2025 Mazda CX-70 Review and Test Drive
With sportier looks, fewer seats, and exclusive colors, the 2025 CX-70 aims at a different audience than the CX-90's.
Christian Wardlaw
My wife and I have owned a midsize three-row SUV since 2017. I can count on my fingers and toes the number of times we've used the third row; it remains folded down most of the time to maximize cargo space. But on several occasions, like when my daughter gathered more than three friends for an after-school ride to the mall, we needed that extra seating capacity.
After our girls go away to college, though, we won't need it. And that's the point of the new two-row 2025 Mazda CX-70, which joins the nearly identical three-row Mazda CX-90 in the automaker's SUV lineup. To differentiate the two models, the CX-70 has unique styling plus wheel, color, and trim modifications to make it look sportier. Choosing between the vehicles comes down to the CX-90's third-row seat and your design preferences.
Both are appealing SUVs, especially if your travel plans involve paved rather than dirt surfaces.
Christian Wardlaw
2025 Mazda CX-70 Prices Straddle the Mainstream and Luxury Markets
When buying a 2025 Mazda CX-70, your first decision is choosing a powertrain. The CX-70 3.3 Turbo and 3.3 Turbo S feature a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six-cylinder engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. Your alternative is the CX-70 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), which offers an estimated 26 miles of electric-only driving range before a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rumbles to life, operating the SUV as a traditional hybrid.
Preferred, Premium, and Premium Plus trim levels are available, and base prices range from the low $40,000s to the high $50,000s, including the destination charge to ship the SUV from the Hofu, Japan, factory that builds it to your local dealership. As of publication, customers who lease a CX-70 PHEV get $7,500 in lease customer cash to help make the monthly payment more affordable.
For this CX-70 review, I test-drove two versions of the SUV in the Palm Springs, California, area. The 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus had extra-cost Soul Red paint and a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $58,000 (including the $1,455 destination charge), while the PHEV Premium Plus had optional Polymetal Gray paint and an MSRP of $59,355, including destination.
Mazda provided the vehicles for this CX-70 review and paid for lodging, meals, and experiences during the evaluation period.
Christian Wardlaw
Minor Styling and Interior Changes Compared With the CX-90
Thanks to front and rear styling changes, a unique grille design, and black rather than chrome trim elements, the CX-70 looks sporty and slightly smaller than the grander and more upscale CX-90. Each model also comes with exclusive paint and interior colors.
Aside from the details, the CX-70 and CX-90 are alike. That means the CX-70's interior has a driver-focused layout and features quality materials. However, the more expensive versions come with soft-touch lower dashboard and door panels to make them more convincing alternatives to luxury-brand models.
Drivers face classic Mazda instrumentation that conveys information without confusion, and most CX-70s have a 12.3-inch digital display. To the right, nestled into the dashboard like a chunk of toffee in milk chocolate, you'll find the 12.3-inch Mazda Connect infotainment screen.
Christian Wardlaw
The Mazda Connect display is touch sensitive when using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, the CX-70 has Alexa Built-in technology, dramatically improving the voice-recognition capability over previous Mazda Connect systems. These features make Mazda's infotainment system significantly easier to use. For other Mazda Connect functions, there is a control knob and main menu buttons on the center console, where you'll also find a stereo volume knob.
Below the infotainment screen, a climate control panel provides traditional controls, making them the simplest of all the interfaces in the SUV. You'll find more switchgear on the steering wheel for altering the data on the instrumentation display, activating the driver-assistance systems, and adjusting the stereo.
The CX-70 has a fussy electronic shifter. As I discovered, it is too easy to place it in reverse instead of park, open the door, and take your foot off the brake pedal. When I did that, the CX-70 assumed I'd made a mistake and automatically put the SUV into park while giving me a warning message on the digital instrument panel.
As with most e-shifters, the design seems like a problem waiting to happen.
Christian Wardlaw
The Mazda CX-70 Has Plenty of Room for People and Cargo
Comfort is good in both rows of seats, and the upholstery in each test vehicle was of high quality. I found the CX-70's driver's seat supportive after hours behind the wheel, and the sliding and reclining rear seat feels roomy and comfortable. Given the CX-70's capable handling, the front seats would benefit from more substantial bolstering.
