- Car and Driver found Charger R/T weighs 25 lbs more than Mazda SUV.
- Eight-seat CX-90 is technically faster, though only at maximum speeds.
- Dodge demolishes SUV in 0-60 mph comparison, but CX-90 is no slouch.
Sports sedans are supposed to be lighter, faster, and more focused than family SUVs. Muscle cars are supposed to be the ones that make you forget the difference. That’s why Car and Driver’s latest test results make for such an amusing read. According to the publication, Dodge’s new Charger R/T weighs more than a three-row Mazda CX-90 and even trails it in one major performance metric.
Before Charger fans start firing up the comments section, there’s some important context. The six-cylinder, combustion-powered Dodge is dramatically quicker off the line and reaches 60 mph (97 kmh) far sooner than the Mazda. But when it comes to outright top speed, the family hauler somehow sneaks ahead.
Related: More Powerful Dodge Charger Arrives In August, But Still Isn’t The Hemi
Car and Driver recorded a curb weight of 4,921 lbs (2,232 kg) for the 2026 Charger R/T. That made it 25 lbs (11 kg) heavier than a Mazda CX-90 tested by the magazine, which tipped the scales at 4,896 lbs (2,221 kg). The result is surprising given the Mazda can carry up to eight occupants while the Charger is a performance-oriented sedan with room for just four, five at a push.
The car brands’ own figures tell a slightly different story. Mazda lists the 280 hp (284 PS) CX-90 at 4,846 lbs (2,198 kg), while Dodge quotes 4,741 lbs (2,151 kg) for the Charger R/T. Automaker figures and independently measured test weights often differ due to vehicle specifications, options, fluids, and testing procedures, but Car and Driver’s numbers are directly comparable because the same team gathered them.
280 Horses Take On 420 And Win
As were the performance figures. The CX-90 tested by the magazine used Mazda’s entry-level turbocharged inline-six producing 280 hp (284 PS) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque. It reached 60 mph (97 kmh) in 6.9 seconds, a solid effort for an entry-level three-row SUV in this segment.
The Charger, meanwhile, packs a twin-turbo six-cylinder generating 420 hp (426 PS). It dispatched the same sprint in just 4.7 seconds, making it the clear winner in any real-world acceleration contest. However, the Dodge is electronically limited to 125 mph (201 kmh). The publication found the Mazda can continue accelerating to 127 mph (204 kmh), giving it a narrow victory in the top-speed stakes.
A Win On Paper Only
Of course, that 2 mph (3 kmh) advantage is academic in the US. Almost no owners will ever find themselves in a situation where a CX-90 can reel in a Charger R/T and leave it behind. But it gives Mazda owners somewhere to steer the conversation when someone starts ribbing them about all those CX-90 recalls.
