The Mazda CX-90 is set to land in Australia from August 2023, and the diesel version – exclusive to Australia – will be capable of fuel economy to make a Toyota Kluger Hybrid nervous.
Mazda Australia has confirmed the D50e variant, which uses the same 187kW/550Nm 3.3-litre inline six turbo-diesel as the smaller CX-60, wears a combined efficiency rating of 5.4 litres per 100km. CO2 emissions are quoted at 143g/km.
The company claims that’s a 10 per cent improvement compared to the smaller Mazda CX-8’s D35 2.2-litre twin-turbo diesel (6.0L/100km), which outputs 140kW and 450Nm by comparison. Further, the Toyota Kluger Hybrid quotes combined economy of 5.6 litres per 100km.
Like the CX-60, the CX-90’s petrol and diesel engines are supported by a new 48V mild-hybrid system. Mazda says the on-board electric motor supplements the engine under inefficient low-load conditions (e.g. idling and low speeds) to improve efficiency.
G50e e-Skyactiv G
The company adds the diesel engine’s “simple”, lightweight construction means there’s a minimal weight impost compared to a conventional four-cylinder engine, which results in “no discernible difference in handling despite the higher displacement”.
Beyond the efficiency figures, Mazda has also confirmed the CX-90 D50e will sprint from 0-100km/h in 8.4 seconds, which is 1.2s quicker than the Mazda CX-8 D35.
Meanwhile, the 3.3-litre turbo petrol inline six – dubbed G50e – becomes the brand’s most powerful production engine with 254kW and 500Nm. The CX-90 G50e will be capable of hitting 100km/h from rest in 6.9 seconds, which isn’t far off some hot hatches.
The petrol inline six quotes combined fuel economy of 8.2L/100km which, while not in the same league as the thrifty oiler, beats the current 2.5-litre turbo in the CX-9 AWD (9.0L/100km). Mazda also says the G50e emits 189g/km of CO2, which is almost a 10 per cent improvement over the CX-9’s four-cylinder turbo.
As noted earlier, the all-new Mazda CX-90 will land in Australia from August 2023, with full local pricing and specifications for our market to be announced “during quarter one of 2023” – meaning final details should released before the end of this month.
The CX-90 will follow the smaller CX-60, due here around June, serving as the first vehicles to ride on the company’s new Large Architecture, featuring a rear-drive-biased platform with mild-hybrid inline-six engines and the option of plug-in hybrid technology.
While the CX-60 will arrive with a 241kW/500Nm e-Skyactiv 2.5-litre PHEV option – with up to 76km (NEDC) of electric range – the CX-90 won’t launch Down Under with a plug-in variant, though the brand’s local arm has said it plans to bring the CX-90 PHEV from 2024.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for the latest, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
MORE: 2024 Mazda CX-90 revealed
MORE: Everything Mazda CX-90
