I leased one of these last week, and my wife, kids, and I love it. I did notice some of the "clunkiness" that you mentioned, but coming from driving a Prius v, the ride quality is much better overall. I'll tolerate the clunkiness. I haven't noticed it being overly loud, either, but maybe that's because I'm used to driving MHEVs and gas engines. I've gotten up to 32 miles on the electric motor, if I turn off climate control. After seeing you completely eviscerate the inline 6, I was almost afraid to watch this video, but now I'm glad I went with the CX-90 PHEV.
Bought our first Mazda last year ourselves. I had to say it is the nicest driving vehicle and interior quality car I have ever owned. If we ever need something else I will be going back again to this brand what nice cars.
Great review and hybrid system explanation. I recently took my CX-90 PHEV to a recall when Mazda improved the transition from EV to gas, and it works much better now.
This is the best car review channel out there. I feel like you are actually reviewing the car part of it all. It brings out the actual differences between brands and models. Great job man!
My wife leased one of these and loves it. She went from a Volvo XC90 refueling almost every week to now refueling every 3 1/2 months. Yes, I noticed those engine transition he mentions here but she doesn’t care.
I've owned the PHEV version of the CX-90 for a few months now (about 13,000 km) and only experienced the "jarring" effect of the transmission once. Other than that it's been very smooth and just as good as my old 2011 BMW X5 Diesel. I towed my trailer (2600 lbs) to Florida and back with it and it performed fine. Since I couldn't charge the battery during the trip I kept the engine in Charge mode most of the time so I'd have enough power when I needed it. This resulted in about 13.2 litres/100 km mileage. The BMW diesel was better than this.. 12.5 litres/100 km.
If you want to overtake frequently you should be driving in normal mode, the engine will be engaged instantly unlike in EV mode. The transmission is silky smooth unlike the L6 model.
I work on my own cars. Something breaks I take a week figure it out and repair it. AMD takes a week and figures out how any new model of car works. Very impressive sir. Thank you for the review these are my favorites.
13:30 Your press vehicle might not have the TCU updates. It’s not jarring unless you’re trying to drive in EV only mode and then floor it to engage the motor. If you’re driving in Normal mode it’s way more fluid and uses EV until X amount of throttle pressure. If you drive it in Sport mode it’s fluid.
Quite a few things I disagree. 1. the power switch is very smooth in normal mode, but in EV mode, you have to push to pass the kick point and there are a few seconds delay. 2. The transmission is also very smooth, it needs about 1k miles to learn your driving behavior, it smooths out after that range. 3. The shifter is actually fantastic, it may look strange in the beginning, but it only takes a day to get used to it. It will be better if it switches to P when you turn off the car. 4. You need to enable touch for 12.25" screen in setting and it only works in CarPlay and Android auto which is enough. I do hope they provide touch capability in 10.25" screen too. (Canadian model doesn't get 12.25" screen). I do have a big complaint, when you switch to sport mode, it has a long delay to finish, and you will not get the power you want until then. Hope they will fix it. Of course, I wish it has longer EV range, but it works for me as I drive most in city. You can see they save cost on minor details but considering the cost of the car, it's not an issue. I have the car for over 6 months, absolutely loves it. I park my Cayenne in garage most time now. I have only only filled up gas tank once in 6 month, saving me at least CA$250/month.
@@BrianDIYChannel It depends on your daily routing. I work from home and only drive to carry kids and grocery shopping. It's about 27KM EV range in winter but is still enough for me. Once I get back home I charge again.
Still sounds like you're more getting used to the car than the other way around. Not saying its a bad car, but car reviewers usually have a broader experience than consumers. So relatively they might be harsher. The dual clutches also most likely means more maintenance down the line, if you're planning on owning it.
also you really need to get gas more often than that, go on a minor road trip like once a month. old gas will kill your engine faster than anything but bad engineering
Great review, AMD. As a Mazda owner, and former Toyota owner (though two of my sons drive Camrys and the other a 4Runner), I was hoping to hear that Mazda had used Toyota's plugin-hybrid tech. Still hoping that both manufacturers continue to grow the relationship and have a good "marriage". Thank you, AMD!
This is the best technical breakdown of this vehicle I have seen. Great job! We leased a CX90 PHEV about six months ago, and we really do love it. I agree. The driveline system is a little clunky, but we live with it for the greater efficiency. I think it has gotten a little better learning our driving styles.
I leased a 2025 CX-70 PHEV on Sept 26, 24, same size as CX90 but missing the third row. The clunkiness the awesome gent mechanic rightfully explained, is MOSTLY refined by the updates Mazda have made for 2025 models. The powertrain is MUCH smoother now but not outstanding. For $22,700 one-time lease payment (3 yrs , 10K/year), for PHEV Premium Plus package, there is nothing out there like it. You get A LOT for that money. Awesome job Mazda!
I don't experience the clunkiness or the slow transitioning.. i do occasionally get a "kick in the rear end feel" on low speed, EV only. I am bringing in for the transmission TSB.. remember its a first year model. I do wish the range is more than 26 miles EV... could be the weight (PHEV is 5200lbs).. but comparable PHEV like the Jeep GC 4xe also only 26 mi EV range.. aren't many 3 row PHEV out there. VERY detailed review of the engine/PHEV setup!
In real world use, "clunkiness" may not be a big deal for most. I think he is comparing to more mature hybrid brands that have put a lot more time into PHEV powertrain refinement.
Excellent explanation as always but we found this to be way more refined than expected. Of course you could catch the system off guard but for the most part transitions were pretty seamless. Slow speed parking lots are when you could tell some things were transitioning but in most driving you could hardly tell. Sport mode was the real surprise. With MPGs low priority the gas engine stays on and with the electric assist the car is lively and fun to drive. While you may save some on gas if you charge, your charging costs and real world ev range may neutralize any pump savings. Great mechanical overview. But again, we found this much more refined than many reviewers have reported.
