The new Mazda CX-70the third member of the Japanese brand’s new Large Architecture family, will be available in Australian showrooms later this year.
It will serve as a five-seat companion to the larger CX-90 and share the same bodywork with only minor design changes, while the upcoming, as-yet-unrevealed CX-80 will be a seven-seat counterpart to the existing CX-60.
Further details are scant, although Mazda Australia’s consumer website says the CX-70, due out “late 2024”, will feature an “impressive 3.3-litre turbocharged inline-six engine, hybrid efficiency, intuitive technology and dynamic performance.” Handling” will have.
While the CX-70 will offer turbocharged petrol and four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrains in North America, the new SUV in Australia will offer turbocharged 3.3-litre inline-six petrol and diesel options upon launch, like the CX-70. 90.
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Model shown from overseas
In North America, the CX-70’s 3.3-litre turbo petrol engine is offered in two versions: one with 209kW of power and 450Nm of torque, the other with 254kW and 500Nm.
The former is used in the Australian CX-60, while the latter can be found under the hood of the local CX-90.
If the CX-70 were to receive the higher performance here, it would give the car a further difference from the smaller CX-60.
The power output of the CX-70 diesel has not been confirmed, but in the CX-90 this engine produces 187kW and 550Nm.
As with the CX-60 and CX-90, the six-cylinder engines are combined with Mazda’s 48 VM hybrid boost system.
It features a small lithium-ion battery and an electric motor to extend the speed range of the fuel-saving stop-start system, shutting down the engine when coasting and supporting the combustion engine under load.
Expect an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-biased all-wheel drive as standard. While the CX-60 is offered with all-wheel drive in some markets such as Europe, the UK and Japan, the CX-90 is only available with all-wheel drive in the US, and the CX-70 will likely reflect this strategy.
Not confirmed for Australia is the e-Skyactiv PHEV, which combines a 2.5-liter petrol engine with a more powerful electric motor and a larger lithium-ion battery.
Mazda USA claims an electric range of 26 miles (41.8 km), which is significantly less than the “up to 76 km” that the Mazda CX-60 PHEV claims in Australia.
Compared to the CX-90, there is a unique front bumper treatment as well as black exterior accents. Also unique to the CX-70 is a new power folding second-row feature that allows you to fold down the rear seats using buttons in the cargo area.
Inside, there’s a red Nappa leather option, which isn’t currently offered by its competitors. Mazda is also offering the CX-70 in North America in a new Melting Copper Metallic exterior color as well as the familiar Zircon Sand Metallic color that has made its way into the company’s lineup but not yet in the Large Architecture family.
Mazda promises a completely flat cargo area, even if the second row of seats is omitted, while there are three storage spaces under the trunk floor.
Another new feature debuting in the CX-70 is an Emergency Cruising and Traffic Assistance feature – which combines adaptive cruise control and lane centering for semi-autonomous highway driving.
The system monitors whether the driver closes their eyes or looks away from the road and alerts them to pay attention. If the driver does not respond to the prompts, the system slows the vehicle or brings it to a complete stop to avoid an accident.
Mazda also touts a towbar guide that can help drivers hook up a trailer and highlights the CX-70’s 2,500kg towing capacity.
The CX-90 has a towing capacity of 2,000 kg for the diesel engine and 2,500 kg for the petrol engine. Mazda hasn’t explicitly stated whether all CX-70s will have the same value.
The CX-70 will almost certainly undercut the CX-90 in terms of price, but it’s unclear by how much. Mazda’s flagship SUV currently costs between $74,550 and $101,130 (excluding on-road costs). Meanwhile, the price for the smaller CX-60 before on-road launch is between $60,550 and $86,800.
Mazda’s Large Product Group lineup consists of two vehicles for markets such as Europe and Japan – the two-row CX-60 and three-row CX-80 – and the CX-70 and CX-90 for markets such as North America.
Given Mazda’s outsized popularity in Australia, we often get a mix of vehicles for different markets, so it’s perhaps no surprise that we’re offered all four vehicles.
Australia was one of the few markets worldwide to receive both the Japan-focused CX-8 and the US-focused CX-9 three-row crossover.
Stay tuned CarExpert for all the news.
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