CUPRA Formentor vs Mazda CX-90

The CUPRA Formentor starts from $49,990 before on-road costs, while the Mazda CX-90 opens at $74,385. That makes the CUPRA Formentor the more affordable entry point by $24,395.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $54,989 and $81,824 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the CUPRA Formentor by roughly $3,845 in fuel alone.

Both the CUPRA Formentor and Mazda CX-90 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 93% for the CUPRA Formentor and 91% for the Mazda CX-90.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The CUPRA Formentor packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the Mazda CX-90.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the CUPRA Formentor and 10 in the Mazda CX-90.

The CUPRA Formentor features a 12-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Mazda CX-90 gets a 10.3-inch display and 7-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The CUPRA Formentor stands out with heated front seats and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Mazda CX-90. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the CUPRA Formentor gets cloth upholstery while the Mazda CX-90 offers leather.

The CUPRA Formentor uses a 4-cyl Turbo Petrol producing 110kW and 250Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7 seconds.

The Mazda CX-90 responds with a Petrol making 254kW and 500Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds.

The Mazda CX-90 has the clear power advantage at 254kW vs 110kW. In the real-world sprint, the CUPRA Formentor is 0.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The CUPRA Formentor measures 4,450mm long on a 2,680mm wheelbase, 670mm shorter than the Mazda CX-90 at 5,120mm (3,120mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mazda CX-90 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 420L in the CUPRA Formentor and 257L in the Mazda CX-90, giving the CUPRA Formentor a 163L advantage. The Mazda CX-90 seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Mazda CX-90 leads with a 2,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 1,000kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,568/year for the CUPRA Formentor and $2,337/year for the Mazda CX-90. That is a $769 annual difference in favour of the CUPRA Formentor.

Estimated annual total: $1,568 (CUPRA Formentor) vs $2,337 (Mazda CX-90). The CUPRA Formentor saves you roughly $769 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (CUPRA Formentor) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mazda CX-90). Both match on warranty length.