This channel is an absolute gem, this is exactly what tech-savvy peopleI want to know when buying a vehicle. I dont think any other channel goes over the tech under the hood. Thanks for all your efforts. I still think Honda does Hybrids the best, that e:HEV system is just so smooth.
Check out Savage Geese..I think you will be impressed. BUT.......there is no one out there doing indepth technical reviews like this guy, and I hope he gets listened to by the car companies.
Some TH-cam reviewers found that the first press cars were jerky, but after the software update was rolled out, the PHEV was touted to be smoother than the in-line 6!
I have owned my 2024 CX-90 PHEV for about 5 months now. I can say that the electric motor (in my opinion) is not that loud but I actually love the sound it makes and I love hearing the shifting gears but with an electric sound instead of mechanical sound. It definitely CAN be clunky but I feel like it has gotten less clunky over time. I do wish it got more than 26 miles range and that is mostly because I have never seen more than 23. But with a 220 outlet and 40 amp charger now installed, its less of an issue to me. We absolutely love this car. Definitely less storage than our caravan but still pretty good. And it turns heads too which is always nice.
@Holyheart1 the battery only range is 26 miles. It also has a gas engine. But you want to charge it as much as you can or it doesn't make sense. But yes the gas engine can work on its own with out the hybrid battery.
If only they had a model between the size of the CX-50 and CX-90 with a polished version of this powertrain. Alas, the CX-70 is just a CX-90 with a rear seat delete and similar weight/efficiency...
Mine has been showing me 30-33mi on 80%. I avoid going below 20% or bout 7-8mi left. Enough to get me to and from work on a 30min commute each way. And level 2 charger takes it from around 20-30% up to 80% in bout 60-90min. I have been going 3wks on same tank of gas. I really wish it had 30-40 miles from 20-80% but that would require a bigger and heavier battery.
A few viewers have commented here that Normal Mode resolves some of the clunkiness. However does anyone know if Sport Mode resolves essentially all the clunkiness? (Presumably with the engine would be running all the time and electric motor engaged to engine all the time.) I am not so concerned about reduced fuel efficiency. And, superb review. Definitely the kind of information I don't see anywhere else.
I hope Mazda listens to your feedback too, AMD. I love watching your car reviews. I am more interested in what's under the hood and servicability and how it drives. I'm in the market for a new family car and I really take your word into consideration. Keep it up!!!
Wow! Hats off to you! What a review. I own a CX5, I love Mazda for what they do. I was so much inclined and influenced until you talked about the clunky shifting. At the moment my thought, may be they will get it right with a gen-2 in a couple of years. That said, as much as Mazda engineers have put their heart in this design, you have put yours to get this thoroughly reviewed. Guess I will just not be happy with any other reviewer after watching this. Great job, very well done and Thank u!
I'm a fan of Mazda! I was introduced to them in 2018 when my daughter's old Honda Odyssey van got t-boned so they totaled it. She wanted a Nissan Roque but I found a nicely used 2016 Mazda CX-5 at my Toyota dealership. What a great car for DIY's to work on...even the transmission service wasn't a big job! (She traded it in for a 2021 Hyundai Palisade last year so I'm, still, undecided on that thing!! :-)
Eagerly waiting for LX TX PHEV in-depth review. Specifically on the heat pump, looking to heat the cabin in chicago winters without opening garage door.
Mazda is on a roll, great looks, nice interiors and modern tech. I've had a 06 (ford based) 6, a 15 6 (manual) and currently a 17 6 (auto), all have been excellent with the exception of the ford v6 oil leaks (front timing and valve coves). the 2.5 has been an excellent engine as has been the mazda designed 6 spd auto. The 15 manual was not my cup of tea and I grew to dislike it enough to trade to an Auto. Currently sitting just under 70K on the 17 and not a single issue to be had. no leaks, no oil consumption and good mpg.
I absolutely was searching the internet to try and find a MECHANIC’s version of vechicals I enjoyed your under hood/ on lift review… saving me a wack of time! I am currently reviewing hybrid SUV’s as a retired mechanic…. I love simplicity over convenience and tecy crap that goes south eventually (usually at the most inconvenient time) I’ve had a CX3 since brand new in 2016 & been happy with it except for things like rivets on shielding rust out and at a 10 year cycle in the snow belt without rust proofing usually is replacement time before being a cost burden like everything built today! A snow removal on new vehicles is REALLY needed, as vehicles are crap in this department!
I leased a CX70 PHEV and I really think most of these clunkiness has been addressed. Beautiful car, coming from a CX9 I’m used to most controls. The shifter into park is really my problem a month in I still forget to push it to the left almost got me in trouble a couple of times.
Thank you, Car Care Nut (would be better to address by name though :)) I'm glad you did this review, based on the other reviews this car is almost perfect! I actually called to your shop and left a message to ask you to do this review :) Thanks again!!! I have mazda 3 2013 and I also have "clunkiness" on low speeds (looks like a family issue). It bothers a little but I rarely use 'low speeds' :))))) But! I LOVE my mazda even though I rented many cars, mazda is one of the best, I love it more than our Lexus RX350...
Infiniti Q50 hybrid has two clutches a wet and dry clutch. The dry clutch is to engage and disengage the motor from the transmission. The wet clutch is use to change ratios/gears in the transmission. The electric motor is where a normal torque converter is usually located.
Do you think this could tow an airstream Basecamp 20x? It's like a 3,500 lb trailer with a 520 lb tongue weight. Seems like it's in there. As long as maybe it's just two 250lb adults in the vehicle I guess. All the gear would have to go in the trailer on top of the axle or slightly behind it maybe.
I love watching your technical reviews, you explain the powertrain so well. All reviewers just give power and torque figures and 0-60 times. I’m all for knowing the engine and transmission and any internal upgrades and how they both work. Thanks for your Great work. Just so appreciate it !!
