The Flagship Dilemma: Why the Inline-Six Mazda CX-90 Large SUV Remains Absent from Malaysia

On 31 January 2023, Mazda unveiled the CX-90 in North America. It stands as the largest and most premium SUV in the brand's history, and the second "Large Product" model built on Mazda's all-new longitudinal rear-wheel-drive platform, following the CX-60.

Nearly three years on, this model has launched in North America, Australia, the Middle East, and even the Philippines, yet the Malaysian market remains in silence. Is this car coming ro Malaysia? When will it arrive? How much will it cost?

What Is Mazda CX-90

Before discussing timelines and pricing, it is necessary to clarify exactly what the CX-90 is.

The CX-90 is a three-row large SUV, measuring 5,120 mm in length, 1,994 mm in width, with a wheelbase of 3,120 mm. It is Mazda's true flagship — not "one of them", but the "only one".

Its powertrain is its biggest selling point.

The CX-90 is powered by a 3.3-litre inline-six turbocharged engine paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system, delivering 280 hp and 450 Nm of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission channels power to all four wheels. Additionally, a 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid variant is available in global markets.

For petrol heads, the mere mention of "inline-six" is enough to stir excitement. In an era where most manufacturers are downsizing engines and reducing cylinder counts to meet emission standards, Mazda has insisted on equipping its flagship with a longitudinal inline-six engine — not for sales volume, but for attitude.

The interior also deserves the title of "flagship". Features include a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.4-inch head-up display, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, tri-zone automatic climate control, and a combination of Nappa leather and Legnu suede upholstery — all available in the Philippine market. Seating configurations include a standard 2+3+3 eight-seat layout or a premium 2+2+2 six-seat layout.

Safety features are equally impressive. Mazda's i-Activsense ADAS suite comes standard across the range, featuring front and rear smart brake assist, radar cruise control, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and front and rear cross-traffic alert.

The Philippines Has Sold It for Two Years, What About Malaysia?

The CX-90 made its ASEAN debut in the Philippines in September 2023.

The Philippine market offers two variants:

3.3L AWD HEV Turbo: PHP 3.68 million (approximately RM 303,000)

3.3L AWD HEV Turbo Exclusive: PHP 3.78 million (approximately RM 312,000)

Both variants are fully built from Japan (CBU) and come with a five-year complimentary maintenance package.

After the Philippines, the CX-90 entered markets including Australia, the Middle East, and Vietnam. Vietnam launched the CX-90 on 27 February 2026, but only with the 2.5 PHEV single variant.

What about Malaysia? The answer is: It does not appear on any official import list.

As of July 2026, Bermaz Motor — Mazda's official distributor in Malaysia —has never publicly confirmed that the CX-90 will enter the Malaysian market.

Why Has Malaysia Been Waiting So Long for the CX-90?

To understand why the CX-90 has not arrived yet, we must first look at what Bermaz Auto has already done in Malaysia.

On 3 September 2025, Bermaz Motor simultaneously launched the CX-60 and CX-80 in Malaysia.

The CX-60 is a five-seater SUV priced at RM 200,510. The CX-80 is a three-row, six-seater SUV priced at RM 331,610. Both models utilise Mazda's new Large Product longitudinal rear-wheel-drive platform.

The CX-80 measures 4,995mm in length, 1,890mm in width, with a wheelbase of 3,120mm. This wheelbase is identical to the CX-90's (3,120mm). Powering the CX-80 is a 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid system, delivering a combined output of 328 hp and 500 Nm of torque.

The CX-80 and CX-90 are almost "twin brothers" in terms of platform, wheelbase, and positioning. The differences are: the CX-80 is a PHEV, while the CX-90 is an inline-six mild hybrid; the CX-80 is slightly shorter, while the CX-90 is slightly longer.

Bermaz has already covered the three-row flagship SUV segment with the CX-80. Importing the CX-90 would lead to significant product overlap and internal cannibalisation. This is the fundamental reason why the CX-90 has not entered Malaysia yet — not because they do not want it, but because there is no room for it.

