Compare the2023 BMW X7VS 2024 Mazda CX-90

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The X7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CX-90 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the middle seat shoulder belts of the BMW X7 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mazda CX-90 doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The X7 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the X7 has standard Cross Traffic Warning with braking function with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the X7 and the CX-90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Warranty

The X7 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-90’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The X7’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the CX-90’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X7 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-90.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Mazda is ranked fourth.

Engine

The X7 has more powerful engines than the CX-90:

	Horsepower	Torque
X7 xDrive40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	375 HP	398 lbs.-ft.
X7 M60i 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid	523 HP	553 lbs.-ft.
Alpina XB7 4.4 turbo V8	631 HP	590 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	280 HP	332 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	323 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 Turbo S 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	340 HP	369 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

The X7 has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-90’s standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The X7 has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-90 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 19.6 gallons).

Transmission

The X7’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The CX-90 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X7’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-90:

	X7 xDrive40i	X7 M Sport	CX-90	CX-90 Turbo S/PHEV
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	15.6 inches	12.9 inches	13.7 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	14.6 inches	13.8 inches	13.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X7 has larger standard tires than the CX-90 (F:275/40R22 & R:315/35R22 vs. 265/55R19). The X7’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-90 (285/45R21 vs. 275/45R21).

The X7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-90’s standard 55 series tires. The X7’s optional 275/35R23 front and 315/30R23 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the CX-90. The X7’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the CX-90 Premium/Turbo S.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X7 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The CX-90 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The X7 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X7 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The CX-90’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The X7 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The X7’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For greater off-road capability the X7 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-90 (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the X7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The X7’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the CX-90 PHEV Premium/Turbo S (8.7 vs. 8.1 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the X7 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The X7 has 2.2 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and 2.9 inches more third row legroom than the CX-90.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X7’s middle and third row seats recline. The CX-90’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The X7’s cargo area provides more volume than the CX-90.

	X7	CX-90
Third Seat Folded	48.6 cubic feet	40 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	90.4 cubic feet	74.2 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the X7’s second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The CX-90 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the X7. The CX-90 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The X7’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-90’s (5950 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Mazda CX-90 is only 5000 pounds. The X7 offers up to a 7500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 10% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 11th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the CX-90 Premium/Turbo S, the X7 has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The X7’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The X7’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The CX-90 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the X7 and the CX-90 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the X7 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-90 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the X7 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CX-90 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X7’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-90’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The X7 has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Mazda doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the CX-90.

The X7 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium.

The X7 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the CX-90.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X7 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the CX-90.

The X7’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X7, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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