The inline 6 is less complicated than the PHEV. Not sure where that came from… A timing chain being in the back is literally the only “complication” in an otherwise super simple engine.
Great review. Once again as a guy who works on his own vehicles I I’m appreciate your channel so much. It is giving me the insight to make sound buy decisions. I really love how this car looks but I just can’t get behind any of the powertrain decisions they made. Looks like I’m going with the CX nine.
@21:09 I believe you used the word packaging in context of finished product of car for the first time in your video. That is how you are improving the quality of you content. Keep it up.
I've had some rough shifting occasionally because the transmission uses a single wet clutch instead of a torque converter. However, the car transitions very smoothly between electric only to hybrid if I'm not explicitly driving in the ev drive mode. So, I don't know where the emphasis on the rough engine transition is coming from in this video.
I am watching this not to decide to buy but to learn more technical details. I test drove a few suvs and vans and the drive feel of the cx90 is unmatched. Your criticism aren’t that a big deal to me. The transmission jitteryness is there only on lower speeds for me. Might be fixable with software updates. The gear shifter is not a big deal to me at all, have you seen the ridiculous rotary dial for dodge cars??
I leased one week ago. I moved from my Toyota Sienna Hybrid 2023 to Mazda bc I used to own a Mazda CX7 years ago. and loved it. For me is confusing since the Sienna is so much simple I guess. I´m still learning. Thank you😬
And btw, your review of the CX-5 from about 2 years ago was the reason for my 2nd car. A 2023 CX-5 in blue signature edition. BEST CAR IVE EVER OWNED! Asking questions now because the lease on my CX-9 is up and I’m on the fence with the 2024 PHEV premium plus
I ran across your channel because i wanted some insight on the 2024 Toyota 4Runner my wife had purchased and found your input extremely helpful. I respect your opinions from your thorough reviews. That being said I would love to hear your opinion of the new Cadillac Lyriq and hope you do a review on one.
Which 6-7 seater SUV you would recommend to buy in your opinion (any brand)? Up to $60k price range, reliable that wont give me big problems in long run. Gas, phev or fully electric.
Thank you for the fantastic review! I'm eagerly anticipating the review of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2024. I hope you'll include it in your future discussions and reviews.
Love this show! We are interested in the Mazda CX-90 PHEV. We like the Mazda’s interior, efficiency and that it offers a better than avg SUV driving experience. As pointed out in this review,however, when it first came out the engine was not fully baked, a little clunky and glitchy. Is this something that can be fixed by over the air updates? Or, are these issues that are more likely to be addressed through engineering fixes between model years (and, therefore, should we wait to see what the 2025 has to offer)? Or, is the engine (and performance) that came out with the launch of the CX-90 2024 mostly what we should expect? Finally, if the over-the-air updates are significant - should we be asking dealerships to be sure their cars are fully updated before we test drive one? Thanks for your help!
Always a fan of your videos when it comes to the details under the hood. e.g. the video where you explain differences between current generation GR86 and the previous one. Could you tell whats that rusted piece of suspension at @19:14
My CX-70 PHEV Premium trim has touch enabled for the 12.3” center “infotainment” screen when you have fully linked a smartphone in Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. But note for safety reasons that neither of the systems supports using touchscreen (for example, to enter a destination address in the mapping/Navigation UI, an extremely laborious process via the control knob) while the running vehicle’s in motion. For example, if I’m in Apple CarPlay, driving along and then get an incoming call, I can’t “press any big on-screen button” to reject the call/send it on to voicemail. I must make a choice using the control knob to scroll & select it
Hello AMD!. I recently purchased the cx90 phev and I’m not sure what octane to put on the vehicle. I know 91 octane is recommended but is 87 fine? Also, how often do you do oil changes? 1st 1000 miles? Then 5k thereafter?. Thanks!
We just leased one to get the rebates, and they must have done some software refinements because after back to back driving the PHEV with the I6 version, we found the I6 jerky off the line, laggard in power delivery, and rougher and more hesitant shifting. We had actually driven the I6 first and was so disappointed by it we were walking and talked into driving the PHEV and was blown away. No not quite as smooth as the transition our 2019 V6 Hybrid Highlander this is replacing has but sounds like way better then earlier versions of this PHEV. So maybe they’ve heard you and Mazda is polishing the system programmatically?
There are 2 systems that make sense to me in the hybrid phev world. 1-The Alpha Romeo/Dodge hornet R/T phev setup. 2-The Nissan E-Power setup. Both are very simple, easy to diagnose and service and super straightforward concept.
34:55 Isn't that kind of how the German PHEVs have been doing it for a while? With the electric motor working through the transmission as well? I feel like that's not new or groundbreaking, unless I'm missing some aspect of the implementation.
Amazing review! I think first year models are always quirky it worth to wait couple of years for the manufacturers to iron out the issues. Even though is a very very beautiful car a step forward from Cx-9 that is also very beatiful.
Love the covered catalytic converter, everyone should be doing that. The clunky driving, goofy shifter, conventional transmission (maybe some people would love that, I like eCVTs just fine) & transfer case to maintain, mediocre thermal systems, etc would completely turn me off. EV range is pretty poor too, it's almost not worth having unless you make really short trips between places it can be charged. Coming up on two year wait for Rav4 Prime so I guess I need to look at other PHEVs at some point.
Seems the challenge is getting your hands on a PHEV at a good price. Although without govt incentives, PHEVs aren't (yet??) really as desirable a technology as regular hybrids. Maybe works for big cities
Love these reviews, but I almost wonder if his review model had something wrong with it? I've test drove this model and it transitioned very smoothly between modes and was quiet in EV mode. Also tochscreen was available on my test drive when using Android Auto in park and drive.
