The CX-70's existence is already questionable, and the PHEV only makes it worse
2025 Mazda CX-70 PHEV review by The Road Beat
Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman
Mazda has released a less practical version of their excellent CX-90, dubbed the CX-70, because that naming scheme obviously means it's the two-row version of the otherwise same vehicle. For all intensive purposes, the CX-70 is mechanically identical to the CX-90 save for the most minor of visual differences and the lack of useful third-row seating. Pricing between the two isn't any different either, and besides being visually indistinguishable to most casual viewers, there is no reason to choose the CX-70 unless you enjoy life being less convenient. That's not to say the CX-70 is bad, but it rather it just has no reason to exist. What makes this specific trim of CX-70 actually bad is the crummy, immature implementation and application of Mazda's dreary new plug-in hybrid system.
In terms of outright and broad luxury, there are no competitors to Mazda in the same price space, as no other brand can match the quality of leather and controls in a mainstream cabin - The lush seats and upholstery covering the dash and door panels are a real highlight. From the moment you sit behind the wheel or in the passenger seat, you immediately become aware that this is a nicer car than any rival Toyota or Honda could ever hope. Yet, it's still not without hiccup or oversight, like the interior grab handles to close the doors for example, which have a large plastic seam you feel every time you shut a door. Or hollow and flimsy sounding exterior door handles that also are missing easy touch-sensitive locking and unlocking on the rear doors. And when you shut a rear door, even with a mild and completely normal force, you can hear the fuel door exterior rattle. Unfortunately, it's because of how relatively exquisite the rest of the main environment is that anything subpar happens to then stand out more; Once you set a standard, that standard is then expected consistently.
The infotainment is still a weak point due to its positioning that makes it difficult to reach and operate as a touchscreen, of which it only works as a touchscreen when stopped, and anything above that, the click wheel must utilized. I don't mind the click wheel with its mechanical nature, but it's not entirely useful and suited for the ever-popular Apple CarPlay. Mazda also continues to sound nuclear alarms each time you start the car without your seatbelt on, ringing eight times verse the usual five, so be sure to have your belt fastened and the door closed before pressing ignition. Also of note is the gear knob that operates in an unintuitive ratchet-like manner, which does not inspire confidence.
Mainly differentiating the CX-70 against its CX-90 sibling is its absence of a third set of seats in the rear. Instead we do get a massive cargo area, but not as vast as it could be with its high floor level (likely not helped by the hybrid power design either). And it's not like the CX-90's extra seats ruin space, as once they're folded flat, the volume is actually an identical 40 cubic feet. So then, why would you choose to have the same car with less seating? Even if you don't have kids, it's nice having the capability to hold more than four or five passengers in a car, like going places together in groups. I recently met a few friends for a trip in Carmel while testing a Honda Pilot, and it was very nice being able to take just one car places, especially in crowded areas where parking can be difficult and scarce. It just makes no sense that you would choose to make life less convenient for those times it would be valuable to have those third row of seats - just in case. And if you truly have no need for those additional chairs, then why have such a huge car in the first place? Save some money and space on a CX-50 instead, or bag a small even more luxurious car like a Genesis GV70.
Where Mazda continues to nail it every single time is when it comes to driving dynamics, with weighted and assured steering connected to a chassis that responds to the most minute inputs for a full-size SUV. Direction changes are done without pause, and the AWD system ensures grip in the places needed during harder cornering, helping maintain a delightful neutrality for a big, everyday barge. Whereas other family cars are meant to be treated like and feel like appliances, Mazda continues to have some sense of soul and purpose, making their cars feel like, well, cars! Handling benefits do come somewhat at the expense of ride quality, being a little firmer in some scenarios, but it also never loses composure and reacts well on tougher and rougher undulating roads than others.
Where this Mazda really hurts, though, is when it comes to the actually terrible plug-in hybrid powertrain. Other brands like Toyota and Honda produce consistently seamless hybrid systems after years of development. However, Mazda is new to this game and technology, and it certainly shows. Resultingly, this new PHEV is a clunking and jerky monstrosity at slow speed, suffering from a nervous anxiety exposed most prominently during transitions from electric to combustion. Hybrids are supposed to act invisibly; If you can't tell it's a hybrid, then that's a good hybrid. With this, however, it often feels like something is just plain wrong due to the lack of transparency and slow responses. Slow speeds reveal the most because, like crawling around in a parking lot or in traffic, you're constantly going from braking to coasting to throttle on repeat, and it's in those transitions where it falters and becomes annoying as you ask for throttle and are met first with hesitation and then an comfortable jerk as the combustion engine cycles in and out.
Also disappointing is the loud mechanical whirring and wheezing emitted by the electric drive unit when in EV mode. The sound is not unlike the raw, unfiltered electrical noises made by prototype Le Mans Hypercar racers when they leave the pits in EV mode, but you do not want that sound in a luxurious and family everyday SUV; Here, it kind of just sounds like something is broken or simply not right. There were times when pulling into my driveway at a sharp angle that there was a loud grinding sound like a tire rubbing on a fender liner, and then a harsh jolt of sudden power to get up the slight hill, not unlike a teenager driving a stick shift for the first time. Further, while horsepower is higher on the PHEV, it feels significantly tamer and weaker during demanding acceleration, like when merging onto freeways, where it lacks the immediacy and pull of six pistons. Another demerit comes from the automatic transmission that upshifts woefully slow and without transparency, meaning you can feel and hear when this CX-70 plug-in shifts each time. Another way of putting is that the powertrain still feels like in its beta or development mode, released before the many kinks are ironed out.
Yet, that's the not biggest blow to the PHEV model: there's no increase in gas mileage. Sacrificing a burly turbocharged inline-six for a inline-four hybrid should yield massive gains in efficiency, but unless you actually charge this thing (which many won't bother doing), there are zero net gains. My previous testing of a CX-70 six-cylinder yielded 23 MPG overall, and this PHEV returned just one extra at 24. Also worth noting is that I tested the former in the summer with the A/C cranked and this hybrid in the fall without neither A/C nor heat running. So yes, in the real world, there is actually no difference. That said, if you do plug your Mazda PHEV in to charge, you will see improved numbers, but I feel many won't want to bother with the inconvenience of charging just to get 30 miles of range out of its paltry 17.8 kWh battery.
I'll say it again, there is nothing heinously wrong about the Mazda CX-70, except that the very idea of it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Judged against its CX-90 stablemate, they literally cost the same, most won't be able to tell the difference in their looks, have the same cargo space, yet one has a usable extra set of seats when duty calls. So, go forth and get the great CX-90 instead, and the moment you do use those third seats, even if just once a year, you'll be thanking yourself. And be sure to skip this PHEV and go for the alluring and satisfying inline-six model.
I'm not here riding a hate train of any kind, but rather to give you the honest and unfiltered truth about this car. Mazda has made a bad plug-in hybrid, a product that feels incomplete by all sense of the word. I really can't imagine how anyone within Mazda drove this car around town and thought, "Yep, this hybrid system is ready to go!" Two bits of advice: Only consider the CX-90, and make sure it has the inline-six. That car is so sweet I couldn't care less about the tinny door handles.
2025 Mazda CX-70 PHEV Premium Plus
As-tested price: $59,275
Pros: Beautiful leather and overall cabin; Stellar chassis dynamics
Cons: Unrefined hybrid powertrain; the CX-90 exists
More photos of the 2025 Mazda CX-70
Thank you for reading The Road Beat's 2025 Mazda CX-70 PHEV review. If you enjoy our honest and real world takes on cars, please subscribe to never miss a new review. All photography by mitchellweitzmanphoto.com.
