This fashionable and pretty SUV is upscale, but lacks practicality
2025 Mazda CX-70 review by The Road Beat
Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman
Another new model from Mazda in the midst of their current blitz of SUVs, this CX-70 has all the same excellent strengths of its stablemates, but also has one glaring problem that also makes it pointless. Costing about $58,000 for this highly-endowed 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus, that's certainly a sizable dent on your bank account for 'just a Mazda.' As the pictures will undoubtedly show, though, this is an SUV that easily earns its price tag, but there is no reason to choose the CX-70 over their perpetually more practical and nigh idtenical CX-90.
You might be wondering why I'm being so bluntly critical of the CX-70, especially considering just how gorgeous this machine is inside and out, boasting an unmatched level of luxury from any Japanese contemporaries sake for Lexus (an actual, and more expensive, luxury brand). The reality is that the CX-70 lacks justification and has little cause for existing, because Mazda's own and mechanically identical CX-90 is the correct choice for any practical thinking human considering this class of large vehicle. Put simply, this is a big, full-size SUV, but it doesn't have any additional third-row seating. Without those extra seats in the back, what is the point of having a vehicle so vast? We're talking about an SUV that's 201" long and 78" wide; This sucker is big. And even if you don't have kids, having those extra seats does come in handy increasingly often than one would think, like when going places with friends and being able to easily carpool. Or if you do have kids and you're driving both them and their friends around. Point I'm making is, even if you don't have immediate plans for use of that third-row, it's so nice to have just in case, and that's a luxury all on its own.
Given the choice between the two, the CX-90 with three rows and the CX-70 with only two, why would you choose the 70 and limit yourself and its practical potential? There's no price difference after all, and they look nearly indistinguishable. Doubling down on my point, the cargo area in the rear is also unchanged between the two if the 90's seats are folded away flat, with each having the same 40 cubic feet of storage.
Apart from obvious detractor to the CX-70, the rest of this new model is more or less identical to the CX-90. When optioned like this example, the interior looks and feel rich with attention given almost everywhere. An example would be the doors closing with a hollow knock rather than an authoritative thud are perhaps the standout way of revealing the Mazda's reasonably attainable price, but the rest is rather exquisite in what is now becoming 'typical Mazda' fashion, attention being paid to the lush dash coverings and svelte leather seats. You simply won't believe the quality and luxury Mazda offers until you try one out for yourself; You won't want to get inside a Toyota ever again.
Dynamics are another continual strength of Mazdas, and just like the CX-90, this CX-70 has an athleticism that reveals itself from the moment you first turn the weighted and meaty steering. With a degree of body control and balance that defies typical convention, this is a sweetly capable and handling SUV that is simply a joy to be behind the wheel of. What's also nice is the fact Mazda engineers are again able to create a car that's fun to drive, but also comfortable without any harshness to the ride quality. To acheive this level of cornering prowess, the ride quality is firmer than rivals, but the tradeoff is worth it and the ride is still comfortable. I did think the steering on this example had a little bit of extra play right on-center, displaying a nervousness of a dead zone, but that may be down to an alignment issue.
Another large talking point with the new CX-70/90 is the introduction of a new and turbocharged inline-six cylinder engine, pumping out 340 horsepower in this Turbo S configuration. This power unit revs with silky precision and makes dutiful punch to go along with the satisfying and authentic growl when you dig your right foot deep into the floor, which is far and away increasingly appealing and satisfying compared to grainy four-banger alternatives that are the unfortunate norm for others. Gas mileage is also improved upon their weaker and smaller four-cylinder engines, returning 23 MPG overall after a week, though a CX-90 with the same powerplant returned a commendable 26 MPG even during a week tour.
But, and this is a rather large and possibly deal-breaking aspect, but for some and even myself, the low speed civility of this engine is compromised, with delayed responses and a gruff culture that undermines the inherent smoothness of the inline-six and luxurious nature of the car. It's just kind of sad how frequently lost the engine and transmission both get at low speed, most obviously during transitions from either braking or coasting at a walking pace, like in traffic or navigating a parking lot, but this is a trait I've noticed less noticeably at times in the CX-90 before and more prevalently in this latest CX-70. Unfortunately, this problem makes the engine and car on the whole almost seem unfinished, and it's disappointing to report because of how good the rest of the car truly is. Maybe others and yourself will never notice it and I'm just looking at it too much under a microscope, but this unfortunate characteristic needs to be ironed out to really take advantage of the potential of the inline-six.
Reaching the end of this review, this really is an assessment of the CX-90 instead of the CX-70, because with its extra seats in the rear, that's the one you should be choosing. I don't know the reasoning for releasing the CX-70 since it's not any smaller, only less practical. The same strengths are there, but so are the same frustrating weaknesses, exacerbated extra just because it lacks the included convenience of the three-row CX-90's additional seating. Other brands also sell standard SUVs and then also a less practical 'coupe' version, like the BMW X5 and X6 twins, but those actually at least look different; Cover up the badges here, and most won't know they're different cars from the 70 and 90.
Mazda also sells both their new SUVs as a plug-in hybrid four-cylinder, but I would best avoid that option since it doesn't achieve any noticeable gains in fuel economy and the four-cylinder is a coarse and groaning herky-jerky nightmare. The CX-70 and 90 offer a great glimpse and promise for Mazda and their next generation of vehicles, but please forget about this CX-70 and only consider the 90. The first time or even only you ever use the third-row, you'll be thankful that you did.
2025 Mazda CX-70 Turbo S Premium Plus
As-tested price: About $58,000
Starting price: About $41,000
Pros: A-list interior and exterior; Inline-six noises; Deft handling
Cons: Engine stutters at low speed; Huge yet no third-row
Full image gallery below:
Thank you for reading our 2025 Mazda CX-70 review from The Road Beat. All photos by mitchellweitzmanphoto.com. If you enjoyed our honest and unfiltered take on cars, please subscribe!
Comments