Ford Explorer vs Mazda CX-90: Which Better Satisfies Your Family’s Needs?

Families are drawn to three-row SUVs due to their size, capabilities, and features needed to keep their rambunctious little ones at bay. This makes industry favorites like the Ford Explorer and Mazda CX-90 ideal for this particular demographic, offering spacious cabins, a variety of convenient features, and state-of-the-art safety suites. This may be the end of where these two SUVs are alike because, from the moment you see both of them pull up to you on the street, they couldn’t be more different.

You may be interested in a Ford Explorer for sale, and here at Jim Ellis Ford, we have the selection you need to drive home in the perfect model today—but what about your other options in the three-row midsize SUV segment? When it comes to the 2025 Ford Explorer versus the 2025 Mazda CX-90, which one better suits your requirements on the road?

Comfort and Convenience

If you’re not traveling in a vehicle that can offer you the cabin experience you need, your ride will suffer, and that’s the last thing any parent wants while dealing with bored kiddos on a road trip to see Grandma. Fortunately, the 2025 Explorer hears you loud and clear, offering a cabin atmosphere that’s cozy yet spacious enough to accommodate your kin. From leather appointments to multi-contour massaging seats, the Explorer wraps you in undeniable comfort on the road.

Perhaps what’s most appreciated about this three-row hauler is its roominess. With three spacious rows, no matter where you’re seated, you’re bound to be relaxed, even with adult passengers seated in the very back. Plus, with 85.8 cu.ft. of space available for all of your gear and an available PowerFold third-row seat, handling more and accessing the rear of the vehicle is effortless in this Ford family favorite.

There’s no doubt that the Mazda CX-90 is a beautifully designed vehicle. This is evident from the moment you cast a glance inside, with features like leather-trimmed seats, second-row captain’s chairs, and more premium elements within. Where this SUV often disappoints is with the space offered inside. It’s reported to be quite cramped in the third row, which means that this part of the vehicle is strictly reserved for pint-sized passengers. It also doesn’t offer as much space as industry leaders like the Explorer, capping out at 75.2 cu.ft., so if you want more space for people, as well as gear, there are better options than the CX-90.

Driver Assistance Features

Both the Ford Explorer and Mazda CX-90 have been named IIHS Top Safety Picks, armed with sophisticated safety tech that watches out for you and your little ones, no matter where you’re heading. You’ll find that the 2025 Explorer has everything from a Blind Spot Information System to Adaptive Cruise Control in the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, helping you maintain your cool, even when the kids are yelling and you’re attempting a detour on the way home from school.

Perhaps what’s most appreciated by busy parents is the fact that, for the first time ever, the Explorer can now be equipped with BlueCruise hands-free driving tech—the nation’s top-rated active driving assistance system. This advanced system lets your Explorer take charge of the ride on over 97% of controlled access highways across the continent, navigating the way for you. The CX-90 is equipped with the i-Activsense safety suite, providing you with features like road-keeping assistance, blind spot oversight, and more; unfortunately, it does not offer a feature like BlueCruise, which can be a significant disappointment for drivers who are looking forward to having their vehicle take charge of the ride.

Power and Handling

Despite its rugged persona, the Ford Explorer doesn’t drive like a rough-and-tumble adventure mate; on the contrary, it’s known to be refined and comfortable to maneuver around town. With six drive modes, you’ll be able to take advantage of the best ride possible, whether you’re traveling through slippery or uneven environments or usual driving conditions.

The Explorer can be armed with one of a number of powertrains to enhance your ride. It comes standard with a 2.3L EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder, which makes 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, but if you want more excitement and power during your ride, we recommend choosing the available 3.0L EcoBoost turbocharged V6; this lively engine makes 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, adding a bit of intensity to the drive that you never knew you needed.

The CX-90 also has an assortment of powertrains to choose from—all of which are hybrid-assisted. This means that if you don’t want to drive a hybrid, you’re out of luck with the CX-90. It comes standard with a 3.3L turbocharged inline-six, which is assisted by a 48-volt hybrid setup. This base engine makes 280 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque; upgrading to the S trim will bump those numbers up to 340 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, which is still much lower than the Explorer’s mighty V6.

The CX-90 can also come as a plug-in hybrid, consisting of a 2.5L four-cylinder and 17.8-kWh battery combination, which makes 323 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. No matter which engine you choose, you won’t get the power you can expect from rivals like the Explorer—and as far as ride quality is concerned, the CX-90 is reported to be a bit rough on the road, which may not jive with your family’s expectations in transit.

Helpful Cabin Tech

Families must have technology aboard their dutiful daily drivers, especially if keeping the youngsters occupied is a challenge. Fortunately, you’ll find that the 2025 Explorer does a fantastic job of providing you with all the innovative features you need to maintain order on the road. This year marks the unveiling of the Ford Digital Experience, a highly intuitive and customizable software interface that allows you to personalize your tech like never before. From setting up custom profiles to linking phones and more, the Ford Digital Experience immerses you in the ride like no other vehicle can.

Plus, with the ability to stream videos, play games, and more, keeping your kiddos occupied is easy inside this Ford staple. It even comes standard with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display, includes eight USB ports strategically located throughout the cabin, and provides access to smartphone integration, Google apps, and more to make your drive an enjoyable experience for all.

The 2025 CX-90 is nicely equipped with today’s must-have tech, but its touchscreen selection is a bit on the small side, coming standard with a 10.25-inch display with an available 12.3-inch option in top-of-the-line trims. Aside from that, you’ll find that the CX-90 offers available wireless smartphone capabilities, an available wireless charging pad, and other handy tech as you make your way up the trim levels.

Which Should You Choose, the Explorer or CX-90?

When it comes to choosing between these two three-row family haulers, the choice is obvious. The 2025 Ford Explorer offers more space for your passengers and gear, an arsenal of next-level tech to enhance the ride, and powerful performance that allows you to enjoy every moment you’re on the road. What’s more is that it’s more affordable than the stylish CX-90, especially when you make your way to the top-level trims. For example, the high-end Explorer Platinum starts at approximately $51k, while the CX-90’s top-of-the-line “3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus” trim starts at around $56k.

If you want to get more for your money, as well as enjoy some of the most groundbreaking features in the industry, you’ll want to be driving the Ford Explorer.