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Best Car Deals for April 2025Head-to-Head: 2024 Mazda CX-90 vs. 2024 Hyundai Palisade
Today’s primetime battle is the Mazda CX-90 vs. Hyundai Palisade! Read on to find out who wins when it comes to specs, performance, and comfort.
2024 Mazda CX-90 vs. 2024 Hyundai Palisade
These days, there is no shortage of options when it comes to SUVs. Mazda’s full-size SUV of choice was the popular CX-9. That changed in 2024 with the introduction of the full-size, 3-row Mazda CX-90. Hyundai’s full-size offering continues to be the Palisade. It saw only minor changes including a dual zone front climate control and the new Calligraphy Night Edition trim.
Families who need the extra space that third-row seating provides will find both the 2024 Mazda CX-90 and the 2024 Hyundai Palisade at the top of their list of possibilities, but how do they square up with each other? Let’s take a closer look to see which one comes out on top!
Specs
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 is loaded with a new 3.3L turbocharged inline-six engine and a 48-volt hybrid assisted system. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and puts out 280 horsepower and 332 lbs.-ft of torque. The S trims have the same engine but even more power – 340 horsepower and 369 lbs.-ft. of torque. There is also a plug-in hybrid option available that produces 323 horsepower. AWD is standard on all models.
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 gets an EPA-rated 24 MPG city and 28 MPG highway.
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade is equipped with a 3.8L V6 engine (no turbo here) and an eight-speed automatic transmission that puts out 291 horsepower and 262 lbs.-ft. of torque. There are no hybrid powertrain options, however, thus resulting in a 19 MPG city/24 MPG highway fuel economy for FWD models. AWD models will fare a little worse.
Driving and Performance
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 provides plenty of power, accelerating from zero to 60 MPH in just 6.3 seconds. It shifts smoothly as well. But the real star of the show is the handling. It is superb in every way. It is athletic and almost sporty which makes it fun to drive. However, there is a bit of lag in the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The ride is smooth and quiet for all passengers though.
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 can tow up to 5,000 lbs. when properly equipped.
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade clocked in at 6.4 seconds in our zero to 60 test – nearly identical to the turbocharged Mazda CX-90. It offers a smooth ride for all passengers, but it isn’t as quiet as the Mazda CX-90. There was a significant amount of wind noise present in the cabin when moving at highway speeds. The handling isn’t quite as fun as the CX-90 either, but it handles surprisingly well for a vehicle weighing in at almost 4,500 lbs.
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade can also tow up to 5,000 lbs. when properly equipped.
Comfort and Interior
You can tell that Mazda is making a move toward the luxury end of the spectrum when it comes to the interior of the CX-90. The cabin is modern and upscale, and it features premium materials. Leather upholstery comes standard on all models but the base model, and higher-level trims get soft, supple Nappa leather. When it comes to comfort, this is about as close to luxurious as you can get.
There’s 15.9 cubic feet of space behind the third row. Fold down the third row to get 40.1 cubic feet of space. There are 75.2 cubic feet of space with the second and third rows folded down.
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 offers either a 10.3-inch or 12.3-inch infotainment display. The size depends on the trim. The new software is quick and easy to navigate. You’ll also find features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, an eight-speaker stereo, and a 7.0-inch digital gauge display. A 12-speaker Bose sound system is available as an option.
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offers a spacious interior that isn’t quite as luxurious as the Mazda CX-90, but it is equally comfortable. Second-row captain’s chairs are available as an option, and a power-folding second and third row is available on the SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy.
There are up to seven USB-C ports available inside, and a 12.0-inch infotainment touchscreen offers access to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as navigation and satellite radio. Hyundai’s Blue Link phone app allows you to use Amazon’s Alexa to control the locks and remote start. That’s a really awesome feature especially when the weather isn’t ideal.
The Hyundai Palisade gives you plenty of room for all of your road trip essentials. It offers 18 cubic feet of storage behind the third row, 46 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, and 86 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded down. It is much more spacious than the Mazda CX-90.
