Mazda CX-70 2025 Review
The new Mazda CX-70 large SUV has five-seats, six-cylinders and is more affordable than its seven-seat CX-90 twinMazda’s shiny new quartet of upmarket SUVs – dubbed Large Product Group SUVs – is now complete with the arrival of the CX-70. Essentially a CX-90 with the third-row seats removed, this was the most challenging vehicle for Mazda to get approved for sale in Australia because a big, burly SUV more than five metres in length with only five seats has niche appeal. But it does offer a substantial discount compared to the CX-90 when equivalent models are compared. Speaking of which, there are only two CX-70 model trims, mid-spec GT and upper-spec Azami, although like the CX-90 both come with the choice of petrol and diesel six-cylinder engines, with pricing starting just under $76,000.
How much does the Mazda CX-70 cost?
The 2025 Mazda CX-70 five-seat premium SUV is available in GT and Azami trim levels, 3.3-litre turbo-petrol (G50e) and diesel (D50e) powertrain choices and is priced from $75,970 to $84,970 plus on-road costs.
That pricing places it in the heart of the premium five-seat SUV segment lining up against opposition from the German big three such as the Audi Q5, although at 5120mm than the German’s bigger brother the Q7.
Do people really see a Mazda as rivals for these cars? If not, then perhaps less prestigious offerings like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio are more its natural foes.
Of the four all-new Large Product Group models – the others being CX-60, CX-80 and the CX-70’s closest relation, the wide body CX-90 – this vehicle has the most compact model range. That’s also because it’s forecast to be only a niche seller.
In each line-up the 254kW/500Nm petrol engines is $2000 cheaper than the 187kW/550Nm diesel. Both mate with an eight-speed auto and rear biased all-wheel drive. Like the CX-90, the CX-70 doesn’t as yet come to Australia with a plug-in hybrid option.
Azami is a considerable $7000 jump over GT.
Compared to the CX-90, the equivalent CX-70 models can be more than $10,000 cheaper. Not a bad deal for the loss of a couple of seats, although you can get into the entry-level Mazda CX-90 Touring for CX-70 GT money if you are prepared to omit some gear.
Important CX-70 exterior standard features shared across the range include 21-inch alloy wheels (albeit different designs), a panoramic sunroof, a hands-free power tailgate and adaptive LED headlights.
Inside there are dual 12.3-inch digital screens and a head up display for infotainment and instrumentation.
Features include satellite-navigation, FM/AM and digital radio tuners, plus wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Audio is pumped out via 12-speaker Bose system.
Comfort equipment includes leather seat trim, a powered steering wheel and front seats, heating for all outboard seats and the steering wheel, and Mazda has added tri-zone climate control too.
Safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking with detection of pedestrians and cyclists front and rear, turning traffic at the front and crossing traffic at the rear.
Lane keeping, blind spot and driver monitoring systems are in there, plus traffic sign recognition, a 360 overheads parking camera view, plus front and rear parking sensors are among other safety aids.
There are 10 airbags, but as yet no ANCAP rating.
Equipment added to the top-spec Azami model-grade includes higher quality black Nappa leather, front ventilated seats, ambient interior mood lighting, low speed high-traffic assist for the adaptive cruise control, a see through view for the 360 camera and some body colour cosmetics.
There’s also a $3500 SP package exclusive to Azami that includes tan Nappa leather seat trim, suede finish for the dashboard and a two-tone colour steering wheel.
Metallic paint is a $995 option for all CX-70s.
The Mazda Connected Services smartphone app provides a variety of safety and comfort features including a vehicle health check, locator, remote lock and connection to emergency services in case of an accident.
The CX-70 is protected by Mazda’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and has 12-month/15,000km servicing intervals. The capped price service schedule comes out at $3433.40 over five visits to the workshop (or an average $686 per visit) if you buy the petrol version and $3260 (or an average $652 per visit) for the diesel.
These are pretty high service costs if you’re comparing with Mazda’s mainstream rivals such as Toyota, but if you’re talking premium brands it’s more in the ballpark.
What’s good about the Mazda CX-70?
