
Mazda is known for making vehicles that are fun to drive – remember the Zoom Zoom campaign? The all-new CX-70 has arguably the best handing in the midsize SUV segment, and also boasts a high-end and spacious cabin and good fuel economy. Like many other midsize SUVs, the CX-70 isn’t quite as nice as the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, and its price is higher than some rivals, but it’s still one of the best in the class.
Base Price: $55,950
As Tested: $57,775
Horsepower: 340
Mileage: 23 mpg city/28 mpg highway/25 mpg combined
The five-passenger CX-70 is new for the 2025 model year. It’s a two-row crossover, equal in size to the CX-90 which has three rows.
The 2025 CX-70 comes in five trims: 3.3 Turbo Preferred, 3.3 Turbo Premium, 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus, 3.3 Turbo S Premium, and 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus. Starting prices range from $40,445 to $55,950. All-wheel drive is standard on all trims.
The CX-70 is also available as a plug-in hybrid which will be reviewed separately. The two trims, PHEV Premium and PHEV Premium Plus, start at $54,400 and $57,450, respectively.
The base engine on the gas-powered CX-70 Turbo trims is a 3.3-liter inline six-cylinder that makes 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. A beefier turbo version is available on the S Premium and S Premium Plus trims. This engine cranks out 340 horses and 369 pound-feet. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic with manual-shift mode.
With either engine, the CX-70 has zippy handling for a mainstream midsize SUV, and it even rivals the performance of some luxury brands. It’s easy to forget that you’re behind the wheel of a long and tall vehicle that weighs about 4,900 pounds. Acceleration is brisk and there’s plenty of power for merging and passing at highway speeds. The eight-speed shifts smoothly and quickly, although sometimes it may linger in a higher gear a bit longer than necessary to enhance fuel economy. Steering and brakes are responsive, and the CX-70 also corners well with little body lean. Mazda says that its Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) technology suppresses body lift on tight corners to enhance stability. The ride is firmer than most midsize SUVs which means you’ll feel some bumps and rough roads, but that’s a decent tradeoff for something this fun to drive. Overall, the CX-70 is livelier than just about anything in the mainstream.
When properly equipped, the CX-70 can tow up to 3,500 or 5,000 pounds, depending on the trim.
Fuel economy is good for the class. EPA ratings for my tester are 23 mpg city and 28 mpg highway with a combined rating of 25. I got 25 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Premium fuel is recommended for optimal performance with the more potent turbo engine.
The cabin is high-end and rivals what you’d find in a luxury vehicle. Luxe materials include leather, suede and wood trim. Everything looks and feels well-made. Front seats are supportive and comfortable. Seats in the second row aren’t quite as supportive but still good for longer trips. Taller passengers in both rows enjoy good leg- and headroom. The rear seats recline, making it easy to get comfortable. The second-row seats also slide and tilt, making it easy to access the cargo area.
Standard features include remote start, keyless entry, pushbutton start, rearview camera, three-zone automatic climate control with pollen filter, leather seating, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support, four-way power adjustable passenger seat, heated front seats, reclining rear seats, 7-inch LCD meter display, 12.3-inch digital display, eight-speaker audio system, HD Radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, four USB-C inputs, voice command, Pandora internet radio integration, wireless device charging, text message functionality, wireless device charging, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic high beam control, roof rails, heated side mirrors, 12V power outlet, second row retractable window sunshades, and a power sliding glass moonroof with tilt feature.
Available features include a surround-view camera system, 12.3-inch digital instrument display, 12-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, satellite radio, Wi-Fi hot spot, and Amazon Alexa integration.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, evasive-steering assist (will help steer the vehicle to avoid a crash), pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, driver-attention monitoring, vehicle exit warning, and rear-seat alert.
Available driver assistance technologies include lane-centering assist, lane-change assist, traffic-jam assist (controls braking, acceleration and steering at slow speeds), head-on collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, emergency stop assist (can slow and stop the car in case if the driver is unresponsive), traffic-sign recognition, speed-limit assist, front cross-traffic alert, front cross-traffic automatic braking, and reverse automatic emergency braking.
The infotainment system is a combination display and touchscreen. It looks good with its large 12.3-inch display and sharp graphics, and the system responds quickly to commands. The touchscreen only works when you have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay engaged. Otherwise, the system is controlled with a dial and buttons on the center console between the front and passenger seats. It’s easy to get the hang of operating the system with some practice, but the touchscreen can be tough to reach while driving. I ended up using the rotary dial and buttons most of the time.
Cargo space is cavernous with 39.6 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place and 75.3 cubes with the second row folded. The rear seats are 60/40-split-folding, providing flexibility in hauling passengers and cargo. A hands-free power liftgate is standard on the Premium, Premium Plus, S Premium, and S Premium Plus trims.
The good:
Excellent performance for a midsize SUV
Dynamic handling
Good fuel economy for the class
Upscale and spacious cabin
Lots of cargo space
Many standard and available features and tech
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Transmission can be slow to downshift
Clunky infotainment system is a combo of a display and touchscreen
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $55,950. Melting Copper Metallic Paint is $450. The delivery fee is $1,375, bringing the grand total to $57,775.
Bottom line:
The all-new 2025 Mazda CX-70 is fun to drive, has an upscale cabin, and comes well-equipped. It has a ton of space, since it’s basically the size of a three-row crossover that has two rows of seating. It’s well worth a look for anyone shopping for a midsize crossover.