Compare the2026 Audi Q7VS 2026 Mazda CX-90

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Q7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CX-90 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q7 and CX-90 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q7 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The CX-90’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Audi Q7 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Mazda CX-90 has not been tested.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The Q7 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Q7 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Audi Q7’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Mazda CX-90 does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Q7 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist with Automatic Brake Activation, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the Q7 and the CX-90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q7 is safer than the Mazda CX-90:

	Q7	CX-90
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	99	116
Neck Injury Risk	25%	37.5%
Neck Stress	186 lbs.	318 lbs.
Neck Compression	37 lbs.	133 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	61/46 lbs.	324/335 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	255
Neck Compression	38 lbs.	83 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	46/29 lbs.	253/344 lbs.

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

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 Audi Q7 is safer than the Mazda CX-90:

	Q7	CX-90
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	290	410

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

Warranty

The Q7 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-90’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Q7’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the CX-90’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Q7 for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Audi will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-90.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Q7’s reliability 34 points higher than the Mazda CX-90 and 48 points higher than the Mazda CX-90 Plug-In Hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Q7 has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-90’s standard fuel tank (22.5 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q7 has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-90 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank (22.5 vs. 19.6 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q7’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-90:

	Q7 45 TFSI	Q7 55 TFSI	CX-90	CX-90 Premium/PHEV
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	14.8 inches	12.9 inches	13.7 inches

The Q7’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CX-90 are solid, not vented.

The Q7 stops much shorter than the CX-90:

	Q7	CX-90
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-90 (285/45R20 vs. 275/45R21).

The Q7’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-90 Preferred/Premium/Turbo S’ 45 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Q7 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The CX-90 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Q7 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The CX-90’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Q7 Prestige handles at .86 G’s, while the CX-90 Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q7 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the CX-90 Premium Plus (26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Q7 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-90 (8.3 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Q7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Q7 w/Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.6 inches higher than on the CX-90 PHEV Premium/Turbo S (9.7 vs. 8.1 inches).

Passenger Space

The Q7 has .2 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-90.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Q7’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The CX-90 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q7. The CX-90 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Q7’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-90’s (4409 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Mazda CX-90 is only 5000 pounds. The Q7 offers up to a 7716 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the CX-90 Preferred/Premium, the Q7 Prestige has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

If the windows are left open on the Q7 the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CX-90 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Q7’s standard Audi Advanced Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Advanced Keyless Entry and Start standard on the CX-90 doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Q7’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-90’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q7 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CX-90 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Laser headlights, optional on the Q7 Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the CX-90’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q7 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The CX-90 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Q7 has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The CX-90 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

A manual rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the Q7 Premium Plus/Prestige to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The Audi Q7 has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the CX-90 Premium/Turbo S.

The Q7 Prestige has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the CX-90.

The Audi Q7 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the infotainment. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the CX-90 Premium.

Compared to traditional radio, the Audi Q7’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the CX-90 Premium.

The Q7 55 TFSI Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q7, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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