The 2025 Mazda CX-70 will appeal to people who have disposable income but no need for seven seats suggests the Japanese brand. Maybe someone whose kids have flown the nest?
This buyer is also the sort of person who wants plenty of luggage space to throw recreational and fun items in the back, like bicycles or snow skis.
On that score the CX-70 certainly delivers. There is a wealth of space for both passengers in its two seating rows and for gear in its passenger area.
Considering its long overall length (5.12m) and that the second row seat is in the exact same position as the CX-90, that’s no surprise.
In the boot there’s a claimed 589 litres up to the top of the second row seatback and 923 litres to the roof. Fold down the Euro-style 40:20:40 second row flat into the floor and it expands to a generous 2015 litres.
However, the CX-90 still has slightly more luggage space across the same measures once its third row seats are folded away.
The interior not only offers basketballer-friendly space, it also looks after them with comfortable seating and appointments including rear climate controls and USB-C plugs throughout. Storage is actually better in the backseat than the front, where a bulky centre console offers only limited opportunities.
The trim materials are soft to the touch and appealing to the eye and the whole presentation is quite minimalist and straight forward.
On the move the CX-70 GT 50e demonstrates a keen edge without being harsh. It’s got a powerful engine and responsive driving manners.
It’s not quite a GT, but you can see it’s headed that way.
Like the CX-90, its steering and suspension doesn’t feel coarse in the same way as the CX-60. And because there’s no PHEV in this line-up, transmission balkiness isn’t such an issue.
Funnily enough, while the petrol has more power it’s the diesel that feels like the engine with more oomph. It gets more torque delivered much lower in the range, which helps get things flowing with less effort.
It’s also worth noting that the CX-70 D50e is the only new-gen Mazda SUV whose diesel matches the G50e petrol’s 2500kg braked towing capacity. Because of cooling restrictions, the other three offer 2000kg.
What’s not so good about the Mazda CX-70?
We always say styling is subjective and don’t spend too much time belabouring such things in carsales reviews.
But it has to be taken into account when it comes to the 2025 Mazda CX-70. It simply isn’t differentiated enough from its Large Product Group (LPG) relations, especially the CX-90.
It’s got the same wheelbase, overall length and body shape with only minor external styling retouches including blacked out rather than shiny bits and a different grille insert (the shape is the same).
At least the CX-60 and CX-80 sit on different wheelbases and overall lengths and are different at the rear.
Mazda admits there was a “heated debate” about whether the CX-70 should have been sat on a shorter wheelbase and have a more coupe body style than CX-90, but time, money and resource all worked against that apparently.
It really would have been a better-defined car if it had looked a tad more svelte and sporty, to go with its character.
The good news is there are few serious criticisms beyond the unconvincing persona to level at the CX-70.
The petrol engine drank too much fuel on-test, missing its claimed 8.1L/100km consumption average by nearly four litres during our admittedly hilly and enjoyable drive.
The gearshifter is a stiff and balky pain that makes the park-reverse-drive movement annoying.
There’s also no shortcut to turn off lane keeping and driver monitoring functions if you find them too noisy or intrusive. Every time you restart the car they have to be turned off once more.
Should I buy a Mazda CX-70?
The 2025 Mazda CX-70 offers a pleasant drive and a spacious, well-presented and well-appointed interior. If you want a premium Mazda and you don’t need three rows of seats why would you pay extra for the CX-90?
We just wish Mazda had done a better job of separating its flagship two- and three-row SUVs. Or ditched the pretence and glued the same badge on them both.
2024 Mazda CX-70 GT G50e at a glance:
Price: $75,970 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol mild hybrid
Output: 254kW/500Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 189g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Unrated
Related: 2024 Mazda CX-70 priced for Oz
Related: Retro-fit digital rear-view mirror new option for Mazda CX-90
Related: 2024 Mazda CX-70 and CX-80 make Aussie debut
- Pricing is substantially better than the three-row CX-90
- The interior is very spacious for passengers and for luggage
- The drive experience is sporting without getting carried away
- The lack of exterior differentiation with the CX-90
- The petrol likes to suck fuel even with mild-hybrid assistance
- Balky shifter is a bit of a shocker
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