Both test vehicles had ventilated front seats to combat the California desert heat effectively, and the triple-zone automatic climate control system kept cabin temperatures down in weather approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I didn't need the test vehicles' heated front and rear seats or the heated steering wheel, but I'm sure they're cozy in the winter.
Road tripping is the CX-70's forte, thanks to its large and accommodating cargo area. Mazda says the SUV has 39.6 cubic-feet of space behind the back seat, and since the CX-70 ditches the CX-90's third row, you get a large storage area underneath the load floor. Fold the rear seats down, and the CX-70 provides 75.3 cu-ft of maximum cargo space.
Christian Wardlaw
Small-item storage within the cabin could be more generous. A wireless smartphone charging pad is available forward of the transmission shifter, and there are pockets on each lower door panel. Aside from the cupholders, the only spots to stash stuff are the glove compartment and the bin under the split-top center armrest. Rear-seat passengers face similar restrictions.
Mazda offers numerous utility-related accessories for the CX-70, including a retractable awning perfect for parking at the edge of the sand on a work-from-beach day. Thanks to the Wi-Fi hot-spot access and the 150-watt power outlet with Premium Plus trim, you can actually work while wiggling your toes in the sand.
2025 CX-70 Mazda Connect Improvements Enhance Usability
Mazda's reluctance to allow drivers to use a touchscreen while driving is noble in its quest to reduce distraction. Unfortunately, the resulting reliance on center console controls and the hand-eye coordination required between them and the static display screen are equally distracting.
The company's voice-recognition technology was of little help in bypassing the use of the controls to operate the display. In effect, Mazda forced drivers to use unnatural and disappointing interfaces in a Google and Apple smartphone world.
Christian Wardlaw
Recently, Mazda has relented a bit, adding touchscreen control to its Mazda Connect infotainment system when you're using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Starting with the 2025 CX-70, Mazda adds an Alexa Built-in digital assistant, dramatically improving Mazda Connect's voice-recognition capabilities.
Adding Alexa Built-in is a game changer. The technology responded quickly and accurately to each of my evaluation commands, eliminating the frustration caused by the system's previous voice-recognition system.
The CX-70's 12-speaker Bose system sounded terrific when listening to tracks from a USB thumb drive. Comparatively, music streamed via Pandora internet radio lacked the same degree of clarity but still sounded better than expected.
Christian Wardlaw
2025 Mazda CX-70 Safety Features Keep the SUV Competitive
Mazda is stepping up its game on the advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) front. Every CX-70 includes the safety features you expect in a modern midsize SUV. As you work your way up the trim-level ladder, you get even more driver-assistance and collision-avoidance tech.
All but the base trim have several steering-assistance systems. They include Cruising & Traffic Support, which pairs the standard adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering assist system to provide a semi-autonomous driving system. It also includes an Unresponsive Driver Support system that can detect when a driver might be asleep or suffering a medical emergency and bring the SUV to a safe stop.
In addition, active collision prevention systems include Blind Spot Assist, Emergency Lane Keeping with Road Keep Assist, and Head-on Traffic Avoidance Assist. Some versions of the CX-70 also have Turning Across Path Alert and Brake, an intersection assist technology.
The Cruising & Traffic Support system worked well on two-lane highways and multiple-lane freeways during testing. I also experienced the steering input and warnings from the Emergency Lane Keeping system when I allowed the CX-70 to get too close to the edge of the pavement while driving across a lonely stretch of desert. All other ADAS work as advertised and expected, and I liked how the digital instrumentation and Active Driving Display show when a vehicle is in the SUV's blind spots.
With the CX-70, Mazda introduces a new Trailer Hitch View feature. The SUV's maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, and Mazda expects CX-70 buyers to use it, so the company is making it easier to line up the hitch with a trailer. Trailer Hitch View is part of the available surround-view camera system, which is standard with Premium Plus trim.
Christian Wardlaw
Mazda Equips the CX-70 with a Turbocharged Inline-Six or Plug-In Hybrid Power
Mazda offers a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline six-cylinder engine in the CX-70 3.3 Turbo models. It makes 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. Upgrade to a 3.3 Turbo S, and the engine supplies 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. An eight-speed automatic transmission powers all four wheels through a standard all-wheel-drive system that biases power delivery to the CX-70's rear axle. A 48-volt hybrid system helps to maximize fuel efficiency.
