I Don’t Entirely Understand the 2025 Mazda CX-70 — and That’s OK

To do my job as an automotive journalist effectively requires a delicate balance between objectivity and subjectivity.

In fairness, it skews heavily towards the former; but the latter makes up more than a small portion of the average vehicle evaluation. After all, a lot of it comes down to experience and interpretation – cutting through the crap to provide an unvarnished picture of what a vehicle actually delivers, and how that might compare to what else is out there.

But when it comes to the 2025 Mazda CX-70, I’m stumped. Because this SUV isn’t just based on the three-row CX-90 that was introduced last year – it’s virtually a carbon copy, except with no third row.

Now, far be it for me to make presumptions about who might be in the market for one of these; but I also happen to land right in the meaty part of Mazda’s target segment of shoppers: dual-income household, no kids, and a fairly active lifestyle. Yet as far as five-seaters are concerned, I fail to see what this sport utility offers that can’t be achieved with the smaller – and cheaper – CX-50, or the wagon-like Subaru Outback.

OK, that’s not exactly fair; after all, the CX-70 is quite a bit bigger than both of those entries. It also has some fancy fundamentals aimed at elevating the drive experience – although even those aren’t without their flaws.

Like a 3-Row, But Not

The trouble is what this SUV brings to the table – or, more accurately, what it doesn’t. Just to be clear, space isn’t the issue, with all kinds of cargo room inside. That includes more than 1,100 L behind the back seats, which is better than what’s in both the CX-50 (889 L) and Outback (923 L), albeit barely so.

For a bit of context, that’s about half a Honda Civic trunk’s worth of extra space, which isn’t especially significant. More interesting, though, is the 2,147 L that’s opened up with the rear seats folded, which is only a couple big pop bottles more than what the Outback offers. (That’s in the base, CX-70, by the way; the panoramic sunroof in the rest of the lineup drops that number to 2,132 L.)

Then there’s the issue of the rear seats, which weren’t reconfigured or otherwise altered to optimize the passenger space in this newly minted five-seat sport utility. Heck, I’d even like to see the CX-90’s second-row captain’s chairs offered optionally here, but Mazda opted against it.

Either way, it’s not a question of rear-seat space, with a good amount to go around. Rather, there’s barely anything achieved by the CX-70 that its aesthetically identical sibling can’t do with its third-row bench folded into the floor. Sure, there’s some extra underfloor storage here, but that only exists to fill the space that would be otherwise occupied by the CX-90’s third-row seating components.

But therein lies the lingering problem for me. Because third-row seats can be stowed out of sight until the rare occasion they might be needed, but extra occupancy can’t be added after the fact. If I’m buying a vehicle this big, it’s going to be the one that’s the most useful in the most situations.

So Who’s It For?

But then Mazda’s people are convinced these SUVs have entirely different appeal, similarities be damned. According to Martin Medina, the automaker’s product planning manager for the Canadian market, part of it is a perceived sportiness for the CX-70, with black exterior accents and an available red interior that contrasts with the CX-90’s more elegant presentation. More simply, though, it comes down to space.

“We’re using the large platform because we want to use the space,” he said in an interview.

Medina also shared an anecdotal story about his brother, who raved about the styling of the CX-90 but wasn’t interested in owning one specifically because it was a three-row. When he saw the CX-70, however, he sent Medina a simple message: “When is this available?"

California Cruising

With journalists and influencers alike converging on California‘s Coachella Valley to drive the CX-70 for the first time, my girlfriend and I decided to take full advantage of our childless lifestyle by spending a long weekend exploring the desert with the help of a perfectly painted example of Mazda’s newest SUV. And in spite of my complaints, the more time I spent behind the wheel, the more I found myself enjoying the CX-70. While far from perfect, it’s an oddly enchanting SUV to drive.

Let’s start with the good stuff. Those engineering fundamentals I mentioned earlier play outsized roles in enhancing the drive experience, including the rear-biased all-wheel drive system that uses a few fancy tricks to optimize torque distribution for a sophisticated, upmarket feel. That’s teamed with inversely mounted engines – as opposed to the transverse layout that’s more common in the segment – including an inline six-cylinder configuration that’s renowned for its smoothness and balance.

Unfortunately, the ignition stop-start system that’s paired with it is prone to shutting the engine off and back on again at inopportune times, leaving the sensation of the occasional loss of power when it does. Add to that an eight-speed automatic transmission that fires off the occasional clunky shift, and the drivetrain isn’t as smooth as it could – or should – be given the straight-six power. (The plug-in hybrid setup isn’t as troubled, but those transmission issues still crop up from time to time.)

Those issues aside, the CX-70 is a pleasant cruising companion, remaining composed on the winding canyon roads that snake their way through the area east of Los Angeles. While there’s a bit of body roll to contend with, it’s no worse than what’s typical of an SUV this size. It also doesn’t overshadow what’s a nimble and engaging experience from behind the wheel.

Even casual cruising comes naturally to this Mazda – looking past the drivetrain issues, of course. Crawling along the labyrinth of highways connecting California’s Inland Empire to Metro Los Angeles during the morning rush is hardly enjoyable, but it was certainly made easier by the CX-70’s relaxed-yet-responsive demeanour.

The only sore spot was a literal one: the comfort of the front seats, which was put to the test during the more than three-hour drive to Los Angeles International Airport, and it ultimately failed. Both of us were squirming and fidgeting in feeble attempts to fend off cramping after only a couple hours on the road.

Final Thoughts

If it wasn’t clear by now, the 2025 Mazda CX-70 is more than a bit of a mixed bag. Looking at it entirely impartially, the persistent powertrain issues are more than an annoyance and interrupt an otherwise seamless drive experience that’s oddly alluring and enjoyable. Surely, part of it comes down to the premium-derived underpinnings, which lend a level of refinement and sophistication to this sport utility.

More generally, though, it’s an SUV that’s oversized for the sake of it, which wouldn’t normally be a problem if it wasn’t for the number of seats inside. Ultimately, that makes it a bit like buying an oven that bakes but doesn’t broil. What the CX-70 achieves is no different than its CX-90 sibling can with its third-row seats folded. That gives the latter an edge for empty nesters who might shuttle the grandkids around on occasion, or even for a dual-income household like mine where kids aren’t part of the equation.

None of that means this Mazda isn’t worthy of consideration alongside other two-row SUVs out there. Ultimately, it’s up to each and every shopper to decide on their own where the CX-70 fits on their shortlist – if it fits at all.

As for me, well, I’m still a bit perplexed. Imperfect though it may be, the Mazda CX-70 has its own sort of appeal. While it doesn’t do enough to be different from the three-row CX-90, nor does it offer much more space than the more affordable Subaru Outback, it has moments of driving joy together with head-scratching shortcomings that leave me with more questions than answers.