Mazda CX-90 Plug-In Hybrid Named Best PHEV SUV for Families

U.S. News & World Report named the Mazda CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid the Best PHEV SUV for Families in its 2026 rankings, citing safety, space, reliability and everyday usability.

Mazda CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid has been recognized in the 2026 Best Cars for Families rankings by U.S. News & World Report, where it was named the Best Plug-In Hybrid SUV for Families. The award highlights vehicles that combine safety, comfort and everyday usability with features that matter most to family buyers.

The Best Cars for Families awards evaluate vehicles across a broad set of criteria. Editors analyze safety data, predicted reliability, passenger and cargo space, in-car technology, ease of use and feedback from professional automotive reviewers. Within the plug-in hybrid SUV category, the CX-90 PHEV achieved the highest overall composite score.

According to U.S. News & World Report vehicle testing editor Zach Doell, the goal of the awards is to recognize vehicles that successfully balance safety, reliability, space and comfort with features families value in daily use. In his view, the CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid delivers on these expectations while also providing the fuel efficiency and electric driving capability buyers expect from modern PHEVs.

The Mazda CX-90 PHEV is a three-row SUV designed for family transportation, offering seating for seven or eight passengers depending on configuration. It uses Mazda’s e-Skyactiv PHEV powertrain, pairing a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor for a combined output of about 323 horsepower. Power is delivered through an eight-speed automatic transmission and the company’s i-Activ all-wheel-drive system.

The vehicle is equipped with a 17.8-kWh lithium-ion battery that allows it to operate in a fully electric mode for short daily trips. Electric driving range is estimated at roughly 25–26 miles (about 40–42 km), while the overall driving range increases significantly when the gasoline engine is used for longer journeys.

Safety remains a key part of the CX-90’s positioning. The SUV has received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It also features Mazda’s i-Activsense safety suite, which includes technologies such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alerts designed to help prevent collisions.

Mazda North American Operations president and CEO Tom Donnelly said the CX-90 PHEV was developed with modern family needs in mind. He noted that its combination of smart packaging, advanced safety systems and the flexibility of electric driving reflects how families use vehicles today.

The recognition also comes at a time when Mazda’s overall safety performance has drawn attention. In February 2026, Consumer Reports ranked Mazda as the safest new-car brand, citing the company’s results in crashworthiness, braking performance, emergency handling and the availability of proven crash-prevention technologies. Against that backdrop, the CX-90 PHEV’s recognition in the family-car rankings reinforces Mazda’s broader focus on safety, efficiency and everyday usability.