The SUV That Gives You Minivan Practicality Without Driving Like One

9 minutes reading

Wednesday, 9 Sep 2026 01:00 0 7 autotech

Minivans are still around in the U.S. Yes, the SUV has somewhat taken over what the minivan was used for, but the likes of the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, and Toyota Sienna still offer family-friendly rides with generous seating space, big doors, and plenty of room to haul things around.

Minivans Still Set The Bar For Family-Friendly Space

Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Toyota Sienna driving on road

Toyota

While the new 2026 minivan market in the U.S. is limited to just four (the four mentioned above), they still set the bar high for usability. The Honda Odyssey is the minivan with the most cargo capacity, and has seating for up to eight people and a maximum cargo capacity of 155.8 cubic feet.

Sliding Doors And Flexible Seating Aren’t The Only Ways To Make Family Life Easier

Front 3/4 shot of 2025 Chrysler Pacifica in black parked by lake

In the new Honda Odyssey, on top of the acres of room inside, one of the biggest advantages you get by owning one is the sliding doors. If you’re in a crowded parking lot and need to get the kids out without them swinging a door into the car next to you, you’re covered. You also get the Magic Slide second-row seats, which move sideways to make getting into the third row considerably easier. In short, it does make hauling a large family around considerably easier.

However clever the sliding doors and flexible seats are, they don’t necessarily make a minivan the easiest type of vehicle to live with. SUVs have taken over a lot of the minivan’s job simply because they still get you useful passenger and cargo space while also being easier to live with when you’re not carrying the whole family. They are generally easier to park, easier to maneuver, and can be more fun to drive. That matters when the school run is only one part of your day.

The 2026 Mazda CX-90 Brings Minivan Practicality To An SUV

Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Mazda CX-90 driving on road

This is where the 2026 Mazda CX-90 comes in. The CX-90 is Mazda’s full-sized, three-row SUV that has taken over big-SUV duties from the CX-9, which was dropped after the 2023 model year. It is no small machine and rides on a 122.8-inch wheelbase, and measures in at 201.6 inches in length by 84.9 inches in width with the mirrors folded out. Inside, there is 141.6 cubic feet of passenger volume and three rows of seating as standard.

The trims of the 2026 Mazda CX-90 are the 3.3 Turbo Select ($39,300), the 3.3 Turbo Preferred ($43,450), the 3.3 Turbo Premium Sport ($47,480), the 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus ($50,270), the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Sport ($54,140), and the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus ($57,570).

Three Rows And A Flexible Cabin Give Families Plenty Of Room

Which trim you opt for will determine whether you get six, seven, or eight seats. The 3.3 Turbo Select and Preferred come with eight seats, using a second-row bench seat and a three-seat third row.

The Premium Sport and Turbo S Premium Sport can also seat eight, but you can swap out the second-row bench for captain’s chairs, bringing down capacity to seven but adding a center walkway.

Shot of 2026 Mazda CX-90 Interior View From Back to Front

At the top of the range, the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus gets a seven-seat layout with second-row captain’s chairs and a three-seat third row. Mazda also offers six-seat layouts in some models, which use second-row captain’s chairs and a two-seat third row.

Whichever configuration you go for, you get a lot of space over three rows. The front row gets 39.7 inches of headroom and 41.7 inches of legroom; the second row gets 39.3 inches of headroom and 39.4 inches of legroom; the third row gets a very respectable 39.6 inches of headroom and 30.4 inches of legroom.

Generous Cargo Space And Decent Towing Keep It Useful Beyond The School Run

Shot of 2026 Mazda CX-90 Rear Cargo Area

Cargo capacity inside is also very family-friendly. In eight-seat models, you get 14.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 40 cubic feet behind the second row, and with all the seats folded away, you get 74.2 cubic feet.

In seven-seat models, you lose a chair, but do gain a bit more cargo capacity. With all the seats in place, there is 15.9 cubic feet of storage space; with the third-row seats tucked away, 40.1 cubic feet; and with the two rear rows folded down, 75.2 cubic feet.