If the CX-90 Comes, How Much Will It Cost?

Although Bermaz has not confirmed imports, we can deduce the pricing based on existing information.

Referencing Philippine Prices

The CX-90 in the Philippines is priced around RM 303,000–312,000. Malaysia and the Philippines are both ASEAN markets distributed by the Bermaz Auto Group, so the prices are somewhat comparable.

However, note that the Philippine CX-90 is imported CBU from Japan. If Malaysia also imports the CX-90 CBU, the price will not be significantly lower than in the Philippines. Considering Malaysia's import duties, excise taxes, and sales tax structures, the price could even be higher.

Referencing the Malaysian CX-80

The CX-80 is currently priced at RM 331,610 in Malaysia. If the CX-90 is imported, its positioning would be higher than the CX-80, and its price would most likely be higher than RM 331,610.

Referencing the price gap in the Philippine market: the CX-90 is around RM 303k–312k, while the CX-80 in Malaysia is RM 331k. If the CX-90 comes to Malaysia, the price is likely to fall within the range of RM 330,000–360,000.

Assuming CKD Local Assembly

If the CX-90 can be locally assembled in Malaysia (CKD), the price could drop significantly. Mazda already operates a CKD production line in Gurun, Kedah, assembling models such as the CX-5, CX-8, and CX-30. It is widely believed that the CX-60 and CX-80 are the most likely candidates to join the CKD lineup.

However, will the CX-90 also be CKD? There is no official information supporting this. Given that the CX-90's sales volume is expected to be limited (as flagship models are rarely volume sellers), the business case for Bermaz to establish a separate CKD production line for it is weak. In the short term, the CX-90 will most likely remain a CBU import.

Once the CX-90 Arrives, Who Will It Compete Against?

If the CX-90 enters Malaysia at a price of RM 330k–360k, who will be its competitors?

The most direct competitor is the Volvo XC90. The XC90 starts at approximately RM 418,888 in Malaysia — nearly RM 60,000–90,000 more expensive than the estimated CX-90 price. With its inline-six engine and rear-wheel-drive platform, the CX-90 may offer a more engaging driving experience compared to the XC90's front-wheel-drive platform. However, Volvo's brand premium and reputation for safety are difficult for Mazda to match.

Next are the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. The price ranges of these two models overlap with the estimated CX-90 price. However, the X3 and GLC are five-seater mid-size SUVs, whereas the CX-90 is a three-row large SUV — different product forms with partially non-overlapping target audiences.

A more noteworthy competitor is actually its own brother, the CX-80. If the CX-90 is priced too high, consumers will ask: For an extra tens of thousands of ringgit, besides the inline-six engine and slightly larger body, what else do I get with the CX-90? If priced too low, it would steal customers from the CX-80. This is the most troubling issue for Bermaz in its product line planning.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis above, here are the answers to the three opening questions:

Will the CX-90 come to Malaysia? Most likely yes, but not right now. Bermaz needs to establish a foothold for the CX-60 and CX-80 in the market before considering the introduction of the CX-90.

When will it arrive? It is unlikely to happen in 2026. The most optimistic estimate is the first half of 2027. If Bermaz decides not to import it, it may never come — there are precedents for this.

How much will it cost? Estimated to be in the RM 330,000–360,000 range, depending on whether it is CBU or CKD.

For consumers currently considering a three-row SUV, the following advice is suggested:

If your budget is under RM 250,000, there is no need to wait for the CX-90 — it will not be that affordable. It is more practical to consider the CX-8 or CX-5.

If your budget is between RM 300,000–350,000 and you are not in a rush to buy a car, you can wait until early 2027 to see what happens. However, if the CX-90 never arrives, the CX-80 is already a viable alternative — same platform, same wheelbase, same three-row layout, only the powertrain differs from an inline-six to a PHEV.

If you need a car right now, the CX-80 is currently the highest-tier three-row SUV offered by Mazda in Malaysia. At a price of RM 331,610, featuring a longitudinal rear-wheel-drive platform, PHEV powertrain, and six-seat layout — it is already a very good car.