Can the 2026 Mazda CX-90 Handle Towing a Trailer?

Late summer in Nova Scotia means one more long weekend at the campground, one more boat launch, one more trip down a provincial highway with a trailer behind you. If you’re shopping a three-row SUV for that job, the tow rating on the window sticker only tells part of the story.

The 2026 Mazda CX-90 spans two powertrain families and five trims, and they don’t all tow the same way. Here’s how to match the right setup to the trailer you actually pull.

Why Towing Setup Matters on Nova Scotia Roads

Provincial highways mix hills, exposed causeways, and shoulder seasons where a clear morning can turn windy by afternoon. Pulling a trailer through that adds load on the engine, the brakes, and the driver’s sightlines all at once.

A vehicle’s advertised towing number matters less than whether the drivetrain, gearing, and visibility systems actually support that number on a real highway grade. The CX-90 lineup splits clearly on this point.

Powertrain and Towing Capacity: Mild-Hybrid vs Plug-In Hybrid

The CX-90 MHEV GS runs a 3.3-litre turbocharged inline-six making 280 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel, paired with an 8-speed automatic and standard AWD. On its own, the GS is rated to tow 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg).

Step up to the GS-L, GT, GT-P, or Signature and, when equipped with Mazda Genuine Towing Accessories, the mild-hybrid lineup’s towing capacity rises to 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg). The GT-P pushes the same 3.3-litre turbo six to 340 hp and 369 lb-ft on premium fuel (319 hp on regular), the strongest engine in the range.

The plug-in hybrid tells a different story. The CX-90 PHEV pairs a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder with an electric motor for a system output of up to 323 hp and 369 lb-ft, plus 42 km of electric-only range. Every PHEV trim, GS through Signature, is rated to tow up to 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) when properly equipped, the same ceiling as the base mild-hybrid GS.

For a light utility trailer or a small aluminum boat, the base GS or any PHEV trim covers it. For a travel trailer, a larger camper, or a loaded equipment trailer, the mild-hybrid GS-L and above are the versions built for that weight.

Trim Walk: Matching the Trailer to the Trim

The GS-L is where towing gets serious. It adds a Towing mode to Mazda’s Mi-Drive selector, alongside Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, which adjusts throttle mapping and shift points specifically for pulling weight. This is also the trim where the towing ceiling jumps from 3,500 to 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg).

The GT and GT-P carry that same towing setup forward while adding trim-specific comfort and visibility gear. The PHEV models, by contrast, keep Mi-Drive’s EV mode for short trips and quiet early departures, useful for daily driving but not built around the same heavier trailer duty.

Buyers doing occasional light towing (a utility trailer a few times a season) don’t need to chase the top of the lineup. Buyers planning to tow a camper or loaded trailer regularly should look at GS-L or above specifically for the Towing mode and the 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) rating.

Visibility and Confidence When the Trailer Is Attached

Backing a trailer down a boat launch or a campsite pad is where most towing anxiety actually lives, and the CX-90’s GT-grade trims address it directly. Trailer Hitch View, standard on GT models, gives a camera-assisted look at the hitch ball for easier hookups.

The Signature trim goes further with a 360° View Monitor that includes See-Through View alongside Trailer Hitch View, plus front and rear parking sensors carried through the GT and Signature trims for tight campground manoeuvring. These are the features that make the difference between a stressful hitch-up and a routine one.

Cabin and Cargo for the Whole Trip

Every CX-90 is a three-row SUV, and seating runs eight passengers on the GS with second- and third-row bench seats, or seven passengers on GS-L, GT, GT-P, and Signature with an optional captain’s chair layout. A family towing a camper for the weekend can still bring the whole crew and their gear.

On PHEV models, cargo space runs from 2,101 L behind the front seats down to 423 L behind the third row, so folding a row down opens real space for coolers, gear bags, and hitch accessories when the trailer is carrying the bulk of the load.

Who Should Shortlist the CX-90 for Towing

A Nova Scotia family with a small camper or a boat trailer that comes out a handful of weekends a year fits the base GS or any PHEV trim comfortably, with the added benefit of the PHEV’s 42 km electric range for daily commuting the rest of the year.

A buyer planning frequent, heavier trailer duty, a full-size travel camper, a car trailer, a loaded equipment hauler, should be looking specifically at the GS-L and above, where Mi-Drive’s Towing mode and the 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) rating are built in.

Confirming Your CX-90’s Towing Setup

The 2026 CX-90 lineup covers a wide towing range, from a 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) rating on the base GS and every PHEV trim to 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) on GS-L and above when fitted with Mazda Genuine Towing Accessories.

Visit Truro Mazda in Truro to confirm towing equipment, accessory fit, and trim availability for your specific trailer, and walk through a towing-focused test drive before you decide which CX-90 fits your setup.