Topic: Blueprint's 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV GS-L

[Blueprint]

As an intro, there is this little 21 page thread: https://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=119433.0

Despite my "hobby", I wasn't in on the details - not for the lack of prodding - and went with the public announcements. I put my name on a waiting list the day of the reveal (Feb. 7th IIRC), then late February actually plunked down a deposit on this very build, once the specs were out. As an Odyssey replacement and wife's future dd, she wanted three basic features: heated seats, heated steering wheel and powered hatch (because not tall / bad back). Awd a nice bonus, and PHEV a non-negotiable mandatory configuration. We also wanted the ability to seat 7 adults, as we're still 5 at home and have elderly parents. The CX-90 PHEV nailed the tender's specs, the only other option being the Outlander, with its "interesting" front end and smurf-sized 3rd row. Plus, wife not at ease with the driving position in the Mitsu, which would have made it my dd. Nope.

Less than 4 months after ordering, Big Blue came in. Yesterday was delivery day!

[TheHire]

That was actually really fast!

I saw my first NPC-owned CX-90 yesterday - they look so sharp. Congrats!

[Hannibalsmith]

Nice!

What's the EV only range on this one?

[Blueprint]

This is our first non-grey or black car since we sold the first Odyssey in 2012. Deep Crystal Blue Mica suits the CX-90 well, yet I had never seen one before, well, taking delivery of this one. From what I could tell, the CX-90's design takes well to darker colours. I have seen three units side by side at the dealer in Mazda's famed Soul Red, and it looks horrible on the large CX-90's body. Ditto with Quartz.

No pictures of the lower trims were ever published by Mazda, except for the simulations online. The "Inline6" fender badged is replaced by one saying "PHEV" and nicely spruced up by a swag of chrome. I saw an MHEV GT at the dealer and the Inline6 badge is all matte-black plastic - odd and unfinished.

Cladding is all black plastic, and even the window surrounds are black plastics. I would have preferred a splash of chrome here, as with other GS CX-. The GS-L gets satin-finished roof rails.

The dealer delivered it with a full tank of gas and ¾ of a charge, getting completed here.

[Gurgie]

Nice! Congrats!

Sent from my SM-S901W using Tapatalk

[JohnnyMac]

Very nice indeed.  I hope you and your wife enjoy this for many years.  I'm sure it's nicer to drive than the Oddy.

[sszoomzoom]

Congrats on the new rig.
I think you’re the first here to get one.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Congrats on the new car.  I wonder how long the tank of fuel that the dealer put in will last?

[HeliDriver]

Yeah, that did seem quick. Looks great in that blue. Congrats!

These seem like a really nice vehicle. Have been pondering one as a potential replacement for the Yukon one day.

[Jaeger]

That is gorgeous - congrats! May it provide you and yours with safe and happy motoring!

Crazy world we live in when waiting nearly a quarter of a year for delivery of your vehicle is described as "fast". 

[Blueprint]

Nice!

What's the EV only range on this one?

Official rating is 42 km, which only nets it a $2,500 federal rebate. Actual surface street range will be higher - I expect I should be able to get near 60 km out of it, based on last week's presser experience. Battery is 17.8 kWh, and the veucle appears to keep 2.8 kWh in reserve for hybrid operations, a full charge taking 15 kWh (about 2 hours on my EVSE).

[Blueprint]

Congrats on the new car.  I wonder how long the tank of fuel that the dealer put in will last?

We're going to Maine in a month, so we will burn up that fuel quicker than with only local use. With the Audi, my March fill-up would last through October. Taking away the road trips, this rig will see maybe 4 tanks per year. The Maine trip will see a lot of hilly rural roads, so a great way to take care of the ICE break-in before putting it to sleep for the rest of the summer / fall.

[Blueprint]

It's the biggest Mazda ever, and it shows! Because of the rwd platform, interior is not as big as one would expect. 2nd row legroom is just ok, but at least adults - even 6' me - can actually use the 3rd row. No much storage too. The center console up front won't even fit a kleenex box - it's almost a covered tray.

Note in the picture below that the lower trims have a black plastic "chin" instead of the Chrome job of GT and up trims. But it looks pretty good as is I think, and the chrome grille surround is great with the blue.

[Blueprint]

The only clues to this being a PHEV are 1) upcoming green plate, 2) this PHEV badge at the rear and 3) the PHEV fender tags that replace the MHEV's "Inline6" tags.

[Blueprint]

All the CX-90's you see in advertising, media pics or reviews have the 21" fitments. My GS-L, like the PHEV GS and MHEV GS-L have 19 inchers. No 20" are available in between, but the base MHEV GS has smaller 18" wheels, which the dealer's parts guy is inquiring about if they'll fit over the heavy PHEV's brake calipers for winter use.

You'll notice how the tires looks small on my CX-90. To put things in scale, these are 265/55R19 and are the biggest tires I've ever owned!

The 21" on the presser were Falkens. MHEV GS-L units seen at the dealer had Yokohamas, but my CX came with Toyo Open Countrys. The load rating on the PHEV is higher.

[OliverD]

That is gorgeous - congrats! May it provide you and yours with safe and happy motoring!

Crazy world we live in when waiting nearly a quarter of a year for delivery of your vehicle is described as "fast". 

I think these have only been on lots for a few weeks though, so that's extra fast. 

Congrats on the new ride, I think you made the right choice.

[Blueprint]

Another thing that was never published: interior of lower trims. I knew from specs that the GS-L console would be all mate-black, no piano black anywhere in sight (and I hate that stuff). Not clear were trim elements, seat design etc.

So we've all seen the Signature's fabric dash / light wood interior, or its odd suede finish. My GT presser had a plain, smooth "leather" dash with contrasting fabric. Online configurator showed black for the GS-L but it was hard to see in detail.

So the GS-L dash has this textured, padded plastic on the main face, which looks pretty good and better than the GT's plain padding.

[Blueprint]

The all-black console is plain but elegant, and keeps the satin surround - phew. The satin trim in the doors is gone, replaced by dark plastics that I don't mind (less distracting under the sun).

[Blueprint]

The simili-leather seats have a nice center fabric stripe, with bronze contrasting stiching all over the seats. They look good but aren't ventilated, as are the real leather ones in the GT. These seats have the same fully electric settings as the GT's but lose the memory buttons (booh!).

[Gurgie]

The wheels do look small compared to the 21" ones, seems they don't fill the wheel well as much.