I Thought My Family Didn’t Need a Third Row. I Was Wrong.

For the last eight years, our Subaru Outback has stepped up to the challenge of taking my family of five, plus two dogs, everywhere we go.

We call it the “kid car” because it can handle anything, including flying snacks in the back seat. But as my kids grow, we need a bigger car — mostly so I can stop hearing them complain about their legs touching.

On a recent trip to Florida, we tested a Mazda CX-90, designed with family chaos in mind. And while in previous years I had said that a third row wasn’t necessary for our family, now that my kids are 8, 6, and 6, I might be having a change of heart.

Having a third row made multigenerational travel easier

I’m an only child, which means my parents — who are both in their 80s — often travel with us. That means we need seven people to be comfortably seated to head out to dinner, for example.

In previous cars we tested, like the Audi Q7, my parents couldn’t sit in the third row because they had to either climb over a seat or go through the trunk. Even our kids refused to sit in the back of the Audi because it felt cramped.

The CX-90, on the other hand, has a true third row, similar to the one in the Volkswagen ID that we also tested with my family. It was easy to get in and out, and the ability to push the second row forward allows even adults to ride in the back.

A hybrid car might be the solution to the cost of gas

I’ve been timid about getting a fully electric car for my family. While driving around our town makes sense, the idea of having to plan longer road trips around charging stops stresses me out.

That said, with gas prices at astronomical levels right now, my family’s budget is tight, so I was curious about driving a hybrid to find a middle ground.

I was actually impressed with the CX-90 in that aspect. When I first turned on the car, it prioritized running on the electric battery. As I watched the percentage drop, I panicked while driving on the highway from Miami to Orlando, thinking the car would stall once the battery was empty. But of course it didn’t, it automatically switched to gas for smooth driving.

You can also charge the battery while driving. My husband really enjoyed this feature, since we didn’t have a charger at the resort parking lot, and kept our battery 50% charged at all times. I have to admit, I didn’t quite get the hang of charging on this quick trip, but I’m sure I would eventually.

I had a hard time getting used to the shifter

Overall, driving the CX-90 was pretty smooth. It is a bit heavier on turns than what I’m used to driving, but after a couple of days, I was accustomed to it.

The one thing I really struggled with was the shifter. I’m used to having gears in a straight line, but in this car, you have to move the gear stick sideways to the left to park. The first gear you are in when you get out of the parking is reverse. Again, after a few days, I was used to it, but I was always paranoid that I’d be in reverse without realizing it. I think a better user experience would be just keeping all the gears in a straight line.

That said, driving a 2026 model really showed me what we are missing while still having a 2018 car.

The CX-90 had the standard seat warmer, but I was surprised to find it also had a seat cooler, which, in the heat of Florida, was key. I also really liked that you can see which seat belts are buckled, all the way to the third row, right above the rearview mirror. This really cuts down on me repeating myself, asking the kids if they are already buckled.

With a starting price of $39,300 and its hybrid advantage, the Mazda CX-90 is now a top contender for my family’s next car.