How does the CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid drive? The CX-90 PHEV accelerates just as strongly as the regular CX-90. At the Edmunds test track, our test vehicle sprinted from zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, which is about a second quicker than a Honda Pilot or Kia Telluride. But note that time is with the gas engine fired up and a charged battery. It’s not nearly as quick when you’re driving on pure electric power, taking a very slow 14.8 seconds to get to 60 mph.
Out in the real world in hybrid mode, the PHEV feels as potent as the non-PHEV CX-90, with brisk acceleration from a standstill and enough in reserve on the highway to make passing slower traffic a snap. In EV mode, the electric motor is fine at low speeds, such as zipping away from a stoplight, but overall the sluggish performance makes it hard to avoid the temptation to floor the throttle to engage the gas engine. Additionally, the electric motor works through the eight-speed automatic, and the shifts at low speed are notably more abrupt than when the gas engine is running.
Of course, one of the reasons you’d pick the CX-90 is for its handling, and even in PHEV form it’s a cut above most others in its class. The steering feels nicely weighted and accurate, and this big SUV stays planted and secure when cornering. It’s fun for what it is, and the sole dynamic slipup is the brake pedal feel. There’s no problem with stopping power, but it feels too touchy and takes a while to learn to stop smoothly.
