The 2025 CX-70 is an all-new mid-size SUV from Mazda. In coming up with the CX-70,
Mazda took their largest and most luxurious SUV, the CX-90, and simply removed its
third-row seat. And with that, the CX-70 is born. So, the CX-70 is a virtual twin to the
CX-90, with the same powerplants offered as the CX-90, just without the rearmost row of
seats. Why Mazda decided to come up with a new model is a little odd, but at the end of
the day it really doesn’t matter. Let’s look at Mazda’s latest SUV, the CX-70.
Like the CX-90, the CX-70 stands out with its elegant styling and fun-to-drive nature. It
possesses a handsome profile with a long hood and setback passenger cabin. While the
CX-70 shares the same exterior body as the CX-90, the CX-70 features black accents as
opposed to the CX-90s chrome accents.
The CX-70 features a plush cabin that seats five. The layout is set up well with the use of
physical buttons for major controls such as the audio system and climate controls. And
it’s all done in an elegant, but simple design. The center console is wide, which is great to
house many of the buttons and switches but also impedes on front interior room. Again,
the CX-70 shares the same interior as the CX-90 (minus the third row) although the CX-
70 is offered in a flashy red leather option that is not available in the CX-90.
The Mazda CX-70 is available in three models that are distinguished mainly by their
powertrains: 3.3 Turbo, 3.3 Turbo S and the plug-in hybrid PHEV. The 3.3 Turbo uses
3.3-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine making 280 horsepower. The 3.3 Turbo
S uses the same engine, but power is increased to 340 hp. The plug-in hybrid PHEV uses
a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a plug-in hybrid system to make a combined
output of 323 hp. Mazda estimates it will drive about 26 miles on all-electric power
before switching to regular hybrid operation. All models come with an eight-speed
automatic transmission and, much like the rest of the Mazda SUV lineup, the CX-70
comes standard with all-wheel drive.
The tester arrived as a CX-70 PHEV Premium Plus dressed in Melting Copper Metallic
and with the red Nappa leather interior. With it comes a price tag of $59,275.
Mazda does an excellent job in combining performance, luxury, and economy in the CX-
70 PHEV. As for performance, the CX-70 PHEV turns out to be the quickest CX-70 in
the lineup, needing just 5.9 seconds to hit 60 mph. The Turbo S takes 6.2 seconds to
reach 60 mph. Not only is the CX-70 quick off the line, but it has excellent midrange
punch, making squirting through traffic easy – all while bringing in 25 mpg in combined
city and highway driving (23 mpg city / 27 mpg highway).
And the CX-70 doesn’t just perform well in a straight line. The steering is nicely
weighted, and the CX-70 feels planted and secure around corners. The brakes are also
impressive, although they can be touchy at first.
Added to the performance of the CX-70 is the fact that it is a PHEV – which means it can
be used as an EV. With its 17.8-kWh battery pack, it can be charged from 20 to 80
percent in about 90 minutes on a 240-volt connection and can provide up to 26 miles of
EV driving on a full charge. That’s a nice option to have.
As most SUVs try to isolate and take away the driving experience, Mazda has always
looked the other way, making their SUVs more fun and entertaining to drive, and the CX-
70 is no exception. Whether you choose to power the CX-70 from a turbocharged system
or a hybrid system, the CX-70 offers plenty of muscle, along with its sporty suspension to
make every drive exciting. And with great styling, the CX-70 does a fantastic job at
standing out and being unique, without being flashy. With the CX-70, Mazda has another
fun-to-drive, useful vehicle in its fleet of SUVs.
— Christopher A. Randazzo
By The Numbers:
2025 Mazda CX-70 PHEV Premium Plus
Base Price: $57,450.00
Price as Tested: $59,275.00
Layout: front-engine / all-wheel drive
Engine: 2.5 liter inline 4-cylinder with hybrid system
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Horsepower: 323 hp
Torque: 369 lb-ft
EPA Fuel Economy: 25 mpg [Visit me at www.carsbycar.blogspot.com or email me at auto_cran@hotmail.com]