Native UI is not touchscreen. It depends on how you drive it, other outlets have mentioned how the transitions are unrefined. It also doesn't have a torque converter which may contribute to the jerkiness
@@davec8921 Maybe it depends on how you drive it. I imagine most reviewers hammer the vehicle around to push it to it's limits, certainly any faults are going to reveal themselves at the limit, and that's their job. As for me I don't try and push it around like a sports car because, you know, it isn't. Among the larger 3 row SUVs I find it handles well, but it's a 3 row SUV afterall. I've owned my CX-90 PHEV since September 2023 and so far so good. We'll see how it goes.
If the Hybrid battery died, will the car still be able to move. I google, most hybrid, if the battery is dead, the car cannot move anymore. Is this the case for this car? For example I read the Ioniq plug in PHEV, if the battery is died, the car cannot move even with a gas engine. Thanks.
Pretty scary when my car automatically jerked and stopped while driving 5 mph. Premium Plus is not a quite ride for luxury, you are correct. Also, there are a lot of little things here and there that are quit bothersome that could have been easily corrected to make driving the 90 a better less aggravated experience. Other than that, a pretty great vehicle. Oh I also find the placement of the side windshield corners can be blinding when turning. Also, slow camera when approaching and reversing.
There’s a really good explanation of the design decisions for the phev in the motoman TH-cam channel. The electric motor drives the transmission and isn’t like EVs where the motor drives the wheel directly. The reason for this is because of the size of the car and the performance trade offs.
Love your reviews! I know the CX-60 doesn't get sold on the American market, but do you happen to know if the engine and the transmission are the same as in the CX-60 PHEV?
Thank you so much for your concise teachings AMD. Do you think going PIH is really worth the supposed gas savings and the inconvenience of charging? I ask this because of the electric rates I see here in NY. Not to mention the higher costs of buying PL IN Hybrids vs their Hybrid counterparts.
This drive system seems like the 2023 KIA Sportage that I bought in Mar 2023. There is no clunking going from EV to ending start. In fact, most times I can't tell that the engine started ! I am very pleased with it. I would like to watch a review of the KIA.
You mentioned once that , if you don't drive much, owning a hybrid can be a bad idea because the hybrid's battery will degrade with low use and give you problems down the road. Is this also true with PHEVs? Do they have a "battery tender" function for the hybrid battery if you leave them plugged in which would prevent that?
Can you please add the Price and Horsepower of the vehicle you are testing, always good to know right off the bat. Thank you and keep up the great videos.
I’m waiting for the CX-70 PEHV, which will be the same but two rows and I think they will fix all the issues that you mentioned in this video. If you are an absolute Mazda fan, I would say lease the CX-90 and buy the the 2027 year model. It will be soooooooo refined, I promise.
I'd love to know which SUV available today, brand new, is most rerliable, easy to repair and maintain. I feel that all vehicles today are over-engineered and are so complex that only the dealership can repair. What do you recommend?
I just purchased a "used" 2024 with 22 miles on it. The dealer could not explain why such a new car was used. It has a clean title and the Carfax has no record of prior ownership. Can anyone explain why it is classified as used? Also, contrary to the review I found no undue noise when operating just as an EV so maybe they fixed this issue? Excellent review.
I leased one of these last week, and my wife, kids, and I love it. I did notice some of the "clunkiness" that you mentioned, but coming from driving a Prius v, the ride quality is much better overall. I'll tolerate the clunkiness. I haven't noticed it being overly loud, either, but maybe that's because I'm used to driving MHEVs and gas engines. I've gotten up to 32 miles on the electric motor, if I turn off climate control. After seeing you completely eviscerate the inline 6, I was almost afraid to watch this video, but now I'm glad I went with the CX-90 PHEV.
Bought our first Mazda last year ourselves. I had to say it is the nicest driving vehicle and interior quality car I have ever owned. If we ever need something else I will be going back again to this brand what nice cars.
I have a 2020 Mazda CX30 owned since brand new. It still drives like the day I drove it off the lot! @@jdub976
@@jdub976which Mazda did you get?
We ended up with the Mazda 3. Wife loves it.@@Nordestada
The same for me. I always be a fan of Honda but I drive pilot which drives like a wagon and this beautiful cx90 drives like a master.
Great review and hybrid system explanation. I recently took my CX-90 PHEV to a recall when Mazda improved the transition from EV to gas, and it works much better now.
When was this recall issued?
Did you get a letter for it or was it a service update?
There is a software update for transmission. My car has very smooth shifting
Was the update OTA (Over the Air) or was it done at the dealer?
@@ztech-consulting I think dealer did it in their shop
This is the best car review channel out there. I feel like you are actually reviewing the car part of it all. It brings out the actual differences between brands and models. Great job man!
i love mazda they just keep improving
My wife leased one of these and loves it. She went from a Volvo XC90 refueling almost every week to now refueling every 3 1/2 months. Yes, I noticed those engine transition he mentions here but she doesn’t care.
I've owned the PHEV version of the CX-90 for a few months now (about 13,000 km) and only experienced the "jarring" effect of the transmission once. Other than that it's been very smooth and just as good as my old 2011 BMW X5 Diesel. I towed my trailer (2600 lbs) to Florida and back with it and it performed fine. Since I couldn't charge the battery during the trip I kept the engine in Charge mode most of the time so I'd have enough power when I needed it. This resulted in about 13.2 litres/100 km mileage. The BMW diesel was better than this.. 12.5 litres/100 km.
If you want to overtake frequently you should be driving in normal mode, the engine will be engaged instantly unlike in EV mode. The transmission is silky smooth unlike the L6 model.
Fantastic Review on the car. Thank you for not yelling at the camera and being extremely inforrmational. Fantastic!
I work on my own cars. Something breaks I take a week figure it out and repair it. AMD takes a week and figures out how any new model of car works. Very impressive sir. Thank you for the review these are my favorites.
13:30 Your press vehicle might not have the TCU updates. It’s not jarring unless you’re trying to drive in EV only mode and then floor it to engage the motor. If you’re driving in Normal mode it’s way more fluid and uses EV until X amount of throttle pressure. If you drive it in Sport mode it’s fluid.
