2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2025 Buick Enclave

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 presented itself as a formidable contender in the luxury SUV market, challenging the traditional luxury brands with its sophisticated design and high-quality materials. Its exterior design borrowed the elegant language of smaller Mazda models, but on a grander scale, making it an imposing presence on the road. The interior of the CX-90, especially in the higher trims, was a testament to Mazda's commitment to luxury, featuring brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic accents that rivaled more expensive luxury brands. Despite the range of trims, all models benefited from Mazda's stylish design and comfortable layout.

In contrast, the 2025 Buick Enclave showcased a bold and modern design, drawing inspiration from the compact Envista. Its sharp lines, slim DRLs, and large grille gave it a striking appearance, though it appeared more generic from the side. The Enclave's interior was both modern and premium, with a floating center console and a large curved display that echoed the futuristic feel of electric vehicles. The seats, trimmed in perforated leatherette with contrast piping, added a touch of luxury, though the limited sunroof availability was a drawback. Overall, the Enclave aimed to position itself closer to the luxury spectrum, though it fell short in some areas.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid option and a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. The base turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, while the upgraded Turbo S model boasted 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel. All models came with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CX-90 offered three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, with Sport mode enhancing the driving experience with a thrilling exhaust note. The PHEV model combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a 17.8-kWh battery, producing 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, though its all-electric range was limited to 26 miles. The CX-90 excelled in handling, feeling agile and composed through corners, thanks to its double-wishbone front suspension and transverse engine layout.

The 2025 Buick Enclave featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. Power was delivered through an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the option of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The Enclave's fuel economy was slightly affected by the AWD option, dropping from 23 to 21 mpg combined. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave's driving dynamics were more akin to a full-size vehicle, with loose steering at slower speeds, making it less agile than the CX-90. Active Noise Cancellation was standard for road noise, but engine noise cancellation was only available on higher trims, highlighting the turbo engine's lack of refinement.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 offered a variety of seating configurations, with lower trims seating eight passengers and mid-level trims featuring captain's chairs for a seven-seat layout. The Turbo S model had a two-seat third row, providing slightly more cargo space. Total cargo capacity ranged from 74.2 to 75.2 cubic feet, depending on the configuration. While the CX-90 improved on the CX-9's cargo space, it still lagged behind competitors like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. The interior featured clever storage solutions, comfortable seats, and a panoramic sunroof, enhancing the overall comfort.

The 2025 Buick Enclave came with standard eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger. Captain's chairs in the second row allowed for a seven-person capacity. The Enclave Avenir offered heated second-row seats and ventilation for the front row, along with a two-position memory feature. Tri-zone climate control was standard, and the power-folding third-row seats were available on higher trims. The Enclave's cargo space measured 22.9 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 97.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The AutoSense liftgate added convenience, opening automatically when sensing the key fob nearby.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 focused on minimizing distractions with its Mazda Connect infotainment system, which used a rotary control knob and hard buttons instead of a touchscreen. While the intention was to enhance safety, the setup proved frustrating for some users. However, the CX-90 offered personalization software with facial recognition, adjusting settings to the driver's preferences. Standard features included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless connectivity in higher trims. The rotary controller worked with these systems, but touchscreen controls were available for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2025 Buick Enclave showcased its premium positioning with a 30-inch ultrawide touchscreen that integrated the infotainment display and digital gauge cluster. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with a 16-speaker Bose Performance system available on the Avenir trim. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In for native apps. The Enclave also offered a Wi-Fi hotspot and wired charging for all rows, enhancing connectivity and convenience.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 came equipped with i-Activsense, Mazda's suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The top-spec Turbo S Premium Plus model featured cruising and traffic support, providing a hands-on driver support system. While the CX-90 had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, it was expected to perform well based on the CX-9's previous ratings.

The 2025 Buick Enclave prioritized safety with standard features like blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, and lane-keep assist. HD Surround Vision with selectable camera views and adaptive cruise control were also standard. The Enclave introduced Super Cruise, GM's hands-free driving technology, available on all trims for an additional cost. The 2024 Enclave had received favorable ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, though the updated side crash-test rating was only "Acceptable."