What if you paid the same price for the same vehicle, but got less? Would you really do that? Possibly. Meet the 2025 Mazda CX-70, a new nameplate for the Hiroshima-based automaker, but one that should look very familiar.
It’s basically the CX-90, introduced last year, with blacked-out trim and two rows of seats rather than the CX-90’s three rows of seats. Well, it actually is if you’re, say, a young family, an empty nester or an older buyer that needs schlepping space for stuff, not people.
What you get in the CX-70 is basically what you get in the CX-90.
That means that you’ll have a choice of three powertrains. Most models will have a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six engine producing either 280 horsepower or 340 horsepower depending on trim. There’s also a plug-in hybrid, powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that generates 323 horsepower and approximately 26 miles of pure electric driving range and that can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
While you may be tempted by the plug-in hybrid, you may not appreciate its steering feel, which fails to impart the communicative nature you’d assume it to have. Instead, opt for the more-powerful V6 turbo, which actually does impart the joie de vivre that you expect from a Mazda. Its agility and sharp steering make for a more enchanting drive — even though the transmission shifts slowly when asked to switch gears from its steering-wheel-mounted paddles.
If there’s one area where the CX-70 truly disappoints, it’s the infotainment system, one controlled by a knob on the center console and boasting a dreadfully clunky, old-fashioned interface that’s a chore to use. Doing any task takes far too long and detracts mightily from the premium appeal Mazda is trying to project. It’s a real pain point.
And that’s important, given this vehicle’s allure. Since most SUVs travel only as far off-road as their driveway, Mazda’s CX-70 chooses luxury over soft-road adventures, making no insulting references to off-roading.
A two-row, five-passenger, all-weather vehicle, the CX-70's exterior is one of elegant urbanity, albeit with blacked-out trim. Luxurious interior details abound in its cabin, although they differ slightly from the CX-90.
And the cabin is enormous, possessing far more space than you’d expect from a Mazda. The second-row seats are really comfy and provide plenty of legroom. In contrast, the front row’s center console is obtrusive, taking up far too much room, making the front seat feel cramped for such a large vehicle. However, its sides have padding where your legs rest, which is a thoughtful touch.
So, it’s a fairly satisfying vehicle. But compare it to the CX-90, and you’ll wonder why Mazda is wasting their money building and marketing the CX-70, when the CX-90 makes more sense.
The CX-90’s third-row theoretically saps cargo space. But look at the numbers, and you’ll find there’s no difference in cargo space between the CX-70 and CX-90’s cargo space. If you fold the CX-90’s third row you’ll have 40 cubic feet to stow stuff. You’d think that the CX-70 would provide more room, but in fact it actually offers less, at 39.5 cubic feet. And while the 2024 CX-90 starts at $39,330, the 2025 Mazda CX-70, without its third row, costs more, starting at $41,900, even though it should theoretically cost less.
So, why does this vehicle even exist? Why spend money to produce a separate vehicle line that offers no advantage of any kind? You have to wonder why someone thought this was a good idea.
The only reason to opt for the 2025 Mazda CX-70 is, well, um, actually, there is no reason to opt for one over the CX-90, unless it’s boasting bigger discounts. While it’s certainly a nice vehicle, it offers no advantage over the CX-90.
2025 Mazda CX-70
Base price: $41,900
Engine: Turbocharged 3.3-liter inlinesix-cylinder
Horsepower/Torque: 340/369 pound-feet
EPA rating (combined city/highway): 25 mpg
Fuel required: Regular
Length/Width/Height: 201/79/68 inches
Ground clearance: 8.1 inches
Payload: 1,138 pounds
Cargo capacity: 39.5-75 cubic feet
Towing capacity: 3,500-5,000 pounds
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