Mazda is still beautiful and timeless!
Quite a few things I disagree.
1. the power switch is very smooth in normal mode, but in EV mode, you have to push to pass the kick point and there are a few seconds delay.
2. The transmission is also very smooth, it needs about 1k miles to learn your driving behavior, it smooths out after that range.
3. The shifter is actually fantastic, it may look strange in the beginning, but it only takes a day to get used to it. It will be better if it switches to P when you turn off the car.
4. You need to enable touch for 12.25" screen in setting and it only works in CarPlay and Android auto which is enough. I do hope they provide touch capability in 10.25" screen too. (Canadian model doesn't get 12.25" screen).
I do have a big complaint, when you switch to sport mode, it has a long delay to finish, and you will not get the power you want until then. Hope they will fix it. Of course, I wish it has longer EV range, but it works for me as I drive most in city.
You can see they save cost on minor details but considering the cost of the car, it's not an issue.
I have the car for over 6 months, absolutely loves it. I park my Cayenne in garage most time now. I have only only filled up gas tank once in 6 month, saving me at least CA$250/month.
The gas mileage only apply in the warmer weather. In the winter still need to fill up often. Summer is great, as you said, very good on gas.
@@BrianDIYChannel It depends on your daily routing. I work from home and only drive to carry kids and grocery shopping. It's about 27KM EV range in winter but is still enough for me. Once I get back home I charge again.
Still sounds like you're more getting used to the car than the other way around. Not saying its a bad car, but car reviewers usually have a broader experience than consumers. So relatively they might be harsher. The dual clutches also most likely means more maintenance down the line, if you're planning on owning it.
also you really need to get gas more often than that, go on a minor road trip like once a month. old gas will kill your engine faster than anything but bad engineering
@@The_Noticer. it’s not a dual clutch and it’s not get used to your car, it’s know your car, wether it’s cx90 or any other car.
Great review, AMD. As a Mazda owner, and former Toyota owner (though two of my sons drive Camrys and the other a 4Runner), I was hoping to hear that Mazda had used Toyota's plugin-hybrid tech. Still hoping that both manufacturers continue to grow the relationship and have a good "marriage". Thank you, AMD!
The cx50 will use the same hybrid system as the rav4 :)
This is the best technical breakdown of this vehicle I have seen. Great job! We leased a CX90 PHEV about six months ago, and we really do love it. I agree. The driveline system is a little clunky, but we live with it for the greater efficiency. I think it has gotten a little better learning our driving styles.
I leased a 2025 CX-70 PHEV on Sept 26, 24, same size as CX90 but missing the third row. The clunkiness the awesome gent mechanic rightfully explained, is MOSTLY refined by the updates Mazda have made for 2025 models. The powertrain is MUCH smoother now but not outstanding. For $22,700 one-time lease payment (3 yrs , 10K/year), for PHEV Premium Plus package, there is nothing out there like it. You get A LOT for that money. Awesome job Mazda!
@@beej100 would you buy one?
I don't experience the clunkiness or the slow transitioning.. i do occasionally get a "kick in the rear end feel" on low speed, EV only. I am bringing in for the transmission TSB.. remember its a first year model.
I do wish the range is more than 26 miles EV... could be the weight (PHEV is 5200lbs).. but comparable PHEV like the Jeep GC 4xe also only 26 mi EV range.. aren't many 3 row PHEV out there.
VERY detailed review of the engine/PHEV setup!
In real world use, "clunkiness" may not be a big deal for most. I think he is comparing to more mature hybrid brands that have put a lot more time into PHEV powertrain refinement.
The TCU update made the transmission feel much better and it even feels like it accelerates better in EV only.
I have the 2025 Cx70 PHEV and there are no clunkiness or noise from the motor. Love this car!!
Excellent explanation as always but we found this to be way more refined than expected. Of course you could catch the system off guard but for the most part transitions were pretty seamless. Slow speed parking lots are when you could tell some things were transitioning but in most driving you could hardly tell. Sport mode was the real surprise. With MPGs low priority the gas engine stays on and with the electric assist the car is lively and fun to drive. While you may save some on gas if you charge, your charging costs and real world ev range may neutralize any pump savings. Great mechanical overview. But again, we found this much more refined than many reviewers have reported.
Love this channel! Thank you for always sharing your knowledge and giving us such in depth information on vehicles.
This channel is an absolute gem, this is exactly what tech-savvy peopleI want to know when buying a vehicle.
I dont think any other channel goes over the tech under the hood. Thanks for all your efforts.
I still think Honda does Hybrids the best, that e:HEV system is just so smooth.
Check out Savage Geese..I think you will be impressed.
BUT.......there is no one out there doing indepth technical reviews like this guy, and I hope he gets listened to by the car companies.
@@jeffreyjeziorski1480 Already subscribed to them :) Thanks anyway.
Some TH-cam reviewers found that the first press cars were jerky, but after the software update was rolled out, the PHEV was touted to be smoother than the in-line 6!
I have owned my 2024 CX-90 PHEV for about 5 months now. I can say that the electric motor (in my opinion) is not that loud but I actually love the sound it makes and I love hearing the shifting gears but with an electric sound instead of mechanical sound. It definitely CAN be clunky but I feel like it has gotten less clunky over time. I do wish it got more than 26 miles range and that is mostly because I have never seen more than 23. But with a 220 outlet and 40 amp charger now installed, its less of an issue to me. We absolutely love this car. Definitely less storage than our caravan but still pretty good. And it turns heads too which is always nice.
Does this car have to be charged to drive ? or will motor run on its own what do you mean by 26
Miles range ? I just started looking at these
Thanks
@Holyheart1 the battery only range is 26 miles. It also has a gas engine. But you want to charge it as much as you can or it doesn't make sense. But yes the gas engine can work on its own with out the hybrid battery.
