Compare the2024 Mazda CX-90VS 2023 Tesla Model X

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the CX-90 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The CX-90 Premium has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Model X doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium has standard Rear Smart City Brake Support that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Model X doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the CX-90’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model X doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium has a standard 360° View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model X only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-90’s standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Rear Cross Traffic Braking on the Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The CX-90 has standard E911 Automatic Emergency Notification, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model X doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the CX-90 and the Model X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Mazda CX-90 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Model X has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

There are almost 3 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-90’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. With 54 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Tesla.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 7 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

The CX-90 stops shorter than the Model X:

For better traction, the CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model X (275/45R21 vs. 265/35R22).

The CX-90 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model X; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-90’s wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the Model X (122.8 inches vs. 116.7 inches).

For better maneuverability, the CX-90’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Model X’s (38.1 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

The Mazda CX-90 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 500 pounds less than the Tesla Model X.

The CX-90 offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Model X can only carry up to 7.

The CX-90 has .6 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .6 inches more third row legroom and 12.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Model X.

The CX-90’s cargo area provides more volume than the Model X.

The CX-90’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Model X 6-Passenger doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CX-90’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model X doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

A Maintenance Monitor is standard on the CX-90 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and tire rotation based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model X.

The CX-90’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model X has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

The CX-90 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model X doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-90 has a standard rear wiper. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CX-90 has standard extendable sun visors. The Model X doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The CX-90’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The Model X’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the CX-90 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Model X doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The CX-90 Premium Plus has standard front air conditioned seats and the CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Model X doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The CX-90 has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Model X doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

The CX-90 Premium Plus has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Model X doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Mazda CX-90 outsold the Tesla Model X by 25% during 2023.