Lexus RX vs Mazda CX-90

The Lexus RX starts from $90,350 before on-road costs, while the Mazda CX-90 opens at $74,385. That makes the Mazda CX-90 the more affordable entry point by $15,965.

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 $99,385 and $81,824 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Lexus RX by roughly $3,990 in fuel alone.

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

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 6 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Lexus RX and 10 in the Mazda CX-90.

The Lexus RX features a 14-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-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 Lexus RX stands out with head-up display, panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats, Lexus Premium Sound audio 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 Lexus RX gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Mazda CX-90 offers leather.

The Lexus RX uses a Hybrid producing 184kW and 239Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.7 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 6.9 seconds.

The Mazda CX-90 has the clear power advantage at 254kW vs 184kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mazda CX-90 is 0.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Lexus RX measures 4,890mm long on a 2,850mm wheelbase, 230mm 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 612L in the Lexus RX and 257L in the Mazda CX-90, giving the Lexus RX a 355L 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 $1,539/year for the Lexus RX and $2,337/year for the Mazda CX-90. That is a $798 annual difference in favour of the Lexus RX.

Estimated annual total: $1,539 (Lexus RX) vs $2,337 (Mazda CX-90). The Lexus RX saves you roughly $798 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 4 years / 100,000km (Lexus RX) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mazda CX-90). The Mazda CX-90 has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: 4yr (Lexus RX)—.