Two-Row Mazda CX-90 vs. Honda Passport: $105 Apart at the Top, Miles Apart in Purpose
The CX-70's replacement out-torques the Passport and undercuts the TrailSport by $3,065. Honda answers with 9.6 inches of clearance, more known cargo space, and final EPA numbers.
Mazda has dropped the CX-70 and replaced it with something simpler: a 2027 CX-90 with the third row taken out. As we reported when Mazda priced the 2027 CX-90 and ended the CX-70, the two-row version comes in two trims, the 3.3 Turbo Premium Sport at $46,880 and the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Sport at $53,540, both before a $1,645 destination charge.
That puts it squarely against the Honda Passport, the other big two-row, five-seat SUV with a six-cylinder engine and standard all-wheel drive. The 2027 Passport has been at dealers since September 29, and Honda's 2027 Passport pricing runs from $45,195 for the RTL to $53,695 for the TrailSport Elite, plus $1,595 for destination. The two lineups overlap almost dollar for dollar, but they are aimed at different buyers.
2027 Mazda CX-90 Two-Row vs. 2027 Honda Passport: the numbers
| Spec | 2027 Mazda CX-90 two-row | 2027 Honda Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Trims | 3.3 Turbo Premium Sport; 3.3 Turbo S Premium Sport | RTL, RTL Towing, TrailSport, TrailSport Blackout, TrailSport Elite, TrailSport Elite Blackout |
| MSRP (before destination) | $46,880 / $53,540 | $45,195 (RTL) to $53,695 (TrailSport Elite) |
| Destination | $1,645 | $1,595 |
| Engine | 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six with 48-volt mild hybrid | 3.5-liter V6 |
| Horsepower / torque | 280 hp / 332 lb-ft (Turbo, regular fuel); 340 hp / 369 lb-ft (Turbo S, 91 octane) | 280 hp / 258 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
| All-wheel drive | Standard i-Activ AWD | Standard i-VTM4 torque-vectoring AWD |
| Maximum towing | 5,000 pounds (Turbo S); Turbo: TBA | 5,000 pounds (with accessory equipment) |
| Ground clearance | 8.0–8.1 inches (2026 CX-90) | 8.3 inches (RTL); 9.6 inches (TrailSport) |
| Cargo behind second row | TBA (three-row CX-90: 40.8 cubic feet with third row folded) | 44.0 cubic feet |
| EPA fuel economy (city/highway/combined) | TBA (2026 CX-90 Turbo: 23/28/25 mpg) | 19/25/21 mpg (RTL); 18/22/20 mpg (TrailSport) |
| Fuel cost, 5 years | $12,798 (at 25 mpg) | $15,236 (RTL); $15,998 (TrailSport) |
| IIHS | 2026 CX-90: Top Safety Pick+; 2027: TBA | 2026 Passport: Top Safety Pick+; 2027: TBA |
| Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles basic; 5 years/60,000 miles powertrain | 3 years/36,000 miles basic; 5 years/60,000 miles powertrain |
Prices and Passport specifications come from the automakers' 2027 releases and Honda's 2027 Passport specification sheet. Mazda has not published separate dimensions or EPA ratings for the two-row CX-90, so the CX-90 figures marked 2026 are for the three-row model. Fuel costs assume 15,000 miles a year and regular fuel at AAA's national average of $4.2661 a gallon on October 27; the CX-90 line uses the 2026 Turbo's 25 mpg combined rating, so treat it as an estimate.
Price: almost identical at the top, apart at the bottom
The two lineups line up best at the top. The CX-90 Turbo S Premium Sport costs $55,185 with destination, and the Passport TrailSport Elite costs $55,290, so the Mazda is $105 cheaper on the road. At the entry point, the cheaper two-row CX-90 is $1,735 more than a Passport RTL but $3,065 less than a standard Passport TrailSport.
That middle gap matters because Honda says TrailSport versions make up more than 80 percent of Passport sales. For most Passport shoppers, the real price is close to $51,600 delivered, and the base two-row CX-90 undercuts it.
