Santa Cruz Vala 90 carbon. Difference between 2025 and 2026? I'm interested in the Midnight Green one in a size large, not that should make a difference in the spec. What changes if any have crept in for the 2026 edition vs the 2025?
Good,
@steve_sordy, I've dug through this fairly thoroughly. The short answer is: not much has changed, and that's deliberate. The 2026 Vala carries the same proven frame, motor system, and geometry as the 2025.
Same carbon C frame, same Bosch CX Gen 5 motor with 600Wh battery, same 160/150mm travel, same mullet wheel setup. The Midnight Green colour was available on 2025 models too, so you're not getting a fresh colourway for 2026 specifically.
Where it gets interesting is the build spec. The 2025 didn't actually have a "90" trim level in the original lineup. The 2025 range had the R (entry), X0 AXS, and XX AXS RSV at the top.
For 2026, Santa Cruz added the 90 and 70 as new build tiers. The 2026 Vala 90 specifically features a Fox 38 Performance fork, Fox Float X Performance shock, SRAM GX Eagle T-Type drivetrain (cable-actuated, not wireless AXS), SRAM Maven Base brakes, and Reserve 30 HD AL wheels.
That's a meaningful step up from the 2025 R, which had a RockShox Zeb, SRAM DB8 brakes with 220mm rotors, and an NX drivetrain.
So if you're comparing the 2026 Vala 90 against the nearest 2025 equivalent (the R), the 90 gets you Fox suspension front and rear instead of RockShox, a GX drivetrain instead of NX, and Maven brakes instead of DB8s. That's all worthwhile kit for a 92kg rider who's going to be pushing things. The Maven Base brakes are a proper eMTB stopper, and the Fox 38 Performance is a solid fork.
