The 2025 Mazda CX-70 is an all-new SUV with two rows of seating and loads of room for cargo. It slots in just under the three-row CX-90, and the 2 have so much in frequent – that is just about a CX-90 minus that additional row. It’s a lot the identical that the third-row cupholders nonetheless exist within the CX-70 although there is no such thing as a third row. What’s happening right here?
Nicely, other than the pointless cupholders, the CX-70 delivers one thing distinctive. It has all of the cargo room of a three-row with out the additional seating getting in the best way; even when you fold a 3rd row, it’s nonetheless there taking over some house. The CX-70 solves that drawback with all of the type and upscale supplies that make this not fairly a luxurious automotive, however one thing fairly darn shut. We spent a while with the CX-70 in plug-in hybrid guise to become familiar with whether or not it’s, certainly, the proper two-row SUV.
Exterior: This Appears to be like Acquainted
The CX-70 seems to be so much just like the CX-90 with glossy styling that provides it a sporty look regardless of being a big SUV. That is a beautiful automotive with a premium vibe that features a giant grille and complex wheel designs. There’s additionally a low entrance fascia that helps give it an aggressive stance with out coming off as overdone. We’ll all the time and without end be a fan of Mazda’s Soul Crimson Crystal Metallic paint, which is sort of merely essentially the most stunning purple of any automotive. It provides $595 to the underside line and it’s price each penny.
The CX-70 and CX-90 have the identical exterior dimensions – size, width, wheelbase, and peak are all the identical. The one noticeable distinction between Mazda’s largest two SUVs is that there’s extra chrome accents on the CX-90 and extra black on the CX-70. It’s a small distinction and truthfully seems to be stunning both approach. To essentially perceive what units the vehicles aside, nevertheless, you may have to step inside.
Inside: A Premium Expertise
One of many issues that makes any Mazda stand out from the group is the inside. These aren’t luxurious vehicles, however they arrive actually shut, particularly on high trims. Every little thing is gorgeous with high-quality supplies and a considerate design. Open the door and also you’re handled to an inside that appears prefer it belongs in a much more costly automotive.
The CX-70 is not any exception to that rule with normal leather-based seating surfaces on base trims and quilted Nappa leather-based as you progress up the trim ladder. The plug-in hybrid model is accessible in simply two trims with the bottom Premium coming with extra than simply the naked requirements. It has a typical eight-way energy driver’s seat and four-way energy passenger seat, with each entrance perches heated. Transfer as much as the Premium Plus and there are ventilated entrance seats, an eight-way energy entrance passenger seat, and a heated second row.
These seats are comfy with loads of cushion for longer drivers and sufficient assist to maintain highway weariness to a minimal. The second row simply accommodates three adults, although it’s higher for 2 on a highway journey. Nonetheless, these are bench seats that don’t punish you for not grabbing the entrance seat earlier than your mates. There’s 41.7 inches of legroom within the first row and 39.4 inches within the second row, which is the very same quantity of room that you simply’ll discover within the CX-90.
Infotainment: A Blended Bag
Let’s simply get this out of the best way first: The Mazda infotainment system isn’t for everybody. The problem is the best way it’s managed. For the longest time, there was no touchscreen functionality and the display screen was even pushed again in order that it wasn’t simple to succeed in, which helped scale back the possibility of your passenger making an attempt use it that approach. The going knowledge is that touchscreens are distracting, so Mazda has a sequence of buttons and a rotary dial on the middle console as an alternative. We aren’t followers. They are saying that, in a short while, it turns into fairly intuitive, but it surely has but to turn out to be intuitive for us within the week we spent with the automotive.
One other problem is that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are designed for use with a touchscreen, not with bodily controls. Mazda heard that grievance, and now they’ve a touchscreen, however solely when utilizing these apps. We like this and discover it significantly better. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless complicated, particularly for passengers. Typically it’s contact, generally it’s not, and we are able to’t even let you know what number of instances all of us tried to make use of it as a touchscreen to no avail.
That’s actually our greatest grievance about this or any Mazda. The system is in any other case good with crisp graphics, an intuitive menu system, and a big 12.3-inch display screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wi-fi and all however the base trim with the gasoline engine features a 12-speaker Bose audio system that sounds incredible.