Engines: equal horsepower, very different torque
The base CX-90 Turbo and every Passport make 280 hp, but the Mazda's turbocharged inline-six produces 332 lb-ft of torque against 258 lb-ft from Honda's naturally aspirated V6. The Turbo S raises that to 340 hp and 369 lb-ft on 91-octane fuel; Mazda rates it at 319 hp on regular.
The fuel numbers also favor the Mazda, though with a caveat. The 2026 three-row CX-90 Turbo is rated at 25 mpg combined, and the lifted Passport TrailSport at 20. At today's prices that is a difference of about $3,200 over five years. The two-row CX-90 has no EPA rating yet, and the Turbo S needs premium fuel to make its full output, which would narrow the advantage.
Where the Passport wins: ground clearance and cargo
Honda spent its 2027 update on the trail. Honda says it rebuilt most of the TrailSport's suspension to reach 9.6 inches of ground clearance, against 8.0 to 8.1 inches for the 2026 CX-90. The TrailSport also gets all-terrain tires and a 25.4-degree approach angle. That spec sheet puts it up against trucks like the Toyota 4Runner, as our Passport TrailSport vs. 4Runner TRD Off-Road comparison shows. Mazda offers nothing comparable in the CX-90 lineup.
The Passport also has known cargo space: 44 cubic feet behind the second row. The three-row CX-90 offers 40.8 cubic feet with its third row folded, and Mazda has not said how much the two-row body gains by removing the rear seats.
On towing, the top numbers match at 5,000 pounds, but the coverage differs. Every Passport is rated for 5,000 pounds with Honda's accessory towing equipment. Mazda quotes 5,000 pounds for the Turbo S with its Genuine towing kit and a new Towing drive mode; it has not published a 2027 rating for the two-row Turbo Premium Sport.
Why Mazda killed the CX-70, and what it means for owners
The CX-70 was always a CX-90 with two rows and different trim. It shared the CX-90's platform and powertrains, and through September both models were down by about 21 percent in Mazda's sales reporting. A two-row CX-90 lets Mazda sell the same product under one name.
It is not a straight swap. The 2026 CX-70 started at $42,750 for the Turbo Preferred, while the cheapest two-row CX-90 is $46,880, because Mazda offers the two-row body only on Premium Sport grades. There is also no two-row CX-90 plug-in hybrid. The CX-70 PHEV started at $44,450; the cheapest 2027 CX-90 PHEV is the three-row Preferred at $50,695.
For current CX-70 owners, the practical effect should be small. Mechanical parts and service are shared with the CX-90, which remains in production, and the 3-year/36,000-mile and 5-year/60,000-mile warranties are transferable. Resale value is the open question. Mazda has not commented on it, and there is no residual data yet for a nameplate that has just been dropped.
If you need a third row
The CX-90 has the simpler answer: the same Premium Sport trims with three rows cost $1,200 more, at $48,080 and $54,740. Honda's three-row equivalent is the Pilot, a different model with its own pricing. For shoppers open to hybrids, our ranking of three-row hybrid SUVs under $50,000 covers the alternatives.
What we don't know yet
- EPA ratings for the 2027 CX-90, including the two-row versions.
- Cargo volume, curb weight, and towing rating for the two-row Turbo Premium Sport.
- When the 2027 CX-90 reaches dealers. Mazda has not given a date.
- 2027 IIHS awards for either SUV, and NHTSA ratings for the 2027 Passport.
- November incentives. October programs from both brands end November 2.
Which one should you buy?
Buy the two-row CX-90 if your SUV will spend its life on pavement. For less than a Passport TrailSport, it offers more torque, better rated fuel economy on the three-row version, and a 340-hp Turbo S for about the price of the top Passport. Wait for its EPA and cargo figures if those numbers are decisive for you.
Buy the Passport if you leave the pavement, carry bulky gear, or want a 5,000-pound tow rating at the lowest price. The TrailSport's 9.6 inches of clearance and all-terrain tires have no equivalent in the Mazda lineup, the 2027 model is on sale now, and every published figure is final.
