Has anyone here considered the CX-90 (preferably the PHEV) vs the Volvo XC90 (confusing that these models are pretty much the same name, just swapping the first two letters). Anyways, I have a fairly unique use case. We live bi-coastal, living primarily in Northern California but spending the summers in Upstate NY. This will be the car that takes us back and forth so a higher mileage lease would be ideal, probably 12K/year. I’ve seen that the XC90 leases well at 24 months, not opposed to that. The appeal of the plug-in aspect is that once at home, the car is used to run local errands with not too many day trips. I do want AWD for ski trips to Tahoe during the winter, though. Third row space is unimportant however the 3rd row is vital for separating the cats and dogs during the trips between CA and NY. I see a lot of shared deals on both of these models so I’m hoping someone here has considered both and can maybe mention some points I may not have considered. Ideally, would like to have the payment at $600 or less.
Don’t think you’re gonna hit your target on the Volvo.
I am leasing a 2021 XC90 Inscription and a 2021 XC60 Inscription. - with the XC60 lease being up in October. I have tried to work with our local Volvo dealership, and they are making the experience so weird and stressful that I am now considering a CX-90 Premium Plus PHEV. I am really unhappy about losing the Pilot Assist type cruise if I go with the Mazda. The CX-90’s system seems rudimentary. That top trim doesn’t even have lane-centering from what I can tell. I test drove it last night to check it out and it was just lane departure. It would kick in very dramatically only after crossing the line. It was disconcerting. I still might get the CX-90. Mazda should have stepped it up - no excuse on that front. I liked most everything else.
The ventilated work better than Volvo’s. The Volvo feels way more hefty - something I like. I am almost mourning moving away from Volvo. I have leased 5 since 2016. Our Utah dealership, at least toward me, has become the type of place I would have a hard time doing business with again.
I have had 3 of the new series of XC90s - happy to answer any questions.
If it helps, I am still working through negotiations with Mazda on the CX-90 but here was the last deal sheet they sent me. I think there is still room to work this - AND I would LOVE any advice on how to get a better deal.
Is it actually local ?
@Phat - Oh, I am new to the site/forums and didn’t realize it had a location tag for “ca-norcal”. I just noticed the thread name. So, well, it’s local to me where I live in Utah. Sorry.
Very weird. Seems like the gas CX-90 does have lane centering but the PHEV doesn’t.
Are you really a candidate for a lease with all those miles you will put on the vehicle? 5k+ just driving there and back.
I do think that people will end up comparing the two inevitably, since there just aren’t a lot of 3-row EV or PHEV options. My wife is coming from a CX-5 (two of them, actually), but now she’s told me she wants a third row for carpool and she’d like to do the environmental thing with an EV if possible. I also know she drives a whole bunch of city miles for work most days, so I wouldn’t mind the gas savings.
But hell, what are my options? I’ve been trying to sell her on a Pacifica for years, but she’s just not having it—even in yuppy virtue-signaling PHEV guise. Which has been a constant source of my disappointment, because I just prefer people to choose the correct car for their needs. But I digress.
I would love to get her into an XC90. I’m a fan of Volvo in general. My first car was a 244 shitbox. I drove a V70R wagon for a few years. I almost got a V60 polestar myself on multiple occasions. The XC90 would suit her ambitious soccer mom image perfectly. But alas, I just can’t afford it.
I’m not surprised you’ve found gaps in technology and quality between them. Both because of the difference in price points and in experience between them. This is the first ever car like this for Mazda. They don’t know how to make an electrified SUV. But their first stab at it seems to have gone fairly well, all things considered. Meanwhile, Volvo does this all the time. Big, luxurious SUV with tons of safety and driver assistance gizmos? They know it backwards and forwards. Hybrid and battery and charging systems? Yeah, they’ve been doing that for a while, too.
I’m searching for a good opportunity on an XC90 PHEV loaner where I can apply multiple incentives and get a good dealer discount and basically just get lucky. But at the end of the day, the $75k Volvo is just going to cost more than the $60k Mazda (which itself is a phrase I never thought would exist), and I’ve got a budget to attend to.
Interesting to hear your feedback on the lane keeping and other comparisons nonetheless.
Someone’s gotta say it: if you need your car to keep itself in the lane, you shouldn’t be driving.
Thank you for the response. I have only driven the preferred trim so far and did not realize the lane assist difference, appreciate you pointing that out. I did run the numbers on car insurance and the Mazda was around $50 less per month. The XC90 Recharge was a bit more than I wanted to spend so for me, this isn’t an apples-to-apples PHEV comparison but really a 3 row SUVs that lease well comparison. I’m still going back and forth… but will let you know if I receive #s on the Premium Plus trim.
This was our first summer under this arrangement - I’m on pace to be at 11,000 but we’ve supplemented using my wife’s car for other road trips around California.
We’ve had a Mazda3 and XC40 in the past, both fun cars but need something bigger now. Great point on this being the first year of the PHEV, might take a bit to work the kinks out. But as you mentioned, the Mazda is a bit more affordable. I mentioned above but insurance is quite a bit cheaper on the Mazda as well.
Yeah I was surprised when I ran an insurance quote on my current policy, and the new CX-90 was only going to be like $60/year more than the current CX-5. I haven’t looked up the Volvo yet, because I don’t want renewed sources of optimism for a deal that will never happen. 
Regardless it is a nice safety feature, we aren’t perfect 100% if the time. Just ask my Mazda3 that I somehow drifted in the rear tires of a semi last week. Been driving for 25 years, never done that.
Also note, Mazda’s lane centering sucks
It is a weird thing. I really like the CX-90 - some things are better than the XC-90 - like the armrests are more comfortable and as I mentioned before, the ventilated seats seem to work better than Volvo’s. The AC on the Mazda also cools the cabin much faster (at least in the front - I noticed the middle and back didn’t equal Volvo’s pillar vents) . Oh, and I think the third row might be a bit roomier on the CX-90 - at least with 2 people.
@max_g - I get the criticism that we should drive better and maybe not need the “Pilot Assist” kind of tech, but on long drives, it is really nice. From a marketing standpoint - it would have been great for Mazda to have something better than a poor implementation of the most basic tech - Hyundai even has lane centering on almost all trim levels.
I was ready to commit, but it is that one thing that is keeping me from doing it. Partly because the lane departure assistance is very very jarring and even though I was very aware and alert while testing it - I could feel that I had to consciously make myself not overcorrect when reacting to the cars action. I fear how I’d react if it was an actual lane maneuvering mistake on my part. I guess I could turn that off - which I would likely end up doing.
I wonder if comma.ai works on the CX-90. That may be the solution.
I’d never heard of this! It looks very interesting. Thanks for sharing the info - going to do some more reading.
EDIT:
YIKES - this looks very cool but I wonder how lease friendly it is.
WatchJRGO put that system on his Chevy Volt. He has some feedback about it in this video (plus an install video somewhere).
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