@ thanks for that explanation Iv been reading a lot of reviews I'm not sure how reliable these are going to be compared to a Toyota
How are you liking it now?
Again another superb review by AMD, excellent!
My request is: please review the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Best regards!
12.5" is touch screen for Android Auto and Car Play. Non touch for the Mazda native UI
I've been waiting for this review!
Me too after seeing the inline 6 review which was totally germanish mechanically. Hopefully this is built simple like a japan product.
I was looking for this review yesterday and was disappointed there wasn't one. But I was pleasantly surprised to see it today!
Can you do a review on Mitsubishi outlander phev
Been seeing them on the road lately, and damn do they look good 😎
Nice car but wish it had more EV range. 26 is not enough, really needs to be in the 35-50 range.
I agree
If only they had a model between the size of the CX-50 and CX-90 with a polished version of this powertrain. Alas, the CX-70 is just a CX-90 with a rear seat delete and similar weight/efficiency...
Mine has been showing me 30-33mi on 80%. I avoid going below 20% or bout 7-8mi left. Enough to get me to and from work on a 30min commute each way. And level 2 charger takes it from around 20-30% up to 80% in bout 60-90min. I have been going 3wks on same tank of gas. I really wish it had 30-40 miles from 20-80% but that would require a bigger and heavier battery.
Drive slower
It's for emissions over anything else goofball
GJ! Pls review more Nissans especially the Sentra, the Leaf and the X-trail. Also the Toyota Yaris. Appreciated!
A few viewers have commented here that Normal Mode resolves some of the clunkiness. However does anyone know if Sport Mode resolves essentially all the clunkiness? (Presumably with the engine would be running all the time and electric motor engaged to engine all the time.) I am not so concerned about reduced fuel efficiency.
And, superb review. Definitely the kind of information I don't see anywhere else.
same request! the clunkiness is an absolute deal breaker! makes me wonder how the system operates in normal mode and sport mode
Own a 2016 and a 2021 cx5. Great vehicles, no complaints. Plan on keeping each til 250k miles
I hope Mazda listens to your feedback too, AMD. I love watching your car reviews. I am more interested in what's under the hood and servicability and how it drives. I'm in the market for a new family car and I really take your word into consideration. Keep it up!!!
No need to listen. We will always have a Toyota to go to.
Should you buy a Mazda? Yeah for under 25 grand. That’s all the value that I see in it. And yes, the salesperson hates selling me a car.
Really great review! Would also be great to see you driving the car
I absolutely loved this car! It drove well, for very well and priced well. It was a fantastic car!!
Wow! Hats off to you! What a review. I own a CX5, I love Mazda for what they do. I was so much inclined and influenced until you talked about the clunky shifting. At the moment my thought, may be they will get it right with a gen-2 in a couple of years. That said, as much as Mazda engineers have put their heart in this design, you have put yours to get this thoroughly reviewed. Guess I will just not be happy with any other reviewer after watching this. Great job, very well done and Thank u!
I applaud Mazdas take and find this car very special as well. Looking forward if you have a chance to review Mitsubishi’s take on the Outlander PHEV.
I'm a fan of Mazda! I was introduced to them in 2018 when my daughter's old Honda Odyssey van got t-boned so they totaled it. She wanted a Nissan Roque but I found a nicely used 2016 Mazda CX-5 at my Toyota dealership. What a great car for DIY's to work on...even the transmission service wasn't a big job! (She traded it in for a 2021 Hyundai Palisade last year so I'm, still, undecided on that thing!! :-)
Eagerly waiting for LX TX PHEV in-depth review. Specifically on the heat pump, looking to heat the cabin in chicago winters without opening garage door.
Mazda is on a roll, great looks, nice interiors and modern tech. I've had a 06 (ford based) 6, a 15 6 (manual) and currently a 17 6 (auto), all have been excellent with the exception of the ford v6 oil leaks (front timing and valve coves). the 2.5 has been an excellent engine as has been the mazda designed 6 spd auto. The 15 manual was not my cup of tea and I grew to dislike it enough to trade to an Auto. Currently sitting just under 70K on the 17 and not a single issue to be had. no leaks, no oil consumption and good mpg.
I absolutely was searching the internet to try and find a MECHANIC’s version of vechicals I enjoyed your under hood/ on lift review… saving me a wack of time! I am currently reviewing hybrid SUV’s as a retired mechanic…. I love simplicity over convenience and tecy crap that goes south eventually (usually at the most inconvenient time)
I’ve had a CX3 since brand new in 2016 & been happy with it except for things like rivets on shielding rust out and at a 10 year cycle in the snow belt without rust proofing usually is replacement time before being a cost burden like everything built today!
A snow removal on new vehicles is REALLY needed, as vehicles are crap in this department!
Hi AMD, Kindly review 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander
Crap! Avoid.
I leased a CX70 PHEV and I really think most of these clunkiness has been addressed. Beautiful car, coming from a CX9 I’m used to most controls. The shifter into park is really my problem a month in I still forget to push it to the left almost got me in trouble a couple of times.
Thank you, Car Care Nut (would be better to address by name though :)) I'm glad you did this review, based on the other reviews this car is almost perfect! I actually called to your shop and left a message to ask you to do this review :) Thanks again!!! I have mazda 3 2013 and I also have "clunkiness" on low speeds (looks like a family issue). It bothers a little but I rarely use 'low speeds' :))))) But! I LOVE my mazda even though I rented many cars, mazda is one of the best, I love it more than our Lexus RX350...
so just say AMD ?
Infiniti Q50 hybrid has two clutches a wet and dry clutch. The dry clutch is to engage and disengage the motor from the transmission. The wet clutch is use to change ratios/gears in the transmission. The electric motor is where a normal torque converter is usually located.
Do you think this could tow an airstream Basecamp 20x?
