During our first drive of the CX-90, we didn’t have a strong lean on which powertrain was best. After spending a week with the PHEV, we now have a more definitive preference for the inline-six. Due to travel and the nature of our driving, the week was spent mostly with the CX-90’s 17.8 kWh battery pack completely drained. With no charge, the CX-90 functions like a normal hybrid, using the electric motor to keep the air conditioning running at a stop and at slow speeds during stop-and-go traffic.
We noted around 25 mpg when driving around with no charge, which is on par with the EPA rating. This is around the same fuel economy you could expect from the gas CX-90 Turbo when driving in the city. The CX-90 can also be charged on the go using the engine, though this results in a hit to your fuel economy.
Of course, a PHEV is meant to be plugged in, and fuel economy improves drastically when combined with electric-only driving. A full charge can be achieved in under two hours with a Level 2 charger, and the CX-90 can go around 26 miles on a charge, which should be enough for a short commute. If you live a lifestyle that only requires a short trip to work and back, the CX-90 PHEV could be a nice option. Anyone who frequently drives further than that may not reap the full benefits of this powertrain.