2025 Mazda CX-70 MHEV | Photo: Germain Goyer
Launched for the 2025 model year, the Mazda CX-70 offers a formula that’s not exactly rocket science. In short, they take the CX-90 midsize SUV and remove its third row of seats, resulting in the CX-70.
This winter, we drove the 2025 Mazda CX-70 Signature on the roads of the greater Montreal area, Lanaudière, and Mauricie. Here’s the full report on our impressions.
The least we can say is that Mazda is swimming against the tide. The automotive industry is strongly trending toward reducing engine size and compensating for it with turbocharging. Mazda has not hesitated to choose a six-cylinder engine adapted to a midsize SUV. Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan, Chevrolet (and GMC) have all bowed to pressure and introduced four-cylinder engines in the two—or three-row midsize SUV segments.
Essentially, what we find in the 2025 Mazda CX-70’s engine bay is a 3.3-litre in-line six-cylinder engine. It’s turbocharged despite having six cylinders. It develops 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. You can also opt for a more powerful version of this engine. It produces 340 bhp and 369 lb-ft. Acceleration is progressive, and the six-cylinder engine delivers constant, smooth performance. It’s hard not to fall under the spell of this powertrain, whose performance is impressive. Moreover, this powertrain incorporates mild-hybrid technology, including a small electric motor and a 0.3 kWh battery.
Many manufacturers have abandoned six-cylinder engines to lower fuel consumption. At the end of our 700-kilometre road trip with the 2025 Mazda CX-70, the onboard computer showed an average fuel consumption of 9 L/100 km. This rating is excellent, considering the vehicle’s size, engine, and performance.
As with the 2025 Mazda CX-90, the CX-70 is also available with plug-in hybrid technology. This technology combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and a 17.8 kWh battery, resulting in 323 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. However, this engine is nowhere near as pleasant to experience. The transition between electric and petrol power is not the smoothest. We clearly prefer the six-cylinder engine. Elsewhere in the industry, there are better applications of plug-in hybrid technology.
One advantage of the 2025 CX-70 plug-in hybrid version is that it can travel up to 42 kilometres in all-electric mode on a single charge. In our test, which took place in January, the battery ran down after around twenty kilometres.
The second advantage of the plug-in hybrid was its eligibility for government subsidies for purchasing a green vehicle. Until a few weeks ago, the CX-70 plug-in hybrid qualified for subsidies totalling $7,500. These government measures considerably reduced the cost of owning such a vehicle. Unfortunately, the CX-70 is no longer eligible for subsidies. To compensate for this loss, Mazda is still offering some potentially attractive promotions.
The CX-70 starts at $49,750 for a GS-L version with a six-cylinder engine. The price range stretches up to $62,300 for a Signature model. The entry-level version is undoubtedly the most attractive for consumers. Its value for money is hard to beat. The equipment offered on the higher models is generally superfluous. As for the plug-in hybrid, its price is $58,750 for the GS-L version and $63,350 for the GT version. With no government subsidy, the cost of buying the plug-in hybrid seems too high, making it less worthwhile.
Although we liked the interior layout, we would have preferred an infotainment system with a fully touch-sensitive screen.
To sum up, we applaud Mazda’s decision to continue offering a powertrain as pleasant, flexible, and efficient as the in-line six-cylinder engine. What’s more, its fuel consumption is very reasonable. The plug-in hybrid’s performance can sometimes be disappointing
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We bought a 2020 cx-9. Turbocharged 2.5 litre 4. Plenty of pep. My wife didn't like the ride but after we changed the OEM tires it ran well. Still, with nutso in the White House we thought it would be prudent to buy a new cx-70 before the Tariffs kicked in. Nice car. It drives itself on highways.