It's like a 3,500 lb trailer with a 520 lb tongue weight. Seems like it's in there. As long as maybe it's just two 250lb adults in the vehicle I guess. All the gear would have to go in the trailer on top of the axle or slightly behind it maybe.
for their first step on this direction, its actually pretty good.
I love watching your technical reviews, you explain the powertrain so well. All reviewers just give power and torque figures and 0-60 times. I’m all for knowing the engine and transmission and any internal upgrades and how they both work. Thanks for your Great work. Just so appreciate it !!
Great review! Could you do reviews on entry level cars like The Mirage? Loved your review on the Nissan Versa.
The inline 6 is less complicated than the PHEV. Not sure where that came from…
A timing chain being in the back is literally the only “complication” in an otherwise super simple engine.
Can you please do a Mechanic review on 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid or Hybrid plug-in?
Terrific must watch review by an expert not some car reviewer trying to get a free vacation to some exotic local on the manufacturer’s dime.
Great review. Once again as a guy who works on his own vehicles I I’m appreciate your channel so much. It is giving me the insight to make sound buy decisions. I really love how this car looks but I just can’t get behind any of the powertrain decisions they made. Looks like I’m going with the CX nine.
@21:09 I believe you used the word packaging in context of finished product of car for the first time in your video.
That is how you are improving the quality of you content. Keep it up.
I've had some rough shifting occasionally because the transmission uses a single wet clutch instead of a torque converter. However, the car transitions very smoothly between electric only to hybrid if I'm not explicitly driving in the ev drive mode. So, I don't know where the emphasis on the rough engine transition is coming from in this video.
Get the TCU update at your dealership.
I am watching this not to decide to buy but to learn more technical details.
I test drove a few suvs and vans and the drive feel of the cx90 is unmatched.
Your criticism aren’t that a big deal to me. The transmission jitteryness is there only on lower speeds for me. Might be fixable with software updates. The gear shifter is not a big deal to me at all, have you seen the ridiculous rotary dial for dodge cars??
I leased one week ago. I moved from my Toyota Sienna Hybrid 2023 to Mazda bc I used to own a Mazda CX7 years ago. and loved it. For me is confusing since the Sienna is so much simple I guess. I´m still learning. Thank you😬
And btw, your review of the CX-5 from about 2 years ago was the reason for my 2nd car. A 2023 CX-5 in blue signature edition. BEST CAR IVE EVER OWNED! Asking questions now because the lease on my CX-9 is up and I’m on the fence with the 2024 PHEV premium plus
Mazda is an engineering-oriented company. They’ll get it figured out.
They remind me of Lotus of old. Neat stuff.
I wish they would re-design the rear end. It just looks off compared to the front-end.
Nope, looks great from every angle :)
I ran across your channel because i wanted some insight on the 2024 Toyota 4Runner my wife had purchased and found your input extremely helpful. I respect your opinions from your thorough reviews. That being said I would love to hear your opinion of the new Cadillac Lyriq and hope you do a review on one.
Which 6-7 seater SUV you would recommend to buy in your opinion (any brand)? Up to $60k price range, reliable that wont give me big problems in long run. Gas, phev or fully electric.
Best review of a vehicle I have ever experienced. Kudos to the reviewer gent!!!!
Thank you for the fantastic review! I'm eagerly anticipating the review of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2024. I hope you'll include it in your future discussions and reviews.
Will keep this on my short list for MY2025/6 maybe.
Please also review Volkswagen electric models such as ID4, 5 and 7
MSRP ranges from $48,000 to $56,000 depending on trim level. MPG is mid 20s on gasoline, low 50s highway running as hybrid, per the EPA.
FWIW, software updates are supposed to have removed the clunkiness.
Sounds just like the hybrid system at Lexus it's very nice to have that recharge option
Sounds like it's not nearly as smooth as the Lexus version, albeit Toyota and Lexus have been refining it for many years now.
@@ytj22agree my Toyota crown does it’s smoothly
I read somewhere that Mazda claimed they were using a heat pump to heat the cabin.
Love this show!
We are interested in the Mazda CX-90 PHEV. We like the Mazda’s interior, efficiency and that it offers a better than avg SUV driving experience. As pointed out in this review,however, when it first came out the engine was not fully baked, a little clunky and glitchy. Is this something that can be fixed by over the air updates? Or, are these issues that are more likely to be addressed through engineering fixes between model years (and, therefore, should we wait to see what the 2025 has to offer)? Or, is the engine (and performance) that came out with the launch of the CX-90 2024 mostly what we should expect? Finally, if the over-the-air updates are significant - should we be asking dealerships to be sure their cars are fully updated before we test drive one?
Thanks for your help!
Always a fan of your videos when it comes to the details under the hood. e.g. the video where you explain differences between current generation GR86 and the previous one. Could you tell whats that rusted piece of suspension at @19:14
My CX-70 PHEV Premium trim has touch enabled for the 12.3” center “infotainment” screen when you have fully linked a smartphone in Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. But note for safety reasons that neither of the systems supports using touchscreen (for example, to enter a destination address in the mapping/Navigation UI, an extremely laborious process via the control knob) while the running vehicle’s in motion. For example, if I’m in Apple CarPlay, driving along and then get an incoming call, I can’t “press any big on-screen button” to reject the call/send it on to voicemail. I must make a choice using the control knob to scroll & select it
Hello AMD!. I recently purchased the cx90 phev and I’m not sure what octane to put on the vehicle. I know 91 octane is recommended but is 87 fine? Also, how often do you do oil changes? 1st 1000 miles? Then 5k thereafter?. Thanks!
We just leased one to get the rebates, and they must have done some software refinements because after back to back driving the PHEV with the I6 version, we found the I6 jerky off the line, laggard in power delivery, and rougher and more hesitant shifting. We had actually driven the I6 first and was so disappointed by it we were walking and talked into driving the PHEV and was blown away. No not quite as smooth as the transition our 2019 V6 Hybrid Highlander this is replacing has but sounds like way better then earlier versions of this PHEV. So maybe they’ve heard you and Mazda is polishing the system programmatically?