Cargo: Extra Room Than You Want
The flexibility to hold plenty of cargo is the primary promoting level of the CX-70 over the CX-90. When you don’t want a 3rd row – and many people don’t – however you need plenty of cargo room, then that is the Mazda for you. There’s no have to fold down a 3rd row, and also you by no means have to fret about it being in the best way. There’s 39.6 cubic toes behind the second row with 75.3 cubic toes behind the primary row. How that compares to the CX-90 is determined by whether or not you need it configured with seating for 2 or three within the third row:
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Cargo Quantity: CX-70 vs. CX-90 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Behind third Row |
Behind 2nd Row |
Behind 1st Row |
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CX-70: 2 rows solely |
NA |
39.6 ft³ |
75.3 ft³ |
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CX-90: 3-person third row |
14.9 ft³ |
40.0 ft³ |
74.2 ft³ |
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CX-90: 2-person third row |
15.9 ft³ |
40.1 ft³ |
75.2 ft³ |
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The distinction is small, however the way it’s used is what’s necessary – you get cargo room with out the inconvenience of the third row. There’s additionally an underfloor storage space that makes it simple to hold stuff you want however won’t be grabbing on a regular basis. In case your precedence is cargo, not individuals, then the CX-70 is the fitting choose.
Efficiency: Plug-In Hybrid Effectivity
The CX-70 is accessible with both a gasoline or plug-in hybrid powertrain. The bottom gasoline engine is a 3.3-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder with 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. A high-performance model of this engine affords 340 horsepower with 369 lb-ft of torque in ‘S’ badged trims. Our plug-in tester options the two.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid with 323 internet system horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.
We like plug-in hybrids as a kind of completely satisfied medium between gasoline and electrical autos. They provide a restricted electric-only driving vary and allow you to get used to the concept of plugging-in whereas nonetheless having the gasoline engine as backup. The CX-70 PHEV has an all-electric vary of 26 miles, which is first rate for a car this measurement. When you’re simply driving round city, it’s possible you’ll not even want to make use of gasoline some days. The hybrid engine supplied loads of energy to get the CX-70 transferring. It accelerated strongly from an entire cease and nonetheless delivered loads of passing energy on the freeway. It’s responsive with an 8-speed computerized transmission that did a superb job of managing the engine’s energy. There’s additionally a tow ranking of three,500 kilos for the PHEV and as much as 5,000 kilos for the gasoline engine.
Driving Impressions: Take The Lengthy Manner
Mazda is understood for constructing vehicles for individuals who wish to drive – they aren’t simply home equipment to get you from level A to level B. They allow you to benefit from the journey and perhaps even make you wish to take the great distance. The CX-70 does simply that with a easy, quiet experience that once more provides a contact of luxurious automotive. The responsive engine makes it a soothing expertise for the motive force with no worries about whether or not there’s sufficient energy to merge or to go slower autos. It has loads of oomph and the transmission does a strong job of delivering that energy.
It is a giant SUV, so it doesn’t deal with like a Miata. However for its measurement, it is incredible. It stays managed throughout fast freeway lane modifications with none sloppiness or physique roll. The CX-70 is a good freeway cruiser, but it surely’s simply as at house on nation roads. A spirited drive on twisting New England roads made for a enjoyable Saturday afternoon. You purchase a Mazda to benefit from the drive and that’s precisely what you may do within the CX-70 – and though there have been some glitches on our first drive occasion, our prolonged go to with the CX-70 was easy, and we now have nothing to complain about.
Pricing and Verdict: A Premium SUV
The CX-70 lineup has fairly a variety of pricing and trims, and the 2025 fashions are literally dearer than the 2024 CX-90. This bizarre scenario could proper itself when the 2025 CX-90 arrives, however we’ll have to attend and see. The CX-70 with the bottom gasoline engine is accessible in three trims, priced from $40,445 to $48,900. The extra highly effective gasoline engine is accessible in simply two trims, priced at $52,450 and $55,950 for the Turbo S Premium and Turbo S Premium PLus, respectively.
The plug-in hybrid is accessible in simply two trims, with the Premium at $54,400 and Premium Plus at $57,450, excluding $1,455 for vacation spot.
You will get into the CX-70 for a comparatively inexpensive value, however that $40K beginning value does depart loads of room for competitors. The Hyundai Santa Fe, for instance, affords gasoline and hybrid engines with most trims within the lineup coming in below that value level – it’s a smaller automotive by measurements, although, and has a 3rd row. This makes the CX-70 a quite distinctive proposition within the phase – and it’ll stand out from something Hyundai throws at it, and even beats the Kia Sorento, purely on its upscale inside and incredible drive.
The plug-in hybrid is the costliest of the lot, but it surely comes with the additional advantage of the $7,500 tax credit score whether or not you lease or purchase and the flexibility to scale back your gasoline funds by utilizing that electrical energy. This makes it somewhat simpler in your pockets. Factoring that into the value makes the CX-70, if not a price, a minimum of not as expensive a proposition. When you want room for cargo and three rows of seating, then the CX-90 is the higher choice. However if you’d like that cargo room with out the third row, then the CX-70 is the one to get.