2025 Mazda CX-70 Turbo S - Counter-Point Review
"Side Kicks," as the proteges of heros, are often depicted as the less serious complement to their mentors. Holmes had his Watson just as Cassidy had his Sundance Kid.
Ambitious automakers, similarly have positioned more casual, Sport Activity Vehicles as complements to their heroic SUVs, typically sacrificing practicality for coupe-like prestige. Volkswagen's Atlas Cross Sport corresponds to their Atlas, the Audi Q8 is a truncated Q7, and the Genesis GV80 coupe is an offshoot of the more useful version of GV80.
However, when the automaker Mazda recently sought to introduce a prestige SAV, it merely docked their latest full-size sport ute by one row of seating. Thus, the Japanese brand has positioned the all-new 2025 Mazda CX-70 as aspirational for CX-90 owners who evolve into empty nesters.
George Straton
As with other aspirational personal SAVs, the top-of-the-line two-row 2025 Mazda CX-70 Turbo S Premium Plus' $57,775 pricing exceeds that of its CX-90 three-row equivalent. Active adventurous empty nesters now need only fold one row and load two bicycles and a week's necessities. CX-70 packaging includes some cargo bay subfloor storage where the eliminated third row seats would otherwise stow.
As part of an upmarket ascent, the new Mazda CX-70 shares the transition to the brand's first "North to South" powertrain - drivetrain SUV platform. When the 48V mild-hybrid turbocharged, twin-cam inline-six engine (in standard and S states of tune), and a wet clutch eight-speed automatic transmission powertrain are factored in, the new CX-70 Turbo rests in luxury marque company.
The result is a truly sporting Turbo S output of 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet. Despite an available plug-in hybrid electic inline-four engine option, the efficiency of the tested Turbo S straight-six is not too shabby at 26 miles per gallon. I-Stop coasting, which shuts the engine under low load cruising, and start-stop idling help reach that figure.
Mazda's Mi-Drive modes include an off-road setting, for reduced stability intervention and optimal all-wheel drive torque vectoring. However, there is no differential locking or descent cruise control capability.
BEAUTIOUS BODY: 2025 Mazda CX-70 Turbo's exterior profile boasts the desirable long front axle to dashboard ratio which separates prestige SAV's from mere crossover utility vehicles. The brand's Kodo 'in motion" language receives a bolder twist. The low slung hood, with sharply raked windshield, tall beltline, devoid of polluting creasing, long sloped "D" pillar, and tall wheel arches emit a cinched waist sportback.
2025 Mazda CX-70 Turbo S AWD: at Racine, Wisconsin's Windpoint Lighthouse flaunting the long front axle to dashboard distance, in Polymetal Gray
Dark honeycomb double-kinked diamond pavilion grille sprouts upper wings to carry the slim inboard lateral directional and outboard headlights as a variant on the traditional "Mako" shark nose. The tailgate is awkwardly exaggerated Kammback bee-hive bulbous, descending by"S" fold and carries attractive wrap-around inverted inboard "lollipop" tail lighting.
The CX-70 Turbo S Premium trim gains body colored wheel arches, but fully darkened window frames, grille latticing, straked corner inserts and mirror caps.
Other premium exterior styling touches include doors which fully conceal the sills, as well as slim aperture thresholds. Adding to ease of ingress are 2nd Row doors which swing open to nearly 90 degrees. Second row privacy window tint is supplemented by window shades.
INSIDE & WHERE CARGO STOWS: enter the 2025 CX-70 Turbo S Premium Plus cabin, to reveal a pleasantly prestige look, if not experience. There are earth tone color contrast, quilted Nappa cowhides, micro-suede middle dash, door and seat inserts, fine combed webbed headliner and brushed metallic banding. "Kumihimo" hanging contrast panel stitching exhibit further artisanship.
Knurled knobs and metallic banded switchgear, held to a minimum, feature a crafted look and crisp action. Displays range from a classic hooded, mode variable color TFT instrument cluster to a mid dash shelf mount 12.3" inch panorama display with remote Commander knob. That two-tone leather heated power steering wheel is a sight to behold and to hold. First row seating is amply bolstered, but the driver's footwell is narrow owing to the transmission tunnel, and cushioning could be more pliable.
