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When is a three-row vehicle not a three-row vehicle? When it’s the new for 2025 Mazda CX-70. Essentially, Mazda introduced the new model by deleting the third row of seats found in its CX-90. Badged a CX-70, Mazda hopes to capture a segment of the market looking for increased cargo space without hauling around a foldable rear bench that might not otherwise see much use.
Consider couple Sonja and Jeff Norman. Based just outside of Calgary, they’re empty nesters leading a semi-active lifestyle. Both, however, were surprised by the overall size, and then both questioned where the third row of seats was — neither were aware the CX-70 was essentially a CX-90 minus the rear bench.
“Oh, wow,” was Jeff’s first reaction upon meeting the five-passenger CX-70. “My thought was this Mazda looked long, but overall, I liked the stance and profile.” The ’25 Mazda CX-70 the Sonja and Jeff drove was finished in the automaker’s Soul Red Crystal Metallic – it’s a $500 option.
Four CX-70 trim levels are available, from GS-L to top-of-the-line Signature. The couple’s Mazda was the Signature model, powered by a high-output 3.3-litre inline 6-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a mild-hybrid (MHEV) system.
The MSRP of the MHEV Signature is $62,300 and freight is $2,195. A shopper would save $1,000 by choosing the CX-70 over the CX-90 MHEV Signature, as its MSRP is $63,300. Learn more about the cars Regardless of trim level, all CX-70s are equipped with the hybrid setup and all-wheel drive.
Under the hood of the top two trims, the 6-cylinder turbocharged high output gasoline engine makes 340 horsepower when consuming premium gasoline, or 319 hp running 87-octane. Torque is the same for both fuels, at 369 lbs-ft. On the electric side of the equation, the motor/generator is an 11kW unit backed up by a 44.
4V lithium-ion battery. It kicks out 16.9 hp at 900 rpm, and 113 lb-ft of torque at 200 rpm.
Neither Jeff nor Sonja had experienced a hybrid drive system prior to the CX-70. And, being based outside of Calgary, the CX-70 didn’t spend a lot of time in stop and go city driving. That’s where this mild hybrid system would make a lot of sense.
Accumulating mostly highway kilometres, Sonja says, “I wasn’t really sure what to expect with a hybrid, but at no point when I was driving did I feel I was doing anything especially environmentally friendly.” Jeff, meanwhile, had expected to find a screen or a graphic that would indicate what the vehicle was doing with its power, and when. “I didn’t find that until the very last day, and that was because Mazda called it ‘PowerFlow,’” he says.
“I just didn’t know what to look for.” In fact, that turned out to be a slight problem during their test drive. “When we first picked up the Mazda,” Sonja says, “I was driving, and Jeff was in the passenger seat reading the Owner’s Manual.
We wanted to figure out how to reset the trip meter, and he was looking in the index but couldn’t locate anything under ‘reset’ or ‘odometer.’” While they eventually worked it out, that info is somewhat easier to find online in the digital owner’s manual, located simply by Googling ‘reset trip meter Mazda CX-70.’ Jeff was quite pleased with the tan leather interior and found it “stunning.
” Suede panels on the doors and dash were appreciated, but both wondered how easy they’d be to keep clean. Sonja and Jeff were both able to comfortably position the driver’s seat, and the driver memory system worked well. Sonja found the dash slightly overwhelming, and says, “Every function seemed to have its own button.
” Jeff, meanwhile, didn’t find the dash as distracting and liked the layout of gauges and centre screen. Technically this isn’t a touchscreen, as it’s controlled via a ‘Commander Switch.’ Only when operating Apple CarPlay or Android Auto does it work as a touchscreen, and only when the vehicle isn’t moving.
Comfort was lauded, and both appreciated the ventilated seats as the CX-70 was driven during a week of plus-30C days. As for power, at speed, Sonja felt the CX-70 was sufficiently propelled. However, when leaving a stop, she says she noticed a slight hesitation when pressing the accelerator and found this disconcerting.
