Mazda made a big addition to its lineup two years ago with the three-row CX-90 and its two-row twin, the CX-70. The 2026 Mazda CX-70 Turbo Premium Plus gives the brand a near-luxury midsize SUV that competes with Acura, Buick, Infiniti and more. The best part is that you get that upscale look and feel at a mainstream price.
The 2026 CX-70 is basically unchanged since its debut a couple years ago.
If anything it top of mind about new cars, trucks and SUVs these days it’s affordability. New vehicle prices have been rising at alarming rates during the past several years. And while the increases have slowed some, the average price a consumer spends on a new vehicle is still at near-record levels.
Enter the 2026 Mazda CX-70 Turbo Premium Plus. With a staunch powerplant, comfortable ride, supreme technology and high-end looks and feel, it’s a player that you cannot ignore. It offers a premium experience for an “average” price.
Quite the looker
The 2026 CX-70 is basically unchanged since its debut a couple years ago, which is just fine. You’re greeted with a large piano black honeycomb grille bordered on the top corners by two slit-like LED headlights. The combo gives the nose an aerodynamic and sleek look without seeming over-the-top.
Follow that down the side and come to a slightly flared front wheel arch, mimicked at the rear wheel. This complements the clean, flowing look from the front. The rear of the ute features a gentle curve running from the roof to the bumper that gives it some additional definition and a little heft.
Our tester came in Melting Copper Metallic, and rides on 21-inch black alloy wheels, a combination that looks contemporary without being boring.
Our tester came in MeltingCopper Metallic, which I think is worth the extra $595. It rides on 21-inch black alloy wheels and when combined with the copper metallic the look is contemporary without being boring.
Driving fun
The CX-70 can be had with one of three different driveline configurations, ours came with a turbocharged 3.3-liter SkyActiv inline 6-cylinder mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The combination produces 280 horsepower.
It also comes with i-Activ all-wheel drive, which makes driving in slippery conditions, like the snow and ice you can see surrounding it in the pictures, a much less daunting experience. It tows up to 5,000 pounds, which is about standard for this segment. This powertrain offers good fuel economy, averaging 25 mpg, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. During my week with it, my average was just under that, but I spent the vast majority of the time on surface streets.
The fit-and-finish is premium, and in the Premium Plus you enjoy a black Nappa leather interior.
The CX-70 is reasonably responsive, and it does offer several different drive modes. When you’re in Sport mode, there is a noticeable difference but it’s not AMG or M different, if you catch my drift — which you won’t doing any of either in this SUV. It rides nicely, and it goes where you aim it, which is largely what you want from a midsize SUV.
Premium space
Move into the cabin and you can see where Mazda vehicles really stand apart from their mainstream competitors. The fit-and-finish is premium, and in the Premium Plus you enjoy a black Nappa leather interior. The front-row passengers get eight-way power adjustable seats that are heated and ventilated.
The second-row seats are heated, and the windows have fully retractable sunshades, which is handy when you have children — or adults acting like children — back there. Those same seats can be folded flat using power switches in the cargo area at the back.
The front-row passengers get eight-way power adjustable seats that are heated and ventilated.
Of course, looking good it only half the “luxury” battle, the technology must be on point, and that’s the case with the CX-70. Standard technologies include Alexa Built-in, 12.3-inch Mazda Connect center infotainment display with touch functionality when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which is also wireless as is the phone charger.
Additionally, the 12-speaker Bose sound system adds to the luxury feel of the cabin, filling it with clear, rich sound whether it’s 80 hits or the latest Headlight News podcast. The space is a harmonious mix of comfort and tech reminiscent of much more luxurious — read: expensive — sport-utility vehicles.
More tech
It also comes standard with Mazda’s i-Activsense safety suite, which includes Smart Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Driver Attention Alert, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Vehicle Exit Warning, and a Rear View Monitor with static guidelines.
With a turbocharged 3.3-liter SkyActiv inline 6-cylinder mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, the CX-70 is a fine mix of performance and fuel economy.
Buyers also get Cruising & Traffic Support, Emergency Lane Keeping that includes Blind Spot Assist, Road Keep Assist, and Head-on Traffic Avoidance Assist, Secondary Collision Reduction System, Traffic Sign Recognition, and Speed Limit Assist to the standard Mazda Radar Cruise Control.
Would I?
The Mazda CX-70 Turbo Premium Plus packs quite a wallop when it comes to looks and technology. It’s spacious and comfortable with so many of the high-end touches one expects from luxury brands, such as Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac or Lincoln, to name a few.
More importantly, it does all this at an unbelievable price: just $51,945 all in. The national average for a new car purchase last month was just shy of $50,000. You could get much of what you want by moving down a trim level, keeping the price well below $50K. Mazda wanted everyone to hear “Zoom Zoom” when one of their vehicles rolled by, but all I hear is ka-ching. Yeah, I’d get one and you should definitely think about getting one.
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