Compare the2026 Mazda CX-90VS 2026 Subaru Ascent

The Mazda CX-90 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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.

Both the CX-90 and Ascent have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Ascent’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda CX-90 is safer than the Subaru Ascent:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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:

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 21st.

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:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-90 running on electricity gets better mileage than the Ascent:

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

The CX-90 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 27 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.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-90 higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Subaru Ascent (4). This means the CX-90 produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Ascent every 15,000 miles.

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

The CX-90 stops much shorter than the Ascent:

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

The CX-90 Select’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 Premium’s standard 60 series tires. The CX-90 Preferred/Premium/Turbo S’ tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Ascent Limited/Touring’s 50 series tires.

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

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 3.1 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.

The CX-90 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Ascent Touring (26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

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

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.

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.

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 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’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 Preferred/Premium 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.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Mazda CX-90 retains 53.28% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 50.27% resale value of the 2026 Subaru Ascent after five years, which can save the Mazda’s owner up to $2119 in depreciation.

The Mazda CX-90 outsold the Subaru Ascent by 24% during 2025.