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We’ve long known that Mazda was planning a CX-70 crossover SUV. Many Mazda fans imagined a lighter, nimbler version of the CX-90. Hopefully with the same I6 engine. Then in January 2023, the automaker unveiled the production version of the vehicle. And I won’t beat around the bush here: it’s a CX-90 with its third-row seats removed.

Sure, the new CX-70 wears some slightly different trim. But even the shape of its grille is identical to the CX-90. Seriously? C’mon Mazda!

There’s a precedent here. Mazda’s competitors, such as Toyota and Honda, offer certain vehicles with five or seven passenger configurations. But in those cases (I’m thinking of the 4Runner and CR-V) the third row is just an option you check. It doesn’t change the entire vehicle’s name (5Runner, anyone?)

You do have the Toyota Highlander versus Grand Highlander, and the Jeep Cherokee versus the Grand Cherokee. But those are both completely different models, with different bodies and longer wheelbases. Mazda’s choice of splitting out five and seven passenger CXs into different models is misleading at best. And what’s more, the automaker could have just imported the CX-60.

Black Mazda crossover SUV
2025 Mazda CX-70 | Mazda

For U.S. car buyers, the Mazda CX-60 is a five-passenger crossover. Its wheelbase is 10 inches shorter than the CX-70/90, and its overall length is a foot shorter. It weighs less and feels (a bit) nimbler to drive. So if there’s a market, why the heck not just bring that to the U.S?

The surprising reason may be crash test ratings, which are decided by wheelbase. This isn’t public knowledge, but I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that Mazda could get away with launching the CX-70 under the CX-90s crash test results, without going through the expensive process of destroying more SUVs to certify the new model.

I will also bet you that someone in management, or even marketing, came up with the CX-70s name, seat number, and price point. Then they passed off the project. The easiest way for the team to hit said price point was to reuse the CX-90. And I get it, making a car is difficult and expensive. But again, with the CX-60 available, Mazda didn’t need to do a clean sheet redesign. I’d like to see dealership salespeople try to explain these two models to customers.

Want to see the CX-70 in person? See it in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.