Mazda CX-70 U.S. release delayed to Spring 2024 [Update]

Update: ‘Release Date’ section updated.

On October 6, 2021, Mazda announced five new SUV launches globally by 2023. It confirmed that the U.S. will get three models, one of which will be the Mazda CX-70, which will feature electrification. Recently, Mazda decided to postpone the CX-70 launch to Spring 2024, so that further resources may be allocated for the CX-90, which has received a positive initial response from American buyers. Here’s what you can expect from the electrified future Mazda SUV:

Design & Interior

The CX-70, like the Mazda CX-90, will be a model designed and developed mainly for North America. Mazda has mentioned that the CX-70 will be a wide-body, two-row SUV belonging to the mid-size segment. Targeted at customers who prefer SUVs that are larger than the CX-60 and offer a big presence, the CX-70 will have proportions “optimized for US consumers with expanded interior cabin and cargo spaces.”

Mazda would conceive the CX-70 under Noble Toughness, its latest design concept. A deeply sculpted front face, a long nose, and a short rear silhouette should provide the CX-70 an imposing SUV-like presence and a powerful character. At the same time, smooth surfacing on the body panels, body-colored fender flares, and a dropping roofline should lend the SUV a sophisticated style.

As per a WhichCar story published on February 3, 2023, the CX-70’s design will not be too dissimilar to the CX-90’s. The Australian report suggests that the new crossover could borrow the general styling cues from its larger sibling, including the front fascia and also possibly the first half of the exterior up to the B-pillar.

Mazda Australia’s Marketing Director Alastair Doak appeared to agree with the publication when it described the CX-70 as featuring a sloped roofline and five seats, but a size smaller than the three-row CX-90. Being a five-seat model, the CX-50 should have a better angle for the D-pillar, and a smaller rear quarter glass.

Features

The Mazda CX-70 should be rich in features across grades, and offer distinction using different wheels and finishes. On the outside, adaptive LED headlights, 20-inch wheels, and a hands-free power liftgate could be its key features.

Infotainment

Inside, as in the CX-90, we think the CX-70 will have plenty of comfort and convenience features, such as a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Active Driving Display (HUD), an infotainment system with a 10.25- or 12.3-inch touchscreen, Mazda Connect, and the Mazda Connect commander control knob, a panoramic moonroof, wireless charging, USB-C charging ports in both rows, ambient lighting and more. A Bose audio system should keep the driver and passengers well-entertained.

The usage of maple wood and brushed metal trim surfaces, Nappa leather-trimmed seat covers, dashboard upholstery featuring hanging stitches inspired by hand-bookbinding and Kumihimo (a Japanese weaving technique) should ensure customers perceive the CX-70 as the classiest model in its segment.

Safety

A myriad of ‘i-Activsense’ safety technologies, including Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist will likely be standard on the CX-70. Rear Seat Alert could also be part of the standard safety features.

More safety equipment, including a 360º View Monitor with See-through View technology, will likely be available in higher grades. Along with the bird’s-eye, rear and left-/right-hand side views of the vehicle from above, the 360º View Monitor with See-through View technology gives the driver view of the front and rear corners of the vehicle from their viewpoint. The additional functionality ensures the driver doesn’t miss seeing objects obscured by the vehicle’s bodywork.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the 2024 CX-90 and CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) its highest safety rating, the 2023 TOP SAFETY PICK+. We’re expecting the CX-70 and CX-70 PHEV to perform equally well in IIHS’s evaluation next year.

Specifications

Platform

The CX-70 will be based on the company’s Skyactiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture that debuted in the CX-60. It will have a longitudinal (front-engine, rear-wheel drive) mechanical layout, claimed to provide “Mazda’s next-level” design, performance, handling, and technology. The dynamics, smoothness, and overall engaging drive of the CX-90 should be inherited by the CX-70.

Dimensions

The Mazda CX-70 would be bigger than the CX-60, which measures 186.8 inches in length, 74.4 inches in width, and 66.1 inches in height. Mazda calling the former a “wide body type” SUV indicates it will be wider than the latter, and we expect the length and height increments as well.

Dimension\Measurement	Mazda CX-60 (Official)	Mazda CX-70 (Expected)
Length	186.8 in.	193 in.
Width	74.4 in.	76 in.
Height	66.1 in.	67 in.