Rear 3/4 shot of 2026 Mazda CX-90 Towing A Motorcycle

For the Select and Preferred trims, maximum towing is rated at 3,500 pounds when you are using the Towing Mode and have the Mazda Genuine Towing Accessory hitch package fitted.

For any trim higher than the Preferred, towing is rated at 5,000 pounds with the same rules applied. That means medium-sized boats, trailers, small campers, and motorcycles or ATVs are well within its wheelhouse.

The CX-90 Doesn’t Sacrifice Driving Enjoyment For Utility

Profile action shot of 2026 Mazda CX-90 driving on road

If there is something that Mazda does well, it is adding a touch of class and driving fun to vehicles that look like they are a bit sedentary. On J.D. Power, the new CX-90 is rated 77 out of 100 for driving experience, while owners on Kelley Blue Book rate it 3.5 out of 5 for performance.

While these aren’t the most impressive ratings we’ve seen, the CX-90 is set up for more than just running everyday errands.

Turbocharged Engine Choices Give It Proper Muscle

Front 3/4 shot of 2026 Mazda CX-90 parked

There are two turbocharged engines available for this year’s non-PHEV CX-90: a 3.3-liter turbocharged mild-hybrid inline-six under the hood of the Select, Preferred, Premium Sport, and Premium Plus trims, and a high-output 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six under the hood of the Turbo S Premium Plus and Turbo S Premium Sport.

The base-level turbo-six is good for 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, which translates to 0–60 mph times of just over 7 seconds. The Turbo S’s turbo-six requires premium gas to reach peak output, but produces 340 horsepower (319 horsepower with regular gas) and 369 pound-feet of torque; that means 0–60 times of 6.3 to 6.5 seconds. Not bad for something that weighs up to 4,945 pounds and is the size of a small truck.

Mazda’s Road-Focused Tuning Keeps The Big SUV Engaging

Close-up shot of 2026 Mazda CX-90 Rear Taillight

The standout feature the CX-90 gets is Mazda’s i-Activ AWD system, which does a lot more than wait for a wheel to lose grip. It is a rear-biased setup that constantly monitors things like wheel speed, steering input, and road conditions, and then adjusts torque distribution before lack of traction becomes a problem. That helps the CX-90 put its power down cleanly while also reducing the front-end drag you get from powerful front-drive-based SUVs. You also get a double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear setup, which gives it a far more controlled platform than its size suggests.

Kinematic Posture Control works with the chassis to reduce body lift and roll in corners, and keeps the tires consistently planted to the pavement. Four Mi-Drive modes also let you tailor the vehicle’s behavior. Normal is made for everyday driving; Sport sharpens the responses of the throttle and the steering; Off-Road adjusts the system for looser surfaces and shores up traction; and Towing is there to manage the extra weight of whatever you are dragging.

2026 CX-90 Could Be The Sweet Spot For Families Who Don’t Want A Minivan

It is this kind of versatility that makes the CX-90 the better vehicle compared to what minivans offer. Yes, minivans offer more room for cargo and passengers, but they aren’t nearly as sporty or versatile when called upon to be, despite how hard they try.

Price is a significant factor here as well, though; the top-end price of the CX-90 is just shy of $58,000, so it’s not inexpensive. However, that does get you the most powerful engine in the lineup, the best towing capacity, and features like Nappa leather-trimmed seats, a 12.3-inch digital gauge, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree View Monitor, wireless charging, and a touch of sportiness when you want it.

Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Kia Carnival driving on road

Models like the Odyssey, Pacifica, Sienna, and Carnival all have lower starting prices, ranging from $37,490 for the Carnival to $44,445 for the Pacifica. While that represents exceptional value for a spacious family vehicle, that is what you are getting: a family vehicle only.

The base trim CX-90 costs just shy of $40K and is still nicely kitted out, spacious, well-suited for family living, and can gather speed at a respectable rate. It also does all this while being a more manageable size and far less cumbersome once you have arrived at your destination or dropped the kids off. A minivan still wins if maximum cabin space is the priority, but the CX-90 makes more sense when you want the family practicality without spending every mile feeling like you are driving a people carrier.