What the High-Output Inline-Six Changes in a 2026 Mazda CX-90

Ontario drivers know the CX-90 as a three-row SUV with an inline-six up front. For 2026 that engine comes in two tunes, and the stronger one changes how the SUV feels on a loaded highway climb.

Here are the six changes that matter, what stays put, and who should step up.

1. A Second Tune With 340 hp

The standard 3.3 L turbocharged inline-six with M Hybrid Boost makes 280 hp. The high-output version of the same 3.3 L six-cylinder makes 340 hp on 93 octane fuel. That is a 60 hp gap from one engine family, with no change in displacement or cylinder count.

The extra power shows up when you ask for it: merging onto a highway, passing a slow truck, or climbing with a full cabin.

2. More Torque, Spread Wider

The standard engine makes 332 lb-ft between 2,000 and 3,500 rpm. The high-output tune makes 369 lb-ft between 2,000 and 4,500 rpm.

The peak number is a modest step. The wider plateau is the real story. The pull stays strong for a thousand more rpm, so the SUV keeps building speed instead of tapering off as you pass.

3. Premium Fuel Is Recommended

The standard engine is happy on regular unleaded. The high-output engine recommends premium. Fill it with 87 octane and it still makes 319 hp and the same 369 lb-ft, so a regular fill-up costs you only 21 hp.

That flexibility matters on a long trip when premium is scarce. Expect to run premium day to day for the full 340 hp.

4. Two Trims Get It

The high-output engine is standard on the GT-P and the Signature. The GS, GS-L and GT keep the standard-output tune.

The Signature seats seven with second-row captain’s chairs. The GT-P offers seven or eight seats, so a big family can get the stronger engine without giving up the eight-seat bench layout.

5. Efficiency Barely Moves

This is the change that surprises people. The GT-P is rated at 10.3 L/100 km city, 8.5 L/100 km highway and 9.5 L/100 km combined. The standard engine returns 10.1, 8.5 and 9.4.

The highway number is identical. The combined figure is 0.1 L/100 km higher. The GT-P also carries a 74 L fuel tank against 70 L, which helps with range.

6. Equipment Steps Up With the Engine

The high-output trims add Emergency Lane Keeping with Blind Spot Assist, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and black Nappa leather. The GT-P adds a Sports Appearance Package with darkened exterior accents, black 21-inch alloy wheels and black roof rails.

The Signature adds body-colour wheel arch mouldings. Its cabin offers Pure White Nappa leather with Maple Wood trim as an option.

What Stays the Same

Every CX-90 sold in Canada has all-wheel drive, and the trims here use i-ACTIV AWD with an 8-speed automatic. The front suspension is an independent double wishbone setup. The rear is an independent multi-link design with coil springs and a stabilizer bar.

Ground clearance is 206 mm on the GT and GT-P. The third-row seats still leave 423 L of cargo space behind them.

Towing is worth a note. The GT-P is rated at 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg), the same as the GS-L and GT with the standard tune. The stronger engine gives you easier pulling, not a higher rating.

What the Change Means for Buyers

The high-output engine suits the driver who regularly carries a full family plus luggage on long highway drives. That driver gets the most out of the wider torque plateau and the extra 60 hp. If that is you, the GT-P is the direct route to it.

The Signature is the route if you also want second-row captain’s chairs and the top interior materials.

The standard engine still suits the driver who wants an eight-seat CX-90 with regular fuel and a lower entry point in the lineup. The GS, GS-L and GT all stay in that camp, and their combined fuel figure is within 0.1 L/100 km of the GT-P.

The GT already carries 21-inch wheels, a 360° View Monitor and a Bose sound system. That makes the step to the GT-P a choice about power and the Sports Appearance Package, since most comfort items are already on board.

Choosing Your 2026 Mazda CX-90 Inline-Six

The high-output inline-six gives the CX-90 a 340 hp, 369 lb-ft option with almost no efficiency penalty. The GT-P and Signature carry it, with the equipment to match. It is the strongest CX-90 for families who carry a full load.

Visit Woodstock Mazda in Woodstock to book a test drive of the CX-90 GT-P or Signature. Take a highway on-ramp and judge the pull for yourself.