I Finally Found a Mazda I Like! Why the Mazda CX-70 Is Its Best SUV

The all-new CX-70 does a major course correction for the Mazda SUV lineup

When you review upwards of 60 vehicles a year, you can get a little cynical and certainly take things for granted. That being said, nearly every brand-new vehicle I get delivered to me to drive is good, but some are better than others. One brand in particular, which I receive frequently, often leaves me more disappointed than others. That brand is Mazda. Now, let me preface this by saying that Mazda still mostly holds up to its reputation of having fun-to-drive vehicles, but since shifting away from cars, except the always peppy and always fun Miata, the SUV lineup has been underwhelming.

That all changed for me recently when I was provided the 2025 Mazda CX-70 to drive. This is the first year for this midsize SUV, and I went in with low expectations. However, I drove it on a small road trip, and with each mile logged, my prejudice changed.

My issue with Mazdas

Overall, my biggest issue with the Mazda lineup is not with the performance, but with the interior – specifically the technology and infotainment system. In each and every Mazda, the infotainment system has been the same. It’s a rotary knob based system without a touchscreen, and multiple turns of the dial are needed to navigate the system. It’s not driver-friendly, especially if you’re driving. This entire system is outdated, and it was already outdated when it was launched. There is hope, however, as the reveal of the 2026 Mazda CX-5 shows off a 15-inch touchscreen system that appears to eliminate this confounding rotary knob. I’m glad to see this, and hopefully, Mazda can usher in this for the CX-70 with the upcoming model year updates. If they do that, the CX-70 will be that much better.

How to overcome the clunky Mazda infotainment system in the CX-70

Two words, well, really three words: Apple CarPlay. It is true that the Mazda infotainment system doesn’t have a touchscreen. But if you connect your iPhone and run CarPlay, that system takes over, and its interface is far superior. The CX-70 has wireless CarPlay, too, meaning that no cord is needed. Connecting my iPhone was simple, too, and once it loaded, running directions, music, and taking calls made me forget about the shortcomings of Mazda. Then I could focus on the positives of the CX-70.

What are the positives of the 2026 Mazda CX-70?

Remember back in the day when Mazda’s marketing moniker was Zoom Zoom? Well, in the turbocharged engine of the CX-70, there’s plenty of zoom zoom. The 3.3-liter turbocharged inline six cylinder has plenty of zoom to it with 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. There is a non-turbo version of the same engine that has less zoom with only 280 horsepower. As tested, my CX-70 with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission had tremendous driving dynamics. Mazda’s engineers achieve this with a hybrid system that boosts the performance, dubbed M-Hybrid Boost.

Mazda’s improved interior

Perhaps following some of the other competition, Mazda has recently made a noticeable sway toward more refined interiors. This is a good thing. I don’t expect luxurious touchpoints in a brand like Mazda. In fact, I prefer keeping those unnecessary things to a minimum to keep the price down, but I also don’t want outdated interiors or hard plastic materials inside.

Make no mistake, the CX-70 is void of any of that. It is focused on comfort. Most notable is the available red Nappa leather that is coupled with red stitch detailing throughout the cabin. I’m not used to a Mazda looking that nice, but I can sure get used to it.

“The Mazda CX-70 is just the CX-90 without the third row“

I read this in a review about the CX-70, and while it’s clever, it’s not exactly accurate. Sure, there are only two rows (thankfully), but I’ve also driven the CX-90, and I can say that the CX-70 is better than the CX-90. The dimensions of the two are equal at 84.9 inches wide and 201.6 inches long, with a wheelbase of 122.8 inches. The way the CX-70 drives and handles feels more agile and athletic, and it probably comes down to weight. The CX-90, which is a true PHEV, has a little more weight at 5,168 pounds compared to the 4,863 pounds of the CX-70 Turbo. Those couple of hundred pounds make a difference in its performance (plus that turbo). There’s not yet a PHEV CX-70, but Mazda promises that it is coming.

What’s the point of a third-row SUV?

I guess if you have a large family and want to put the most annoying member of your family in the third row, then they have a point. But otherwise, the obsession over the last 15 years with three-row SUVs over minivans has befuddled me. The third row in the CX-90 is almost unusable for an adult. Lose that third row and you get the CX-70 in its vast cargo room and more spacious-feeling cabin.

The numbers don’t lie. The CX-70 has 39.6 cubic feet of cargo room behind its rear seats, while the CX-90 has a piddly 14.9 cubic feet. Sure, with all seats folded, the cargo volume is nearly the same, but honestly, how often do you need to tote around more than five passengers? Compare that to how many times you require much more than 14.9 cubic feet of cargo space. The CX-70 wins hands down in this regard.

Price and MPG of Mazda CX-70

The CX-70 I drove was the top-tier Turbo S Premium Plus with a base price of $55,950. The base trim Turbo has a starting price of $40,445. That is pretty comparable in price to the CX-90, and fuel economy for the CX-70 Turbo is 23 mpg/city and 28 mpg/highway. Again, this is comparable to the CX-90’s EPA numbers.

Final thoughts

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 is the best SUV in its lineup. Mazda is back on a good track with its SUVs, and I’d even go so far as to say that the CX-70 is the best vehicle they’ve produced with a Mazda badge, outside the Miata. I’m always a sucker for the Miata. There’s a little bit of that fun-to-drive from the Miata in the CX-70, and that’s why I finally found a Mazda (SUV) that I like.