Jeff placed it in Sport mode and found near instant power and acceleration but didn’t enjoy how long each gear was held and preferred to run the CX-70 in Normal. For their seven days of driving, the Normans purchased 70.6 litres of fuel, 53L of regular and 17.
6L of premium. They drove the Mazda 840 kilometres, and that translates into 8.4L/100km for mostly highway driving.
Mazda specifies 8.5L/100km highway. “There’s a lot of tech in this Mazda,” Sonja says.
“And I’m not really about the tech – just something to get from Point a to Point B in comfort (Sonja’s daily driver is a ’21 Buick Encore GX). But the cruise control and the lane control assist in the CX-70 did work very well.” For the couple, the CX-70 had more carrying capacity than they would require.
However, Sonja thought the cargo area would haul several golf bags or hockey bags and would be great on an extended golf tour with another couple, or for a family with two kids and a hockey schedule. The ride was smooth and supple while handling was above par with no signs of body roll in corners. With passengers in the second row, Sonja says the Mazda was very quiet and a conversation could be carried on without straining to hear everyone.
“It was just beautiful in that situation,” she says. Summing up, Sonja says their CX-70 “really was a stunner. Heads turned walking by our driveway to check it out.
It was, overall, a vehicle that looked and felt classy.” DRIVER’S JOURNAL DAY 1 Good looking in Soul Red Crystal Metallic. Inside is an eye catcher, finished in Windsor Tan premium Nappa leather.
Perforated seats have a black detail. This was my first experience with Heads Up Display and I was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t as distracting as I assumed it would feel! Most of the time I didn’t notice it was there, even though it provided a lot of information when I would look at it. DAY 2 Sometimes things change that have no business changing! For example, the gear shift.
After driving for 50 years with a gear shift that has the order of P R N D, imagine my surprise – no shock – that P is no longer at the top of the chain. R was at the top and if you really want to ‘P’ark, then you must slide the shifter left to put it in Park. Otherwise, like me, you will end up rolling backwards the moment you take your foot off the brake.
When a hand is placed on a familiar style shifter, the brain says P is here. DAY 3 Too hot to drive with the sunroof open; but I did take the opportunity to play with the control and check out the expansive view of the sky. Perfect day to venture out for a road trip and experiment with the ventilated seats.
I invited a couple of friends along to test passenger comfort. Ample space for bodies, oodles of cargo area for stuff and quiet cabin for conversation to flow from back to front. The ride is smooth, even when you unexpectedly find yourself on a gravel road.
DAY 4 Decided to spend some time answering my questions by reading the manual. Not an easy feat, if you don’t know the name the manufacturer calls something, it’s unlikely that you will find the answer by using generic terminology. This probably is an industry situation, not unique to Mazda.
DAY 5 A longer road trip into the city means more varied speeds. Pulling away from the red light or stop sign the vehicle didn’t have the instant response I would expect. Also, when turning left, or pulling onto a road I was hesitant whether I really had sufficient time to do so safely because of this lack of instant response.
There was a similar (brief) hesitation to accelerate when trying to overtake a slower vehicle, but ultimately there was ample power to pass. DAY 6 Some night driving and an occasion to discover the nighttime personality of the vehicle. Door locks and window controls have reflective symbols, wipers and headlight controls do not, so memorizing where settings are is important.
There is a very comforting glow from the arm rest area of the doors, I didn’t feel like I was in a dark cave with only the eerie glow of the dash display shining in our faces. Auto dimming High Beams seem to be much too sensitive, the reflection from road signs would trigger them to dim but then the darkness would trigger them on again. Rather a nuisance.
DAY 7 Personally feel there are too many individual buttons spread across the dashboard, requiring too much time with eyes off the road to find the right button. Testing the Lane Departure warning, the feature was not as aggressive as others I’ve experienced, where it feels like AI has taken control of your vehicle. The system on this vehicle is much better mannered.
If the vehicle simply drifts too close to either line, there is a flash in the display indicating you’re too far over, but if your tires actually touch the line (without using a signal indicator) then the vehicle attempts to actually return to the centre of the lane of travel. Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X , Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice..