Trims and Features
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 comes in eight trim levels. The Select trim is the base model and includes features such as LED headlights, keyless entry and ignition, a power liftgate, tri-zone automatic climate control, 19-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, a 10.25-inch infotainment display, and an eight-speaker audio system. It also comes standard with driver safety features such as adaptive cruise control, front collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, driver alertness monitor, safe exit assist, and a rear seat reminder.
The Preferred trim adds leather upholstery, second-row sunshades, a sunroof, heated front seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and additional USB charging ports.
The Preferred Plus trim adds a wireless charging pad, increased towing capacity, and a heads-up display.
The Premium trim gives you a hands-free liftgate, 21-inch wheels, second-row captain’s chairs, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, front and rear parking sensors, active blind spot assistance, a panoramic sunroof, chrome exterior trim, driver’s seat memory functions, and navigation.
The Premium Plus adds power-folding exterior mirrors, premium leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, windshield wiper deicer, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a digital instrument panel, front cross-traffic alert, surround-view cameras, and automatic reverse braking.
The Turbo S trim gives you most of the content that the Premium trim offers but with a more powerful engine (340 horsepower).
The Turbo S Premium gives you a more powerful engine and all of the content of the Premium Plus trim.
The Turbo S Premium Plus gives you the more powerful engine plus features of the Premium Plus trim and ventilated second-row seats. It also gives you quilted leather upholstery.
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade is available in six trim levels. The SE is the base level and comes with features such as LED headlights, a digital key system, second-row bench seats with power folding, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation, front and second-row USB connections, auto-dimming side mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity entry with push-button start, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Standard safety features include a forward collision warning system, lane-keeping assist, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring.
The SEL trim adds roof rails, a hands-free liftgate, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated front seats, wireless phone charging, second-row captain’s chairs, synthetic leather upholstery, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
There is an SEL Premium package that adds 20-inch wheels, a 12-speaker audio system, ventilated front and second-row seats, a household-style outlet, heated second-row seats, self-leveling rear suspension, a heated steering wheel, a cabin intercom, an upgraded driver information display, 360-degree camera system, two third-row USB ports, and a blind-spot camera.
The XRT comes with the SEL features (not the Premium package features) and adds special exterior trim, 20-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, rear sunshades, black roof rails, and skid plates.
The Limited trim comes with all of the features of the SEL trim plus a dual-pane sunroof, interior ambient lighting, leather upholstery, power-folding heated third row, a head-up display, and automatic wipers.
The Calligraphy trim gives you everything in the SEL Premium package plus a synthetic suede headliner, unique exterior designs, massaging driver’s seat, second-row wing-out headrests, premium leather upholstery, quilted-leather door inserts, climate control touchscreen interface, remote smart parking assist, and a digital display rearview mirror.
The Calligraphy Night Edition gives the Calligraphy trim a blacked-out look with features such as 20-inch black wheels, black upholstery, a black chrome grille, and dark gray exterior trim and badging.
The Verdict
Both vehicles are equipped to provide families with countless road trips as well as fulfilling the need for daily driving. They both share similarities in terms of acceleration and technology offerings as well. The interiors of the higher-end trims border on luxury and comfort.
However, both of them have their shortcomings as well. The Mazda CX-90 lacks a bit of cargo space compared to the Hyundai Palisade. The Palisade falls behind in terms of fuel economy.
For the money, the best choice is the 2024 Hyundai Palisade. Even if you go for the top trim, you’ll get more bang for your buck. The 2024 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus trim will run you around $61k, and you can have the top-of-the-line Palisade for a few grand less. Plus, you’ll get more cargo space!
It is clear that Mazda’s quality is nearing the luxury SUV territory, but so is the price. Hyundai seems to be striking a great balance between luxury and practicality. Neither of them is cheap, but the 2024 Hyundai Palisade gives you more SUV for your money.
