2025 Mazda CX-70 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus

Like many other vehicle lines, Mazda’s lineup has gotten bigger throughout the years. For example, the Mazda CX-7, produced from 2006 to 2012, was a small crossover with two rows, a decent amount of space, and a lot of technology. But now, the CX-70 has stepped in to take its place and fills its tiny shoes with ease.

A Spacious and Cozy Interior

There’s really no other way to describe the Mazda CX-70’s interior as spacious and cozy. The Japanese automaker has mastered the art of crafting upscale interiors and the CX-70 is no exception. Sit in the CX-70 and you’ll like wonder why anyone would even think about a Mercedes-Benz. Of course, I have to mention that my test car for the week was a top-trim 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus, so it had everything on the menu.

There are soft-touch surfaces on the dash and door panels, which includes Alcantara suede for a rich look. The seats are covered in a quilted Nappa leather and the overall design is modern and simple. The front seats are power-adjustable and the rear seats are reclinable, which should bring some relief to anyone sitting back there. The rear seat passengers even have their own climate controls and heated outboard seats.

In terms of storage space, the CX-70 has a lot of little storage compartments throughout the cabin and a large center console area. There are even storage spot and cupholders in the cargo area, since that’s where the third would be. Speaking of the cargo area, it’s cavernous and measures 39.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 75.3 cubes with them folded.

By comparison, the Toyota Land Cruiser has 37.5 cubic feet and the Kia Telluride has 46 cubic feet behind its second row and it’s a genuine three-row SUV. That shows just how large the CX-70’s cargo hold is. It also has buttons to fold down the second row remotely as well as a household outlet back there.

Technology

As for technology, Mazda outfitted the CX-70 with everything you need, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch infotainment display, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a 12.3-inch configurable driver information display, auto climate control, and heated/ventilated seats. The powered tailgate also has hands-free operation, which works well when your hands are filled with grocery bags or other cargo.

The only bone I have to pick with Mazda is the car’s infotainment controls. Yes, the infotainment screen is a touch screen, but only at low speeds or when stopped. Otherwise, you have to use the knob on the center console to navigate through the menus. It’s annoying and cumbersome to use while driving. Sure, I did get used to a little after driving the car for a few days, but the function still isn’t intuitive.

A Powerful and Efficient Engine

Mazda made two different versions of the CX70 – a mild-hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. My tester was the former, so it came equipped with a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six that’s assisted by a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The combination produces 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to tow up to 5,000 pounds. The powertrain is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission helps send all the power through the car’s i-ACTIV AWD system.

The whole powertrain is smooth in its operation, except when it’s cold, and fairly fuel efficient. The EPA rates the CX-70 at 23 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. During my week of testing, I achieved an average of 25 mpg with my combination of highway and city driving. And while the powertrain is smooth, it’s also very coarse-sounding under hard acceleration, which isn’t exactly a soft tune to my car enthusiast ears. But it gets the job done nonetheless.

The Mazda CX-70’s ride is also very comfortable, but I did detect a slight harshness when going over road imperfections and speed bumps. It’s not jarring, but it is a little stiff, which is means it’s likely tuned for a sportier driving experience like all of Mazda’s vehicles. Other vehicles, like the Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander, offer a more cushy ride.

Lastly, there are a few different drive modes to make the experience more fuel-efficient or sportier. The different modes don’t do much aside from making the throttle more or less responsive and changing the graphics on the instrument panel.

An Elegant Exterior

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 has a bold and elegant exterior with the same design language used on its stablemates. There’s a large black grille up front flanked by sleek LED headlights, large 21-inch wheels, and slim LED taillights in the rear.

The SUV is easy to get in and out of in both rows and the rear bumper has a low lift height for easy cargo loading. Additionally, all four doors unlock with the touch of the driver’s side door handle, which is a huge convenience.

Safety and Convenience

In addition to all the technology that the Mazda CX-70 has, it’s also straddled with a plethora of safety features. Some of them include radar cruise control, blind-spot monitors, a rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree monitor. Some of the more advanced safety features include the Cruising and Traffic Support system, which helps keep the car on the road and in between the lines, as well as the new Unresponsive Driver Support system, which automatically slows and stops the vehicle if the system detects that the driver is unresponsive.

Summary

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 is an excellent value for anyone in need of a large SUV, but without the need for a third row. The CX-70 is classy and sophisticated, with all of the technology most drivers need. Although, it can be a little pricey. The base model starts at $40,445 and stepping up the five-trim levels leads to top-trim price of $55,950.

My tester for the week rang in at $57,775 after the destination charge and extra $450 charge for the Polymetal Gray paint job. Overall, the Mazda CX-70 may be larger than the CX-7 it replaced, but its size and solid features set are par for the two-row SUV course.