One of my all-time favorite compact cars is the current Mazda3 Hatchback, a car that proves style and performance don’t have to be expensive. It takes a sporty stance, but the sensuousness of how the rear body wraps over the wheels and around its rump is seductive artistry. But, it’s not really large enough for families. Take its finest attributes, blow it up a few sizes, toss in carnal luxuries and you have the 2026 Mazda CX-70 Platinum Plus.
Mazdas definitely have a family look. Large Italianesque grilles flanked by squinty headlamps project fury while beautifully bulging fenders flow into tall bodysides and sculptural rear quarters shaped by the spirit of Michelangelo. There is an echo of Mazda3 in the execution, but the CX-70 dwarfs average humans and needs all of its 21-inch wheels to fill the flanks. It’s handsome, but looks somewhat awkward from some angles.
Since the CX-70 is essentially a three-row CX-90 with only five seats, the interior is cavernous. Open the power hatch, flip down the rear bench, and you could seemingly park a sports car back there. You can’t, but five do indulge in sueded Nappa leather seats – heated and ventilated up front, heated in back. A power steering column with heated bi-color leather wheel seduces drivers.
Sitting behind the wheel, there’s a lot of Mazda3 in the simple dashboard with dual-zone automatic climate controls tucked beneath. Of course, this dashboard is sueded. Flatscreen gauges and head-up display complement the 12.3-inch screen embedded in the dashtop. I wish Mazda would dispense with its decrepit joywheel controller and confusing menus, but key functions can be accessed via touch. Phones connect through wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Toss them in the console to charge wirelessly too. Listening to the 12-speaker Bose audio system under the twin-panel sunroof, you might not care.
It would take pages to fully describe all of the CX-70’s crash avoidance technology, however automatic emergency braking, rear cross path detection with auto brake, driver attention monitor and safe exit warning are my favorites.
Mazda definitely took its own path with the CX-70’s powertrain. Under the hood is a 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Inline six engines are inherently balanced and refined – and efficient, delivering 23/28-MPG city/highway. You won’t want for power either as the engine conjures 340 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque, enough to tow 5,000 lbs. of camper or speedboat. All-wheel-drive handles the slick stuff.
There’s plenty of power, but the turbo, transmission turning and throttle response make it difficult to modulate in city traffic. It always wants to gallop. While the Mazda3 has an incredibly refined suspension, the CX-70 feels a little clunky over broken pavement. Every city bump seemed to reverberate, but then I found the freeway where the big wagon settled and handled like a much smaller vehicle, harnessing the engine’s power to leap forward through traffic.
For the CX-70, not all roads are created equally, but its style and luxuries are worthy of all. I think I’d go for the three-row CX-90 if my money was involved, but the lighter vehicle with huge cargo area does impress. I’d like the turbo and throttle to become better friends, but power and performance are delights. So, how much does it cost? Base models start at a very fair $42,750, but climb to our Premium Plus’s more luxurious $59,825. Also consider the Subaru Ascent, Kia Telluride, Honda Passport, Toyota Highlander and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Storm Forward!
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