- -1 Niggling Cabin Bits: Cheaper looking steering spoke controls; Automatic driver posture settings (relying on attention monitor) seem a work in progress; Two pair of climate control temperature toggles (one per side) require down paddling to increase the temperature call; Fake looking door card, dash and console ash wood veneers; Hard plastic C-pillar and aft cargo bay walls; 2nd Row seats don't fold fully flat; 3rd Row wall cupholders exist without 3rd row seating; Seat climate temps aren't retained.
The 2025 Mazda CX-70 Turbo S sets the pace for two-row full-size SAV cargo bay length. It handily swallows a road trip's stuff for five, expandable via cargo bay remote 2nd Row seat fold releases. However, the sloped roof restricts load height, the 2nd Row seatbacks don't fold flat and the lower rise power liftgate can clock the noggins.
2025 Mazda CX-70 Turbo S AWD: more than abundant space for five & cargo
DYNAMISM ON THE ROAD: Once underway, the 2025 Mazda CX-70 Turbo S moves serenely, but is happy to oblige enthusiasts with athletic hustle. However, it can earn a full pedigree, Mazda needs to iron out the uncouth low speed throttle hiccups.
Steering wind features a meaty linearity, emitting proper off-center effort. Adept tracking provides sharp turn in from around-town cruising to motorway lane hopping. Despite some body sway, inspiring grip gives up progressively. On glassy surfaces the ride is ripple free taut. On washboards, rapid rebound combined with mammoth 275/45 rubber on 21" inch alloy wheels transmits some of the bumps, while the stiff structure deflects jolts.
Generous sized four wheel discs, abetted by the MX-5 Miata roadster's Kinematic Posture Control inside rear wheel application, slow this nearly 2.5 ton machine keenly. Wind and road noise isolation deserves accolades.
- -1 The straight-six exhaust sound is rather meek
- -1 Mazda's first shift-by-wire lever frees up console space, but defies intuition, requiring a right tug from Park to Reverse then down the driving selections and then back up to Reverse and a left tug back to engage Park. Sounds complicated? So is engaging Neutral in a tunnel car wash.
SUFFICIENTLY SAFE FOR THE ONES WE LOVE:
All 2025 Mazda CX-70s are fitted with nine airbag supplemental restraint, ABS braking and stability control, backup camera and pedestrian avoidance braking, blind spot warning and adaptive cruise control. Moving up to Premium Plus spec garners Level 1.5 advanced driver assistance, including Cruising & Traffic support, (with lane tracing above 40 miles per hour), blind spot avoidance braking, traffic sign recognition, surround view cameras, and a 10" x 3" Head Up Display.
- Fear the Deer: Seasonal limitations of lidar based road obstruction detection became apparent during the CX-70 Turbo S visit testing when cold weather condensation de-activated the capability. Fortunately, the adaptive LED headlighting, with automatic high beam activation and responsive braking (despite some pedal softness) averted an encounter with Bambi's kin.
INFOTAINMENT - CONNECTIVTY: the 2025 Mazda CX-70 Turbo S Premium Plus comes equipped to inform, communicate and entertain.
Bluetooth hands-free telephony, SMS and streaming audio, a number of USB-C & 12V ports, a 110V AC outlet, are included at the Premium Plus tier. Standard application fare included wireless smart phone projection, and Amazon Alexa voice query / vehicle operational commands. Fee Subscription services bring native cloud navigation, Wi-Fi, Mazda Connected Remote apps. The Bose 12 speaker Centerpoint 2.0 audio system reproduces audio content with surprising clarity and depth.
2025 Mazda CX-70 Turbo S AWD: microsuede caramel dash padding, Amazon Alexa companion, precision action controls, except for frustrating toggle shift lever
Graphics on the center dash top 12.3-inch display are well defined, even if daytime illumination at the brightest setting is somewhat dim. Perusing the mostly logically separated Mazda Connected UI menus happens via the center console knurled rotary Command dial. However, adjusting certain sub-menu settings, such as tuning terrestrial radio, remains cumbersome. Android Auto and Apple Car Play media display projection will tolerate touch controlling.
WHAT THE 2025 MAZDA CX-70 TURBO S IS UP AGAINST:
The aspirational two-row Sport Activity Vehicle category is new among volume brands, virtually nudging the 2025 CX-70 into BMW X6 territory. While the Bavarian luxury sled offers more powertrain options, finish customization, and tramples the Autobahn with more aplomb, the Hiroshima -n approaches its dynamics at a far lower bottom line.
George Straton
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