I agree. Drove lexus 450H+, Rav4 Prime, .. this looks significantly nicer than all of them. But clunckly feeling is a bit turn off.
There are 2 systems that make sense to me in the hybrid phev world.
1-The Alpha Romeo/Dodge hornet R/T phev setup.
2-The Nissan E-Power setup.
Both are very simple, easy to diagnose and service and super straightforward concept.
34:55 Isn't that kind of how the German PHEVs have been doing it for a while? With the electric motor working through the transmission as well? I feel like that's not new or groundbreaking, unless I'm missing some aspect of the implementation.
Amazing review! I think first year models are always quirky it worth to wait couple of years for the manufacturers to iron out the issues. Even though is a very very beautiful car a step forward from Cx-9 that is also very beatiful.
Love the covered catalytic converter, everyone should be doing that. The clunky driving, goofy shifter, conventional transmission (maybe some people would love that, I like eCVTs just fine) & transfer case to maintain, mediocre thermal systems, etc would completely turn me off. EV range is pretty poor too, it's almost not worth having unless you make really short trips between places it can be charged. Coming up on two year wait for Rav4 Prime so I guess I need to look at other PHEVs at some point.
Seems the challenge is getting your hands on a PHEV at a good price. Although without govt incentives, PHEVs aren't (yet??) really as desirable a technology as regular hybrids. Maybe works for big cities
Love these reviews, but I almost wonder if his review model had something wrong with it? I've test drove this model and it transitioned very smoothly between modes and was quiet in EV mode. Also tochscreen was available on my test drive when using Android Auto in park and drive.
Native UI is not touchscreen. It depends on how you drive it, other outlets have mentioned how the transitions are unrefined.
It also doesn't have a torque converter which may contribute to the jerkiness
Your experience mirrors my CX-90 that I've owned since September 2023.
If the one they're sending out to automotive press to review has issues I have really slim hopes for trouble free ownership of one
@@davec8921 Maybe it depends on how you drive it. I imagine most reviewers hammer the vehicle around to push it to it's limits, certainly any faults are going to reveal themselves at the limit, and that's their job. As for me I don't try and push it around like a sports car because, you know, it isn't. Among the larger 3 row SUVs I find it handles well, but it's a 3 row SUV afterall. I've owned my CX-90 PHEV since September 2023 and so far so good. We'll see how it goes.
If the Hybrid battery died, will the car still be able to move. I google, most hybrid, if the battery is dead, the car cannot move anymore. Is this the case for this car? For example I read the Ioniq plug in PHEV, if the battery is died, the car cannot move even with a gas engine. Thanks.
Pretty scary when my car automatically jerked and stopped while driving 5 mph.
Premium Plus is not a quite ride for luxury, you are correct. Also, there are a lot of little things here and there that are quit bothersome that could have been easily corrected to make driving the 90 a better less aggravated experience. Other than that, a pretty great vehicle. Oh I also find the placement of the side windshield corners can be blinding when turning. Also, slow camera when approaching and reversing.
thank you. Great Review. Pls review a grand highlander and the hybrid version.
There’s a really good explanation of the design decisions for the phev in the motoman TH-cam channel.
The electric motor drives the transmission and isn’t like EVs where the motor drives the wheel directly. The reason for this is because of the size of the car and the performance trade offs.
So are you saying, the clunkiness of the vehicle will always be clunky. There’s no recall or updates that can fix this?
Love your reviews! I know the CX-60 doesn't get sold on the American market, but do you happen to know if the engine and the transmission are the same as in the CX-60 PHEV?
I bought a CX-90 inline 6. I get average 34 miles per gallon. Inline 6 is simpler than Plug-in hybrid, it should last longer.
Thank you so much for your concise teachings AMD. Do you think going PIH is really worth the supposed gas savings and the inconvenience of charging? I ask this because of the electric rates I see here in NY. Not to mention the higher costs of buying PL IN Hybrids vs their Hybrid counterparts.
This drive system seems like the 2023 KIA Sportage that I bought in Mar 2023. There is no clunking going from EV to ending start. In fact, most times I can't tell that the engine started ! I am very pleased with it. I would like to watch a review of the KIA.
Might as well pretend the 3rd row isn't there and review the CX-70 as well!
Two birds with one stone hehe
You mentioned once that , if you don't drive much, owning a hybrid can be a bad idea because the hybrid's battery will degrade with low use and give you problems down the road. Is this also true with PHEVs? Do they have a "battery tender" function for the hybrid battery if you leave them plugged in which would prevent that?
Can you please add the Price and Horsepower of the vehicle you are testing, always good to know right off the bat. Thank you and keep up the great videos.
I’m waiting for the CX-70 PEHV, which will be the same but two rows and I think they will fix all the issues that you mentioned in this video.
If you are an absolute Mazda fan, I would say lease the CX-90 and buy the the 2027 year model.
It will be soooooooo refined, I promise.
Does it have a sway bar? Your inline 6 review pointed it didn't have one. Does this have one? I believe in having a sway bar for how the car handles.
I'd love to know which SUV available today, brand new, is most rerliable, easy to repair and maintain. I feel that all vehicles today are over-engineered and are so complex that only the dealership can repair. What do you recommend?
I just purchased a "used" 2024 with 22 miles on it. The dealer could not explain why such a new car was used. It has a clean title and the Carfax has no record of prior ownership. Can anyone explain why it is classified as used? Also, contrary to the review I found no undue noise when operating just as an EV so maybe they fixed this issue? Excellent review.
Did someone else title the car? If so, it’s used.
How would you compare this to Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023 and later.?
I got this model when my cx-5 went in for service. It is an amazing car but also experienced chunkiness and didn’t feel as solid as my cx-5
Carcarenut please do a review on the nissan frontier. Thank you!