What the 2026 CX-90 Mild Hybrid Brings to a Family Trip Up the Sea-to-Sky Highway

Families in Burnaby who spend their summer weekends chasing lake days, trailheads, and Whistler getaways know that the drive itself can make or break the trip. The route up the Sea-to-Sky Highway climbs through switchbacks, shifting weather, and long straightaways before dropping into mountain towns where parking is tight and gravel driveways are common. A vehicle built for that range of conditions needs more than a big back seat.

The 2026 Mazda CX-90 Mild Hybrid is built on Mazda's Large Platform, an architecture designed around a rear-wheel-drive-biased layout, double wishbone front suspension, and a multilink rear end. For a family loading up bikes, coolers, and overnight bags before heading north out of Burnaby, that foundation is worth understanding before the trip, not after.

At a Glance: 2026 CX-90 Mild Hybrid

Power and Handling for Mountain Driving

The standard CX-90 Mild Hybrid engine produces 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, with the 48-volt M Hybrid Boost system supporting low-speed throttle response — useful when merging back onto the highway after a fuel or coffee stop in Squamish. Higher trims offer a high-output version of the same 3.3-litre inline six, producing 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel.

Mazda's Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) technology works alongside the double wishbone front and multilink rear suspension to suppress body lift through corners, which helps keep passengers settled through the highway's tighter curves rather than leaning side to side. Standard i-Activ AWD adjusts power delivery to the wheels with the most grip, a detail that matters on the mix of dry highway, wet coastal stretches, and gravel forest service roads found off the main route.

Drivers can also select from Mi-Drive modes — Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, with Towing mode available on select trims — to match the vehicle's behaviour to the road ahead:

• Off-Road mode adjusts throttle and traction response for gravel or loose surfaces near trailheads and campsites
• Sport mode sharpens throttle response for merging and passing on the highway
• Towing mode (available on select trims) increases maximum towing capacity to 5,000 lbs when equipped with Mazda Genuine Towing Accessories

Family Comfort and Cargo for the Long Drive

A trip up the Sea-to-Sky Highway with kids in the back seat tends to go more smoothly when there's enough room to spread out. The CX-90's Large Platform layout allows for seating configurations of up to eight passengers, with second-row bench or captain's chair options depending on trim, giving families flexibility for car seats, boosters, or extra passengers joining for the weekend.

Cargo space behind the third row accommodates the everyday gear that comes with a mountain weekend — bikes with the seats folded, cooler bags, and hiking packs. Higher trims add conveniences like a power liftgate and, on GT and above, a panoramic moonroof and Bose premium audio system, which make the two-hour-plus drive feel shorter for passengers in every row.

Is the CX-90 Mild Hybrid Right for Your Family's Road Trips?

For Burnaby families who make regular trips north for weekend hikes, ski season, or summer lake visits, the CX-90 Mild Hybrid's AWD, drive mode flexibility, and up to eight-passenger seating are worth a closer look. Families who tow trailers, boats, or larger gear will want to ask about the Towing mode package and its 5,000-lb capacity when equipped with genuine towing accessories. Those prioritizing all-weather confidence over cargo volume may also want to compare the CX-90 against Mazda's two-row CX-70 to see which layout better matches how the vehicle will actually be used week to week.

Experience the CX-90 at Metrotown Mazda

The best way to know how the CX-90 Mild Hybrid handles the drive up the Sea-to-Sky Highway is to get behind the wheel. Book your test drive today at our Burnaby dealership, and our team at Metrotown Mazda can walk you through which trim and drive mode configuration fits your family's regular routes best.