Compare the2026 Mazda CX-90VS 2026 Ford Explorer

The Mazda CX-90 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Explorer doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-90 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 Ford Explorer has not been tested.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-90. But it costs extra on the Explorer.

Both the CX-90 and the Explorer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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 side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda CX-90 is safer than the Ford Explorer:

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

The Mazda CX-90 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Explorer is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 13th.

As tested in Motor Trend the CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Ford Explorer turbo 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-90 running on electricity gets better mileage than the Explorer:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-90 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Explorer:

The CX-90 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 27 miles. The Explorer can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-90’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Explorer doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The CX-90 has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port which lock and unlock with the power locks. The Explorer doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The CX-90 stops much shorter than the Explorer:

For better traction, the CX-90 has larger standard tires than the Explorer (265/55R19 vs. 255/65R18).

The CX-90 Select’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Explorer’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-90 Select has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Explorer.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-90’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Explorer (122.8 inches vs. 119.1 inches).

The CX-90 Premium Plus handles at .85 G’s, while the Explorer Active 4WD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-90 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Explorer 4WD (26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-90 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Explorer (8 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the CX-90 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The CX-90 offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Explorer can only carry up to 7.

The CX-90 has 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 2.8 inches more third row hip room than the Explorer.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CX-90 Premium’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Explorer doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The CX-90 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Explorer uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The CX-90 Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Explorer doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-90’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Explorer’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The CX-90’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Explorer’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

When the CX-90 Turbo S is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Explorer’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The CX-90 Preferred/Premium has standard front air conditioned seats and the CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Explorer doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Mazda CX-90 retains 53.28% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 47.11% resale value of the 2026 Ford Explorer after five years, which can save the Mazda’s owner up to $3410 in depreciation.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its August 2023 issue and they ranked the Mazda CX-90 Premium Plus two places higher than the Ford Explorer ST-Line.