2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 was a testament to Mazda's evolution into the luxury segment, challenging the likes of Acura, Infiniti, and Lexus. Its exterior design borrowed elegance from its smaller siblings, the CX-30 and CX-5, but on a grander scale, stretching over 200 inches. The imposing SUV featured a prominent grille, wide-set front end, and large wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches, all accentuated by tasteful chrome trim. Inside, the CX-90 offered a luxurious experience, especially in top-tier trims, with brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic accents. The interior design was sophisticated, rivaling luxury brands like BMW, and offered a range of trims and powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and the performance-oriented Turbo S.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Defender embraced a rugged aesthetic with its distinctive design. The Defender 110 four-door model struck a balance in design, while the Defender 130 X trim, tested in this review, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack and upgraded interior materials. The test vehicle, dressed in Gondwana Stone paint, lacked the new matte paint protection film, and its color combination with orange brake calipers was less appealing. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with illuminated door-sill treadplates and metal pedal covers. The interior maintained an industrial theme, focusing on purpose rather than luxury, and offered a spacious and airy feel with its panoramic sunroof and large windows.

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 Turbo S variant offered an impressive 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel. All models featured all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CX-90's driving modes—Normal, Sport, and Off-Road—allowed for varied driving experiences, with Sport mode enhancing the engine's roar and performance. The PHEV model combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a 17.8-kWh battery and a 68-kW electric motor, producing 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It offered an all-electric range of 26 miles and an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe in combined driving. The CX-90 excelled in handling, with a double-wishbone front suspension and agile steering, providing a driving experience reminiscent of Mazda's sporty MX-5 Miata.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, the Defender offered robust acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Its adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes enhanced off-road capabilities. Despite its off-road prowess, the Defender 130 was primarily tested on pavement, where it demonstrated a comfortable ride but lacked enthusiasm for twisty roads. The Defender's 11.4 inches of ground clearance and impressive approach and departure angles made it a formidable off-road vehicle, though its on-road performance was hindered by its weight and steering characteristics.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 offered a range of seating configurations, with lower trims accommodating eight passengers and mid-level trims featuring captain's chairs. The Turbo S models provided a two-seat configuration in the third row, with cargo space varying slightly based on seating arrangements. The CX-90 offered 75.2 cubic feet of cargo space in models with a two-seater third row, while three-across back seat models provided 74.2 cubic feet. Despite improvements over the CX-9, the CX-90's cargo capacity fell short compared to competitors like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. However, the interior featured clever storage solutions, comfortable seats, and a panoramic sunroof, enhancing overall comfort.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 required some effort to enter and exit, but it rewarded occupants with spacious seating across three rows. The test vehicle featured 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, providing excellent comfort and visibility. The Defender's panoramic sunroof and large windows created an open and airy atmosphere. While storage space was ample for front occupants, the Defender 130 was less accommodating for passengers' belongings in the rear. The third-row seat offered impressive comfort and accessibility, even for adults. The Defender's side-hinged cargo door and high load floor posed challenges for loading, but the air suspension could be lowered to ease the process. Cargo space measured 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 89 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 prioritized safety by minimizing distractions through its Mazda Connect infotainment system, which relied on a rotary control knob and hard buttons instead of a touchscreen. While the intention was to reduce distractions, the system's quirks and idiosyncrasies often led to frustration. However, the CX-90 offered personalization software that used facial recognition to adjust settings for individual drivers. Standard features included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless functionality in higher trims. Mazda's rotary controller worked with these systems, but touchscreen controls were available for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, providing a more familiar interface for users.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessed via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and connected services. While Pivi Pro had previously been criticized for its slow response and convoluted interface, it performed well in this test, with accurate voice command recognition and improved user experience. The Defender's Meridian premium sound system impressed, and additional features included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and surround-view camera system. The Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system, enhancing the Defender's practicality.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 came equipped with i-Activsense, Mazda's suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), as standard. This included features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The top-spec CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus also featured cruising and traffic support, blending lane-centering with adaptive cruise control. While crash-test ratings were unavailable, the CX-90 was expected to perform well, given the accolades received by the previous CX-9 model.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender offered a range of driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The Defender's lane-keep assist decisively corrected potential lane departures, though it occasionally attempted to steer into turnout areas. The adaptive cruise and lane-centering assist operated transparently, with minor issues in heavy traffic. Crash-test ratings were unavailable, as low-volume models like the Defender were typically not tested by major safety organizations.