10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Mazda CX-90 Takes Luxurious Lead Over Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe
Luxury and performance are two of the top things premium-car shoppers look for — but can a solid combination of those two things in a traditionally non-premium brand get them to overlook the third main factor, cachet? Mazda continues its effort to get luxury-car buyers to look its way with the 2024 Mazda CX-90. The large three-row SUV boasts Euro-quality interior appointments and the driving dynamics to match, though Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley notes some missteps that could hinder Mazda’s would-be image upgrade.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Toyota RAV4 Can’t Bypass Land Rover Defender’s Defenses
In one of our most popular articles of the past week — Hanley’s comprehensive critique of the all-new CX-90 — he lauds the fine leather and wood finishes, seating for up to eight and other appointments found in higher trim levels. Meanwhile, the CX-90 offers the choice of three new powertrains — two mild-hybrid-assisted turbocharged six-cylinder engines and a plug-in hybrid — as well as sporty handling, a refined ride and 26 miles of all-electric driving for the PHEV. Undermining these assets is an inconsistent legroom/headroom combo, depending on which row you’re in; unimpressive cargo room behind the third row; a less-than-user-friendly multimedia setup; and a luxury-adjacent price for its luxury-chasing trims in the $60,000 range.
“Priced between family-oriented and luxury three-row SUVs, the CX-90 delivers a rewarding driving experience that’s on par with premium offerings, but its interior isn’t as roomy as more family-focused models,” Hanley notes in his review.
For our full take on the 2024 Mazda CX-90, follow the link below to the No. 6 finisher on this week’s countdown of most read articles.
Just below the CX-90 review in the seventh-place spot is another large (technically mid-size) SUV: the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe that Cars.com recently added to its fleet of long-term test cars. The Trailhawk edition of the Grand Cherokee’s PHEV variant comes after Cars.com named the new Grand Cherokee its Best SUV of 2023, and it replaces our dear departed 2022 Ford Maverick pickup truck we put through its paces during a yearlong ownership stint after it won Best of the Year 2022.
Wanna know how we paid just over $43,000 for an SUV that retails for more than 73 grand when equipped with awesome features like night vision, a 360-degree camera system, a hands-free liftgate and built-in Amazon Fire TV? (Hint: It has something to do with the fact that we were able to trade in our Maverick for $500 more than its $31,000 retail price when new … which you’ll also be curious about, no doubt.) Follow the link below to the No. 7 news story of the week.
Beyond that, we’ve got headlines on the Toyota Tacoma, used cars and a whole lotta electric cars — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. What to Know Before Purchasing an Electric Vehicle: A Buying Guide
2. Which Electric Cars Are Still Eligible for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit?
3. Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
4. Electric Cars With the Longest Range
5. Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Used Car?
6. 2024 Mazda CX-90 Review: More Than Mainstream
7. Why Did We Buy a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe?
8. Toyota Teases Next-Gen 2024 Tacoma, and Not a Decade Too Soon
9. What Are the Best Used Cars for $20,000?
10. What Are the Best Used Cars for $15,000?
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
