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2026 Mazda CX-90 vs 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander

Price, size, cabin, cargo, towing, safety and ownership side by side. Every value comes from the cited sources in each model-year profile, and gaps stay labeled instead of guessed.

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Key differences

Where the published numbers differ

No overall winner: each line is one source-backed figure. Decide which ones matter for how you will use the SUV.

ACX-90 has

  • Starting pricelower starting price by $2,960

BGrand Highlander has

  • Maximum cargomore maximum cargo by 22.3 cu ft

=Same figure

  • Maximum towing

Head-to-head

The numbers, side by side

Bars share one scale starting at zero, so small real differences are not exaggerated. Where a profile lists several figures, the highest published one is used.

CX-90Grand Highlander
Starting price2026 Mazda CX-90: lower starting price by $2,960
$39,300
$42,260
Cargo behind rear seatVaries by trim or option; compare the exact configuration
14.9-15.9 cu ft
20.6 cu ft
Maximum cargo2026 Toyota Grand Highlander: more maximum cargo by 22.3 cu ft
74.2-75.2 cu ft
97.5 cu ft
Maximum towingSame published figure
5,000 lb
5,000 lb

Decision snapshot

Six buyer questions, without an overall winner.

Each card compares one documented criterion. A lead is shown only when both source-backed values use a compatible measurement; otherwise the raw facts stay visible and the criterion stays unresolved.

Starting priceStarting MSRP
ACX-90$39,300Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
BGrand Highlander$42,260Manufacturer-published U.S. specification

2026 Mazda CX-90 has lower published starting MSRP by $2,960.

EfficiencyGas / base fuel economy
ACX-90Not verifiedNo source-backed value in this profile
BGrand HighlanderConfiguration-specificUse the exact 2026 EPA label

The current profiles do not provide two normalized values that can be compared safely.

Maximum cargoMaximum cargo volume
ACX-9074.2-75.2 cu ftConfiguration dependent
BGrand Highlander97.5 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander has more published maximum cargo volume by 22.3 cu ft.

Rear-seat roomComparable field unavailable
ACX-90Not verifiedNo source-backed value in this profile
BGrand HighlanderNot verifiedNo source-backed value in this profile

No directly comparable source-backed field is available for this pair.

Maximum towingMaximum towing
ACX-905,000 lbProperly equipped inline-six
BGrand Highlander5,000 lbGas and Hybrid MAX

The normalized published values are tied for this criterion.

Basic warrantyNew-vehicle / basic warranty
ACX-90Verify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service date
BGrand HighlanderVerify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service date

The current profiles do not provide two normalized values that can be compared safely.

Table view

At a glance

Key specifications

3 of 6 differ
Research fieldA2026 Mazda CX-90B2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Starting MSRPDifferent$39,300Manufacturer-published U.S. specification$42,260Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
Primary engine / systemData gap3.3L turbo inline-sixManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
DrivetrainData gapi-ACTIV AWD standardManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
SeatingDifferent7 or 8Second-row layout dependentUp to 8Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
Maximum cargoDifferent74.2-75.2 cu ftConfiguration dependent97.5 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Maximum towing5,000 lbProperly equipped inline-six5,000 lbGas and Hybrid MAX

Price & trims

Pricing and trim lineup

4 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Mazda CX-90B2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Starting MSRPDifferent$39,300Manufacturer-published U.S. specification$42,260Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
Entry trimDifferent3.3 Turbo · From $39,300280-hp inline-sixGas lineup · From $42,260Three-row gas model
Highest listed trimDifferent3.3 Turbo · From $39,300280-hp inline-sixGas lineup · From $42,260Three-row gas model
Trim lineupDifferent3.3 Turbo · Turbo S · PHEV3 researched trimsGas lineup · Hybrid · Hybrid MAX3 researched trims

Performance

Engine, output and drivetrain

0 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Mazda CX-90B2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Engine / primary systemData gap3.3L turbo inline-sixManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Primary outputData gap280 hpManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
DrivetrainData gapi-ACTIV AWD standardManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
All-wheel driveData gap—No source-backed value verified yetAvailablePowertrain/trim dependent

Fuel & efficiency

Fuel and efficiency details

0 of 1 differ
Research fieldA2026 Mazda CX-90B2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Gas / base fuel economyData gap—No source-backed value verified yetConfiguration-specificUse the exact 2026 EPA label

Cabin

Interior space and seating

1 of 1 differ
Research fieldA2026 Mazda CX-90B2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
SeatingDifferent7 or 8Second-row layout dependentUp to 8Manufacturer-published U.S. specification

Cargo

Cargo space and practical measurements

2 of 2 differ
Research fieldA2026 Mazda CX-90B2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Cargo behind rear seatDifferent14.9-15.9 cu ftConfiguration dependent20.6 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Maximum cargo volumeDifferent74.2-75.2 cu ftConfiguration dependent97.5 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Utility

Towing, seating and capability

2 of 3 differ
Research fieldA2026 Mazda CX-90B2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Maximum towing5,000 lbProperly equipped inline-six5,000 lbGas and Hybrid MAX
All-wheel driveDifferenti-ACTIV AWD standardManufacturer-published U.S. specificationAvailablePowertrain/trim dependent
Maximum cargoDifferent74.2-75.2 cu ftConfiguration dependent97.5 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Ownership

Warranty and service planning

0 of 1 differ
Research fieldA2026 Mazda CX-90B2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
New-vehicle / basic warrantyVerify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service dateVerify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service date

Safety systems

Driver-assistance equipment and context

A2026 Mazda

CX-90

Driver-assistance equipment is kept separate from crash ratings. Check the exact 2026 model on IIHS and NHTSA before relying on a rating or award.

  • Automatic emergency braking / forward-collision features
  • Lane-support features
  • Blind-spot systems where equipped
  • Check trim for available advanced driver assistance
B2026 Toyota

Grand Highlander

Driver-assistance equipment is kept separate from crash ratings. Check the exact 2026 model on IIHS and NHTSA before relying on a rating or award.

  • Automatic emergency braking / forward-collision features
  • Lane-support features
  • Blind-spot systems where equipped
  • Check trim for available advanced driver assistance

Cabin technology

Infotainment, connectivity and convenience

A2026 Mazda

CX-90

  • Infotainment and phone integration vary by trim.
  • Camera, parking and premium-audio features vary by equipment.
  • Connected-services availability and trial periods can change.
B2026 Toyota

Grand Highlander

  • Infotainment and phone integration vary by trim.
  • Camera, parking and premium-audio features vary by equipment.
  • Connected-services availability and trial periods can change.

Evidence ledger

Source links and research freshness

Buying context

What to check before choosing a trim

A2026 Mazda

CX-90

  1. Cargo volume varies with the third-row seating configuration.
  2. The PHEV needs separate charging and gasoline-use calculations.
  3. Standard AWD should be compared with AWD rivals.
Research caveat

Use the exact trim, drivetrain, roof equipment and powertrain when a number is configuration-sensitive. Cargo volume does not prove that a rigid item fits through the hatch; measure the exact vehicle for close-fit use cases.

Updated 2026-09-232 research sources
B2026 Toyota

Grand Highlander

  1. Use behind-third-row cargo when all rows are occupied.
  2. Regular Hybrid and Hybrid MAX have different towing and performance priorities.
  3. Captain chairs reduce seating to seven.
Research caveat

Use the exact trim, drivetrain, roof equipment and powertrain when a number is configuration-sensitive. Cargo volume does not prove that a rigid item fits through the hatch; measure the exact vehicle for close-fit use cases.

Updated 2026-09-232 research sources

Keep comparing

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