2024 Mazda CX-90 3.3L Turbo e-Skyactive G Engine: Problems, Longevity, and Specs

The all-new Mazda CX-90 comes with all-new engines that you may not know much about. Buying a vehicle with unknown technologies may be too unsafe, so we decided to look at the base 3.3L Turbo engine in the new Mazda CX-90 so that you could easily decide if the vehicle is good for you. Spoiler: it's really good even though it's completely new.

Today, we'll tell you about the 3.3-liter turbocharged e-Skyactive G engine in the Mazda CX-90, basically about two versions of this engine, and will cover its longevity and specs. The engine is just the new version of the Skyactiv G gamily and we already know quite a lot about its technologies and main advantages as well as common expected problems.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2022-now
• Average lifespan of e-Skyactiv G 3.3L:160,000-190,000 miles
• Fuel supply type:direct injection
• Power range:280-340 hp
• Fuel efficiency:good
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:medium
• The most common problems:timing chain issues, weak phasers, engine is afraid of overheating, hybrid problems.

Key features of the new 3.3L Turbo engine in the Mazda CX-90

This engine was presented by Mazda in 2023 and has only been used in two models as of now - the CX-90 and the CX-60. We were surprised to know that Mazda introduces the all-new engine with really big displacement but then we learned that it was a mild-hybrid powerplant with an electric motor-generator and a small additional battery pack and the engine itself fits into ULEV standards (ultra-low emission vehicles).

We are talking about two versions of the engine - the 3.3 Turbo with 280 hp of power and also the 3.3 Turbo S with 340 horsepower. Both engines are basically identical, they just have different tuning the Turbo S also has some minor modifications making it a little more powerful.

So, here's what you may want to know about this new engine:

• this is a mild hybrid engine with an electric motor-generator that makes its acceleration smoother and gas mileage a little better than it could be;
• the engine is an inline 6-cylinder unit belonging to the Skyactiv G family - the biggest member of this family so far;
• one of the features is the compression of 13:1 which is a lot (the European version has even more - 14:0 which is ridiculously much);
• like the entire family, the 3.3L Turbo engine has a direct injection system with multi-hole injectors;
• the engine is turbocharged, we expect the turbocharger to last long and cause no problems like in previous Skyactiv engines;
• the engine comes in two outputs: 280 hp, 332 lb-ft for the Turbo and 340 hp, 369 lb-ft for the Turbo S;
• the only available transmission is the 8-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission - a good and solid unit;
• the engine ensures 24 MPG in the city and about 28 MPG on highways - not great but quite acceptable for the full-size SUV;
• as with all modern Skyactiv engines, this one is probably going to have a chain in the timing system with a "no maintenance" trap from Mazda.

The all-aluminum engine is unique among today's full-size SUVs offering a big displacement and 6 cylinders. We were pretty sure a year ago that Mazda will never make another 6-cylinder engine due to emission restrictions but we were wrong. And this 3.3L Turbo engine seems really good.

Also, the Mazda CX-90 has one more available powerplant - the 2.5L non-turbo plug-in hybrid option. This is the first PHEV from Mazda in the US and we'll pay some attention to it in one of our future articles.

So, Mazda gets the 6-cylinder turbo engine in its potentially popular SUV and, so far, things are good for this engine. Let's look at how long it's going to last.

How many miles will the 3.3L Turbo engine go in the CX-90?

You may wonder how we can estimate the lifespan of the all-new engine in the all-new car that we couldn't even test drive! But all Skyactiv G technologies are well known now and we can predict their durability and some problems that may kill your engine at a certain mileage.

So, we believe the Mazda CX-90 3.3L Turbo engine will last at least 160,000 miles without any major problems. Also, you can get it up to 220,000 miles if you repair and maintain it even better than the manufacturer recommends.

As with any 6-cylinder engine, this one is going to be more durable than the average engine in today's market. But we know some problems that limit the potential longevity of the engine.

Unfortunately, the Turbo S version will not last that long. It's a boosted version of the engine and we predict it will last, on average, 20,000 miles less than the 280-hp version.

We can't say that the new 3.3-liter turbocharged engine by Mazda is non-problematic. It comes with a certain number of issues that you will certainly need to deal with. Some of them can be prevented by proper maintenance. Let's see!

What are the common problems with the 3.3L Mazda Skyactiv G engine?

You may have noticed that the new engine has direct injection. Without any port injectors, the intake valves are going to develop some carbon buildup and this will obviously affect its performance and quality in the long run. But we will not include this to the list of common issues because it's rather the feature that you need to know about.

Here are some problems to consider:

1. Timing chain problems

We aren't sure yet if the engine is going to have the chain. But if it is, you better replace it at 100,000 miles. After this mileage, the chain may stretch and start rattling. This is not the biggest issue - it may break after some time and cause problems with the entire engine. The construction of this engine allows you to repair it after chain issues without changing the valves but still, the repair is going to be very expensive.

The timing chain is said by Mazda to live as long as the engine. But it's just not true. Spend some money on it if you want to get it to 200K miles and beyond.

2. VVT problems

Variable timing is like a standard feature for any modern gasoline engine. But in all Mazda engines, the VVT becomes a problem after some time. At 100K miles or a little later, you may notice that the engine loses its performance, burns a lot of gas, and consumes some oil. These are the clear signs that the VVT isn't working properly.

Most likely, the solenoids of the system need to be cleaned or even replaced. But sometimes, the repair will not be that simple and cheap.

3. Overheating will kill it very quickly

Modern engines are very precise and need to work in certain conditions. If the temperature of the coolant goes up, the long head of this 6-cylinder engine may easily lose its shape. Even some fractions of 1 mm will be enough to spoil the head gasket and launch big problems with the engine.

Also, the powerplant is technological and complicated. Even replacing the head gasket in it will not be a cheap task. Unfortunately, Mazda dealers are known to be very expensive in terms of labor and some parts should be expected for weeks.

4. Mild-hybrid system issues

This is not the first Mazda mild hybrid powerplant we know. And it's most likely going to have some of the standard issues. Start-stop may malfunction, the battery pack may go bad very fast, and the starting issues are more or less guaranteed even in low-mileage Mazda CX-90 cars.

Also, you should know that replacing a battery in the mild-hybrid system will cost you a fortune. This is not the huge battery pack, it's much smaller than in any full hybrid, PHEV or EV, but it still costs a lot because it's made by Mazda.

How should you care for this 3.3L Mazda engine?

Your new 6-cylinder e-Skyactive G Mazda engine needs some special attention. The 3.3L Turbo engine needs proper regular maintenance even more often than the manufacturer requires. Also, you will need to remember the following recommendations:

• use only OEM parts and fluids, never experiment with the quality of maintenance and repair;
• replace the timing chain along with the tensioner at about 100,000 miles without waiting till it starts rattling;
• have the intake valves cleaned at least once every 3 years or every 30,000 miles;
• avoid overrevving this engine to minimize the risk of overheating;
• keep an eye on the engine temperature at the dashboard - any sign of overheating should make you stop the engine immediately.

Also, remember that Mazda only offers 3 years of 36,000 miles of warranty for this vehicle and this is obviously not a lot.

So, for the starting price of about $40,000, this is a very decent offer from Mazda. The 6-cylinder turbo engine is good and is not going to cause a lot of problems. But we should also wait for the first drivers' reports and reviews to form the full opinion about this powerplant.