The deliberate twin
The CX-70 is not a smaller CX-90 — it's the same vehicle with the third row deleted: identical length, identical wheelbase, the space repurposed as a vast two-row cargo hold. For 2026 the gas range runs $43,780 (Turbo Preferred) to $58,200 (Turbo S Premium Plus) with the familiar 280/340-hp turbo inline-six, standard AWD and 5,000-lb towing.
The news is the plug-in: after a debut year priced almost against itself, the 2026 CX-70 PHEV dropped more than $10,000, now starting at $45,780 with 323 hp and around 30 miles of electric range. At that money, the plug-in stops being a curiosity and becomes the value play of the range.
Who it's for
Empty-nesters, dog owners, road-trippers — buyers who want the CX-90's premium drive and cabin without paying (in access and seat-folding) for a third row they'd never deploy. The cargo bay behind row two is enormous, and the inline-six remains one of the most satisfying engines in any mainstream SUV.
The honest assessment
The original criticism stands softened but true: Mazda offers no meaningful size or price separation from a two-row-configured CX-90, so cross-shop your own showroom. The CX-70 shares its twin's traits wholesale — the same low-speed transmission clunkiness, the same fussy infotainment controller, and the same early-build recall history (2025 cars were included in the electrical-unit campaign; the PHEV shares the plug-in software recalls). No clever storage was engineered into the deleted-row space — it's simply open volume.
Against Grand Cherokees and Passports, the Mazda counters with powertrain refinement and cabin quality; against its own sibling, only your seating math decides.
The questions buyers actually ask
CX-70 or CX-90? If there's any chance you'll need six-plus seats even twice a year, the CX-90 costs little more. If never, the CX-70's cargo bay and cleaner cabin layout win.
Is the 2026 PHEV the one to buy? At $45,780 it's finally priced right — with home charging, ~30 EV miles covers most daily driving. Verify the software recalls are done on any early build.
Does it tow like a truck-based rival? 5,000 lb covers boats and campers of reasonable ambition; serious towers still want a Grand Cherokee or body-on-frame metal.
- $43,780–$58,200 gas; PHEV from $45,780 after a $10,000+ cut for 2026
- Identical footprint to CX-90 — the third row is simply deleted for cargo
- Same superb inline-six; same transmission and recall caveats as CX-90
- ~30 miles EV range on the 2026 PHEV; 5,000-lb towing across the range
- Rivals: Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda Passport, Chevrolet Blazer, Nissan Murano
Key takeaways
- $43,780–$58,200 gas; PHEV from $45,780 after a $10,000+ cut for 2026
- Identical footprint to CX-90 — the third row is simply deleted for cargo
- Same superb inline-six; same transmission and recall caveats as CX-90
- ~30 miles EV range on the 2026 PHEV; 5,000-lb towing across the range
- Rivals: Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda Passport, Chevrolet Blazer, Nissan Murano
Sources & further reading
- Mazda USA 2026 pricing announcements
- NHTSA records
- US two-row SUV comparisons, 2026
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
