Configuration: I6
- Max Horsepower: 340
- Plug-In Hybrid Engine: Available
- AWD: Standard
2025 Toyota Highlander
- Standard Engine Configuration: I4
- Max Horsepower: 265
- Plug-In Hybrid Engine: N/A
- AWD: Available
2025 Hyundai Palisade
- Standard Engine Configuration: V6
- Max Horsepower: 291
- Plug-In Hybrid Engine: N/A
- AWD: Available
2025 Kia Telluride
- Standard Engine Configuration: V6
- Max Horsepower: 291
- Plug-In Hybrid Engine: N/A
- AWD: Available
2025 MAZDA CX-90 Features & Design Comparison
Elegance is the word that comes to mind when you're in the Mazda CX-90 interior. It's home to some incredible technology, including the latest features bundled into the Mazda i-Activsense® safety suite. As all those driver-assistance functions run in the background, you can jam out to the available Bose® Centerpoint® Surround Sound System with AudioPilot®, which blasts your favorite tunes from 12 well-placed speakers for a true concert-hall effect.
The available stereos in the Kia, Hyundai and Toyota SUVs just can't match the aural excellence of this high-fidelity system -- just as they can't match the overall appeal of the new Mazda CX-90.

2025 Mazda CX-90
- Safety Suite: Mazda i-Activsense®
- Available Sound System: 12-speaker Bose® Centerpoint® Surround Sound System w/ AudioPilot®
- Nappa Leather: Available
2025 Toyota Highlander
- Safety Suite: Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+
- Available Sound System: 11-speaker JBL® Premium Audio System
- Nappa Leather: N/A
2025 Hyundai Palisade
- Safety Suite: Hyundai SmartSense
- Available Sound System: 12-speaker Harman Kardon® premium audio system
- Nappa Leather: Available
2025 Kia Telluride
- Safety Suite: Kia DriveWise
- Available Sound System: 10-speaker Harman Kardon® premium audio system
- Nappa Leather: Available
New Mazda SUVs for Sale Near Me
This 3-row family SUV comparison was no contest -- in every metric we looked at, the 2025 Mazda CX-90 came out ahead by a wide margin. And if the above charts weren't enough to convince you, book a test-drive. All it takes is one trip around the block to see why, here in San Antonio, Mazda CX-90 SUVs have become the SUV to have. Contact us to buy yours today.
Read More: Why Buy | 2025 Mazda CX-90 Review