Words By: Adam Allen
Is it just us, or is toxicity way more prevalent these days?
Turn on the news and you’ll see what we mean. Or, when out running errands, you apparently enrage your fellow motorists whose disproportionate response turns into an apoplectic slew of profanities and unkind hand gestures. Scroll literally any social media platform and it’ll take mere seconds to unearth the fetid stink of negativity, warranted or otherwise (usually otherwise.)
With the torrent of bad vibes permeating so many facets of our daily lives, it came as no surprise at the contemptuous reaction of some of the motoring press outlets towards the Mazda CX-70 when it made its debut a year ago. Were they right in expecting that we’d get some variant of the CX-60 which is sold in other markets? Perhaps. Are they correct that the CX-70 is pretty much an identical product to the 3-row CX-90 that’s also nearly as new? You could make a strong case for that. But hey people, relax! No need to get bent out of shape.
Mazda says that the CX-70, while very close to it’s CX-90 stable mate, is meant to attract a different kind of buyer. The CX-70 is for folks who gravitate towards the sharp new styling, posh interior and truculent powertrains of the model range but don’t have the need for the third row of seats. Why pay for something you’re never going to use? There are other benefits too, like the cavernous cargo hold at your disposal ready to swallow a week long camping trip worth of detritus, and the small benefit to fuel mileage due to shedding the weight of the rearmost perch. We wish Mazda would have done something to make the CX-70 a little different from its 90 counterpart but we get their decision. For those running a business, they can appreciate the economies of scale from such a strategy rather than pouring capital into slightly different body panels or other powertrain options.
Now that the CX-70’s raison d’etre has been hashed out, let us take a closer look at what it brings to the table. Take the CX-70’s design. It is not only a very handsome one, but you will likely notice the elongated hood and the pleasing proportions that follow as a result. That’s because the CX-70 is designed around a newish 3.3 inline-six. The mill is a pleasing centerpiece of an increasingly uncommon drivetrain, but this engine architecture is beloved for its inherent smoothness- they are perfectly balanced- and have been the engine layout of choice ranging from Jaguar to BMW and so many in between over decades past.
Like Mazda’s other turbocharged engines, the diet you feed the straight six will yield different power ratings. Give it good ol’ regular go-go juice and it makes 319 horsepower. Upgrade to the good stuff and power jumps to 340. No matter the fuel, torque remains unaffected at a robust 369 pounds feet. More is always better, but for the added cost we’d stick to 87 octane- besides, it’s the torque that gets you up and moving around anyhow. Not only that, but the straight six is augmented with a 48-volt mild hybrid system that works as beautifully and seamlessly as the ones found in upper crust BMW and Mercedes Benz products. Our tester was equipped with the highest output version because we can’t stop jonesing for more horsepower- for those who don’t need the full fat version, know that there’s a less powerful version available as well as a PHEV variant which we can’t wait to have a go in later on.
Turning that lovely inline six north/south instead of a transverse setup helps with weight distribution which in turn makes for better handling, which will keep most drivers engaged and entertained. Mazda products have never felt weak in that department- each model offers a precision and engaging drive that most others they compete with can’t match. This SUV isn’t going to threaten the MX-5 you have parked alongside it in the garage for achieving driving nirvana, but it does dance a jig quite nicely for its size.
Whereas Mazda products reliably deliver on a high fun-to-drive quotient, so too does the way the cockpits are turned out. Resplendent in a luxurious amalgam of high-quality plastics and materials, the CX-70 does not stray from the tradition of gifting owners with a plush experience that belies the price tag that comes attached to it. Our tester had a sumptuous cabin finished in a rich looking tan hue, and the exclamation point tying everything together is a swath of suede trim that runs the length of the entire dash. It’s ritzy stuff, and it’s not just the touchpoints that impress- the digitally rendered instrument panel looks pretty slick, and the Bose stereo is likely the best sound system we have ever laid ears on in a Mazda, ever.
We did find some things that rankled us, and we noted the very same issues with the CX-90. We’ll start with the shifter, whose design falls flat- why the weird ‘J-Gate’ vibe from late-90’s Jaguar interiors when shifting from Drive to Park? We would have been happy with a lever that simply moved forwards and back with a button for Park. More concerning than the awkward gear shift is the transmission it’s attached to. The 8-speeder is behaved itself most of the time, but certain situations exposed its lackluster calibration and indecision. We tried driving it in Sport mode to alleviate some of the sluggishness, but that made it feel too high strung, and it felt awkward driving down side streets at lower speeds with the tachometer reading much higher that we’d like. And as much as we praise Mazda for building products that cater to the enthusiast on some level, we noticed a surprising lack of chassis rigidity and could feel the structure flexing over big bumps and when performing quick directional changes. Most CX-70 drivers will likely never notice this, but it stood out to us. Lastly, Mazda’s corporate infotainment system is starting to show its age. The unit in the CX-70 appears to have been the recipient of a little extra polish but the menu structure feels stodgy and it can sometimes get flummoxed by simple commands, even freezing up from time to time. Owners will no doubt become comfortable with the proceedings, but we wonder what it would be like if it received a rethink.
Despite your take on the 70 and 90’s extremely close resemblance, this is a great product from Mazda. With brilliant styling inside and out and a choice of engine flavors tying it all together, don’t sleep on the CX-70. Just remember to breathe and don’t sweat the small stuff.
2025 Mazda CX-70 Signature - Specifications
- Price as tested: $64,995
- Body Type: 5-door, 5 passenger SUV
- Powertrain Layout: Front engine/all-wheel drive
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Engine: 3.3-litre turbocharged inline-6, DOHC, 24 valves
- Horsepower: 340 @ 5,000 rpm
- Torque (lbs-ft.): 369 @ 5,500 rpm
- Curb weight: 2,205 kg (4,861 lbs)
- Observed Fuel Consumption: 13.8 L/100km (17 mpg)