Everybody walks past the CX-70. It sits on the lot between the CX-90 people actually came to see and the CX-5 people actually buy, and nobody looks at it twice. That is a mistake, because Mazda quietly gave it the good stuff: an inline-6 turbo making up to 340 horsepower, three electrified powertrains, standard all-wheel drive on all of them, and a starting price of $42,750. This is the sleeper pick of the entire midsize crossover segment. It looks like a sensible grocery getter. It moves like something that does not care about your plans.
Three powertrains, all electrified, all AWD
Every CX-70 pairs an eight-speed automatic transmission with standard i-Activ all-wheel drive, Kinematic Posture Control, and Mi-Drive modes with Sport and Off-Road.
The standard engine is the e-Skyactiv G 3.3L inline-6 turbo with 48-volt M-Hybrid Boost, making 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel. Mazda rates it at an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. An inline-6. In 2026. When everyone else is downsizing to four cylinders and apologizing about it, Mazda is out here building a straight six that runs on regular.
Step up to the Turbo S version of that inline-6 and output climbs to 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque with recommended premium fuel, at 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. 340 horsepower in a two-row family crossover. Your neighbor will think you bought the sensible one.
The PHEV option pairs Mazda's e-Skyactiv plug-in hybrid system to the same formula: 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque with recommended premium fuel, with an EPA-estimated 30 miles of EV range, up from the prior year. It adds a Charge Mode and an EV mode to Mi-Drive. Thirty miles of silent electric range for the commute, 323 horsepower for everything after. The most boring-looking overachiever on sale.
What's new for 2026: badges
Following the blacked-out theme from launch, every 2026 CX-70 now wears gloss black Mazda emblems and black badges on the rear liftgate. Mazda's big 2026 update is badges. The car was already good, so they changed the jewelry and called it a day. Honestly? Respect.
The value play also got better: the 3.3 Turbo Preferred adds standard ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and eight-way power front seats with lumbar.
Mazda also revamped the PHEV trims for 2026. The CX-70 PHEV SC and PHEV SC Plus carry black exterior badges and garnishes, a honeycomb front grille, a rear roof spoiler, roof rails, and 19-inch gray metallic wheels on the SC.
Towing and tech
CX-70 3.3 Turbo Premium and up add a Towing mode for Mi-Drive, raising maximum towing to 5,000 lbs when equipped with Mazda Genuine Towing Accessories. Top trims add a 360° View Monitor with See-Through View and a Trailer Hitch View to line up the hitch. See-Through View. You can see through the car. Mazda is showing off now.
Tech highlights include the 12.3-inch Mazda Connect center infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (turbo models), Alexa Built-in, a Bose 12-speaker premium audio system, wireless phone charging, and dual front and rear USB-C ports. The full i-Activsense safety suite (Smart Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Keep Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and more) is standard.
Pricing
Mazda's pricing for the 2026 CX-70 (MSRP, before the $1,645 destination and handling charge):
- CX-70 3.3 Turbo Preferred — $42,750
- CX-70 3.3 Turbo Premium — $46,780
- CX-70 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus — $49,570
- CX-70 3.3 Turbo S Premium — $53,440
- CX-70 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus — $56,870
- CX-70 PHEV SC — $44,450
- CX-70 PHEV SC Plus — $47,450
Premium paint colors (Soul Red Crystal Metallic, Rhodium White Premium, Polymetal Gray Metallic, Zircon Sand Metallic, Melting Copper Metallic) add $595.
Key specs
- Powertrains: 3.3L inline-6 turbo MHEV (280 hp / 332 lb-ft), 3.3L inline-6 turbo S (340 hp / 369 lb-ft, premium fuel), PHEV (323 hp / 369 lb-ft, 30-mile EPA EV range)
- Fuel economy: 24/28/25 mpg (Turbo, regular); 23/28/25 mpg (Turbo S, premium)
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic; standard i-Activ AWD
- Towing: up to 5,000 lbs with Towing mode and Mazda Genuine Towing Accessories
- Starting MSRP: $42,750 (before $1,645 destination charge)
- Infotainment: 12.3-inch Mazda Connect display, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto (turbo models), Alexa Built-in, Bose 12-speaker audio
What we don't know yet
Mazda's 2026 release doesn't list an on-sale date for these updated models. Pricing noted above reflects the May 4, 2026 price adjustment of $200–$500 per model.
Watch: Abdullah's Mazda CX-70 walkthrough, also on Instagram and TikTok.
Source: Mazda North American Operations press release. Specs and pricing via news.mazdausa.com.