Compare the2025 Mazda CX-90VS 2024 Subaru Ascent

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Mazda CX-90 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Ascent doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Ascent 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.

The CX-90 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Ascent Premium/Onyx/Limited/Touring offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-90 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking on the Premium Plus/Turbo S automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Ascent Premium/Onyx/Limited/Touring offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert and the Ascent’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the CX-90 and the Ascent have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the CX-90 is safer than the Ascent:

	CX-90	Ascent
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	57	166
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	135/202 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	135/202 pounds
Leg Forces L/R	292/315 pounds	427/517 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-90 is safer than the Ascent:

	CX-90	Ascent
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.28 in	.83 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	201 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	513 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	18	211
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.39 in	1.26 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.75 in	1.18 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

Engine

The CX-90’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 20 more horsepower (280 vs. 260) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-90 PHEV’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 63 more horsepower (323 vs. 260) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-90 Turbo S’ standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 80 more horsepower (340 vs. 260) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Subaru Ascent:

	CX-90	Ascent
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.8 MPH	88.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-90 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Ascent:

			MPG
CX-90
	AWD	3.3 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/28 hwy
		Turbo S 3.3 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/28 hwy
Ascent
	AWD	2.4 turbo flat-4	20 city/26 hwy
		Limited/Touring/Onyx 2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy

The CX-90 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Ascent can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-90’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Ascent doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the CX-90’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Ascent doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-90 higher (6 out of 10) than the Subaru Ascent (5). This means the CX-90 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Ascent every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CX-90 Turbo S/PHEV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Ascent:

	CX-90 Turbo S/PHEV	Ascent
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	13.1 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13 inches

The CX-90 stops much shorter than the Ascent:

	CX-90	Ascent
70 to 0 MPH	166 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-90 has larger standard tires than the Ascent (265/55R19 vs. 245/60R18). The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Ascent (275/45R21 vs. 245/60R18).

The CX-90’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ascent’s standard 60 series tires. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-90 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Ascent. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring.

Suspension and Handling

The CX-90 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Ascent’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The CX-90 has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Ascent doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-90’s wheelbase is 9 inches longer than on the Ascent (122.8 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-90 is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than on the Ascent.

The CX-90’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.7% to 48.3%) than the Ascent’s (54.2% to 45.8%). This gives the CX-90 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-90 Premium Plus handles at .85 G’s, while the Ascent Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The CX-90 has .8 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more third row headroom than the Ascent.

Cargo Capacity

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

Towing

The CX-90’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Ascent’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The CX-90 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Ascent uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The CX-90 Premium’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Ascent doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CX-90 Premium has a standard 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 Ascent doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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

The CX-90’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Ascent’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

On a hot day the CX-90’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Ascent can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CX-90 has standard Advanced Keyless Entry and Start that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start costs extra on the Ascent and isn’t available on the Ascent Base.

The CX-90’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Ascent’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The CX-90’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the Ascent Premium/Onyx/Limited/Touring.

When the CX-90 Turbo S is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Ascent’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S 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 Ascent doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.