Choose the CX-70 PHEV, and you'll get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a 68-kilowatt electric motor, and a 17.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack. These drivetrain components produce 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The PHEV uses the same automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system as the 3.3 Turbo models, and its electrified powertrain increases the base curb weight from 4,709 to 5,198 pounds.
Mazda claims the 3.3 Turbo gets 24/28/25 mpg city/highway/combined. The automaker also says the PHEV can travel an estimated 26 miles on electricity and return 25 mpg in city/highway combined driving when driven as a gas-electric hybrid using its four-cylinder engine. Both versions offer Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, with an added EV mode for the PHEV.
Christian Wardlaw
During my testing, the 3.3 Turbo S averaged 23.5 mpg. The PHEV traveled 32 miles on electricity at a consumption rate of 2.6 miles per kWh, exceeding the 26-mile range estimate. That included an approximate 1,000-foot descent from Desert Hot Springs to Indian Wells. The CX-70 PHEV averaged 30.8 mpg, including using the fully charged battery.
Expect a Firm Ride, Confident Handling, and Modest Off-Roading Capability
Mazdas are typically fun to drive, and over the past decade the automaker has strived to move the brand into the nebulous space between mass-market and luxury brands commonly referred to as premium. The CX-70's firm ride and lack of expected refinement are noticeable, however, especially when compared with the BMW X5 and Lexus RX. Mazda cites those as two of the CX-70's competitors.
Since Mazda doesn't offer an adaptive damping suspension for the CX-70 and the heavy 21-inch wheels that are standard on nearly all versions of the SUV wear 275/45R-21 tires, you feel plenty of road shock. Depending on the surface, the CX-70 can feel almost jittery, and I was surprised by the amount of road noise in a vehicle targeting luxury-brand models.
Even with the heavier PHEV model, however, those big wheels and tires and the taut suspension tuning made driving the Palms to Pines Highway plenty of fun.
Christian Wardlaw
It's a harrowing road, though, and the margin for error is often slim. During my drive, a large truck appeared from around a blind curve just as I slipped past a vehicle that had pulled onto a narrow shoulder. That's when I discovered Mazda has blessed the CX-70 with razor-sharp steering that allows a driver to make fine adjustments with accuracy and confidence.
In addition to unexpectedly loud road noise, the CX-70's powertrains are less refined than expected. I like the 3.3 Turbo's growl when accelerating, but there's also a granular sensation in the power delivery absent from the silky turbocharged BMW inline-six. Mazda's PHEV powertrain felt smoother, but the four-cylinder engine's note was unpleasant.
With either Mazda powertrain, the performance is decent. They produce impressive power, but the CX-70 models aren't light, stunting their ability to push you deeply into the seat when accelerating.
With up to 8.1 inches of ground clearance and an Off-Road driving mode, the CX-70 can venture off the pavement. As with any crossover SUV, though, you've got to be careful with ruts, rocks, and dips. Stick to smoother surfaces, and the AWD system's rear power-delivery bias can make you smile when powering through kinks in the trail.
Christian Wardlaw
Mazda Hits the Mark Where Value, Upscale Style, and Driving Enjoyment Intersect
During my test drive, Mazda brought the BMW X5, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Lexus RX to show that these three midsize two-row SUVs are the top competitors of the CX-70. Price-wise, the Jeep and Mazda overlap, with the Grand Cherokee excelling off-road and the CX-70 mastering pavement. Compared with the BMW and Lexus, the Mazda provides outstanding style and value in exchange for refinement.
I liked driving both versions of the CX-70. But I love to drive, and I welcome the CX-70's communicative ride, capable handling, and the sounds and sensations of the underlying hardware at work. Many people in the CX-70's target market might wish for more ride compliance, greater isolation, and a quieter cabin at highway speeds. Otherwise, they'll find plenty to like in the new Mazda CX-70.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Christian WardlawChris says his first word was "car." For as long as he can remember, he's been obsessed with them. The design. The engineering. The performance. And the purpose. He is a car enthusiast who loves to drive, but is most passionate about the cars, trucks, and SUVs that people actually buy. He began his career as the editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s, and for more than 30 years has created automotive content for CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, the New York Daily News, and others. Chris owns Speedy Daddy Media, has been contributing to Capital One Auto Navigator since 2019, and lives in California with his wife, kids, dog, and 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata.
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