Powertrain

The CX-70 should arrive in gasoline and plug-in hybrid variants, with the former packing with the newly developed 3.3L turbocharged inline-six engine. The CX-70 plug-in hybrid will employ a modified version of the CX-5’s 2.5L Skyactiv-G four-cylinder direct injection gasoline engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and the i-Activ permanent AWD system. The electric motor/generator assisting the engine will likely be integrated into the transmission. The plug-in hybrid powertrain of the CX-70 may produce around 325 horsepower and around 370 lb.-ft. of torque.

The traction battery pack powering the electric motor will likely be a 17.8 kWh lithium-ion unit positioned between the axles and as low as possible for a low center of gravity. It could provide an EPA-est. range of between 25 and 30 miles. The working of the plug-in hybrid system could be similar to the CX-60 PHEV, shown in the video above.

The CX-70 PHEV, thanks to its electric motor, should make city driving effortless, offering plenty of torque low down the range. The benefit of silent operation is unmissable, while the lack of a turbo should make the throttle response feel a bit sharper, and the build-up more linear. The plug-in hybrid system, in EV mode, wouldn’t wake anyone, say when backing out of the driveway late at night!

Release Date

Mazda has rescheduled the launch of the CX-70 in the U.S. to Spring 2024, the company said on Instagram on July 12, 2023. Later, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) CEO Tom Donnelly reaffirmed during a conversation with Automotive News that the CX-70 release has been postponed to 2024. He didn’t reveal the reason behind the delay in bringing the new SUV to the market, but it is clear that the production capacity is being prioritized to satiate the demand for the CX-90.

In a post on October 18, 2023, 2023, Reddit user 187hp claimed that December 2023 is being rumored as the latest start of production (SOP) date for the CX-70. Loyal Mazda customers eagerly waiting for the CX-70 would be disappointed by the delay in its launch, but this rumored SOP timeline gives them at least hope that Mazda may conduct the official reveal before the calendar flips to 2024.

Anticipating the future release, many U.S. dealers are informing customers about the CX-70 with articles detailing the expected features and specifications on their local websites. In Australia, Mazda’s local Managing Director Vinesh Bhindi has confirmed (as reported in the aforementioned Wheels article) that the CX-70 is under consideration, though no specific launch timeline has been set so far.

Why the CX-70 won’t affect CX-50, CX-5 sales

Mazda’s CX-70 crossover is unlikely to hurt sales of its smaller siblings, though there may be some pricing overlap. Where the CX-50 is an AWD crossover based on a traditional transverse layout, the CX-70 will feature a longitudinal engine. That makes it primarily a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, with different driving characteristics. Secondly, the CX-70 will offer plug-in hybrid power that would give it both a performance and fuel efficiency advantage. Lastly, the much larger dimensions should offer better comfort and luggage space. In conclusion, American buyers who are on a budget may still opt for Mazda’s CX-5 even after the CX-70 hits dealerships.

Mazda’s premium push

Donnelly has put into action a ‘to-do list’ in a bid to push the brand upmarket, Automotive News reported on March 28, 2023. Mazda’s first step in this two-pronged approach is reliant upon the success of the all-new & flagship CX-90 SUV, with the CX-70 crossover being the other piece of the puzzle.

Donnelly stated that the multiphase plan involves the electrification of all Mazda models by the end of this decade. He also explained that customers who are not quite ready to commit to an all-electric car can still consider Mazda’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options as a viable alternative. However, will the CX-70 PHEV appeal to customers of the Chevrolet Blazer EV or the Ford Mustang Mach-E? We’ll soon know!

As for sales, Mazda is enjoying excellent demand in North America 2023. By the end of October, year-to-date sales stood at 296,121 vehicles, which represents an increase of 23 percent compared to the same period in 2022. The CX-70 should help Mazda make further in-roads in the mid-size SUV segment, and could even help post record sales in 2024.

TopElectricSUV says

The Mazda CX-70 could build a reputation for its agility and driving pleasure as well as comfort, refinement, and reassurance of a premium SUV in the mid-size segment, thanks to its front-engine, rear-wheel drive architecture. Moreover, the availability of a plug-in hybrid system is sure to appeal to consumers who are interested in reducing running cost and their environmental impact, without having to compromise on performance.

Mazda CX-70 FAQs

Featured image: TopElectricSUV’s rendering of the Mazda CX-70 SUV