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Bruce Newton20 Oct 2025
NEWS

Mazda abandons the chase for CX-70 and CX-90 PHEV

Now that the tax perk is gone, slow-selling SUVs lose their appeal to Mazda

The News

While other brands expand their local plug-in hybrid line-ups, Mazda has abandoned efforts to add PHEV powertrains to its CX-70 and CX-90 luxury SUVs in Australia after citing poor sales and the end of a key tax incentive.

The Key Details

  • Mazda CX-70 and CX-90 PHEV plans are now “on hold” for Australia
  • Current models will stay in the line-up if they comply with the ADR regulations
  • Mazda says adding PHEVs doesn’t make financial sense

The Finer Details

The removal of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for plug-in hybrids is one reason Mazda won’t bring PHEV versions of its CX-70 and CX-90 to Australia.

Another factor is the struggle to justify the cost of bringing Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) versions of its wide-body SUVs, which have been slow sellers. The CX-60 and CX-80 do offer PHEV options in their local line-ups.

Year-to-date Mazda has sold 547 seven-seat CX-90s and 278 five-seat CX-70s. With CX-90 numbers down by 27 per cent in 2025 and the CX-70 only launching in late 2024, there’s no year-on-year comparative data available yet.

Mazda CX-70
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The CX-70 range tops out at $91,116 for the diesel Azami, while the Azami Takumi CX-90 diesel is $95,170 (all prices plus on-road costs).

Mazda Australia managing director, Vinesh Bhindi said at this stage localising the CX-70 and CX-90 PHEV has been put “on hold”.

“We have to ask Mazda Corporation to do the engineering work for Australian Design Rule [ADR] compliance. And for the volumes that are currently there, it wouldn't make any sense.

“So, we're reserving our request at this stage, unless suddenly plug-in hybrid becomes what the consumers want,” said Mr Bhindi.

Mazda CX-90
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The Road Ahead

The bigger question is what future do the CX-70 and CX-90 have in Australia?

Australia is one of the few places where all four CX-0 models are sold and none of them have been a raging success.

The CX-60 has been progressively re-priced and had its suspension retuned twice, after the initial ambitions to tempt buyers away from European prestige brands didn’t pan out.

The CX-90 has also been re-priced since its launch.

Mr Bhindi’s argument has always been that Australia is SUV-mad, so there’s justification for bringing in every model Mazda makes available in right-hand drive.

For now, Mazda is standing firm and believes there is no threat to the CX-70 and CX-90.

“At this stage, those cars are available in right-hand drive, ADR compliant. So, we plan to continue to offer [them] as you see them now.”

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