08/20/2026
“Mazda in the News” Spotlight:
Forget The Audi Q5 — This Japanese SUV Feels Way More Luxurious
TopSpeed
By Thomas Gillett
8/10/2026
Gone are the days when the height of luxury in an SUV had to be made by a German brand like Audi, BMW, Porsche, or Mercedes-Benz. The class divide in the market has narrowed dramatically today, and the brands that once were known for their budget-friendliness, affordable running costs, and basic features are now more than plush enough to take on the Europeans. This Mazda SUV is more affordable to buy and run than the new Audi Q5, and it has all the right features to challenge it in terms of comfort, refinement, and style. Mazda has gone from being one of the auto world's best sports-car makers to delivering SUVs that truly take on the might of American and European luxury, and the 2026 Mazda CX-90 is its defining model. There are six trims of the new mid-size, three-row CX-90: the 3.3 Turbo Select, the 3.3 Turbo Preferred, the 3.3 Turbo Premium Sport, the 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus, the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Sport, and the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus. Prices range from $39,300 for the base model up to $57,570 for the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus. The new CX-90 looks good as a standalone model, but when you compare it to the Audi Q5, it makes even more sense. Firstly, there is the huge price difference; Audi says that the new Q5 has a starting price of $52,800, and a top-end starting price of $60,700 for the Prestige TFSI Quattro S-tronic.
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