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.