The 2025 model year brings a new addition to the Mazda lineup … well, sort of new if we’re being honest.

The Mazda CX-70 is a five-passenger midsize SUV that is essentially the same as the CX-90 SUV, minus the third row of seats.

I recently tested a 2025 Mazda CX-70 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus model, and below are the top 5 things you need to know when deciding if the CX-70 is a vehicle that will meet your needs.

When it comes to taking the plunge in the electrification of their vehicle offerings, some car brands jumped into it head-first, while other brands are being more cautious.

Mazda is one of the brands taking a more reserved approach, having no full EVs yet (and none expected until 2027), and really just starting to offer hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles in its lineup.

One of those initial offerings is the 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV, a plug-in version of the brand’s largest, three-row SUV — featuring standard all-wheel drive, and room for up to 8 passengers. This is the second year the plug-in option has been offered on the CX-90.

There are few true competitors to this vehicle — though Volvo offers a plug-in hybrid of its XC90 (which is more expensive) and Kia offers a plug-in version of the Sorento (which is less powerful). Many leading three-row SUVs, including the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, have no plug-in hybrid offerings as of now.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus model, and I’m back with a full report on how it looks and drives, and who might want to take one home.

Boldly designed while simultaneously upscale, the Mazda CX-50 occupies a unique position in the realm of compact SUVs.

Introduced a couple years back as a curious addition to Mazda’s lineup, offering a more rugged design and adventurous nature than Mazda’s popular CX-5 offering, the CX-50 has proven itself to be a worthy contender in the busy compact SUV segment.

Between its sharp looks, upscale interior features, tremendous handling and overall driving experience, this relative newcomer has emerged as a leading contender to meet the needs of SUV buyers.

New for 2025 in the CX-50’s third year is the arrival of a hybrid powertrain offering, as well as upgrades to standard tech features on all trim levels. It does a balancing act between pushing boundaries and maintaining Mazda’s reputation as one of the more upscale non-luxury brands.

Read on for a full breakdown of the 2025 Mazda CX-50, where it shines, and where improvements can be made as Mazda takes on heavyweight competitors like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.

Yes Virginia, there is an SUV that’s actually fun to drive.

In fact, as we celebrate the holiday season, there’s actually a brand that is fully embracing a lineup that is far from bland, and aimed at people who love to drive well-handling cars that have some power under the hood.

I’m talking about Mazda, and more specifically it’s CX-5 compact SUV, the brand’s best-selling vehicle. There’s a ton of competition in this category, including some major top-sellers, but none of the CX-5’s top rivals can hold a candle to the genuinely fun and sporty drive quality offered by the CX-5 (which, FYI, is different than the CX-50 model that was more recently introduced by Mazda, and exists alongside the CX-5 in Mazda’s lineup).

I recently tested the 2025 Mazda CX-5 (a Carbon Turbo trim offering), and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up against the other small SUVs of today’s automotive world.

Though the current design is starting to get a bit long in the tooth, the CX-5’s looks, performance and fun factor are strong enough to make it stand out in the crowd vs. other less daring competitors in the segment.

Mazda has a solid lineup of SUV offerings, and there is a new entry to that list for 2025.

The CX-70 joins the fold, falling between the CX-50 and CX-90, and it comes in both regular and PHEV (plug-in hybrid) versions.

Those familiar with the CX-90 will find the CX-70 very familiar, as what Mazda has essentially done here is remove the third row from the CX-90 and rebadge the vehicle as the CX-70. The other update from the CX-90 is that the CX-70 adds under-floor storage in the trunk.

There’s a very specific target audience here — people who like the upscale design and drive quality of the CX-90, but don’t feel they’ll ever have a need to seat people in the third row. For these folks, five roomy and comfortable seats are more than enough, and a capacity for eight passengers is not on their wish list. 

I recently tested a 2025 Mazda CX-70 PHEV Premium Plus model, and I’m back with a full report on how this midsize SUV compares in a category with plenty of strong options.

The compact car segment continues to be a shrinking one, so it’s curious to watch the remaining competitors and see how they are adapting to remain competitive.

One brand that has remained steady in the segment is Mazda, which has offered its compact Mazda3 option for more than 20 years.

This fun little ride comes in both sedan and hatchback versions for 2024.

I tested the 2024 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus Hatchback with all-wheel drive, and it is one of the most enjoyable options in the segment in terms of pure drive quality. It also offers a surprisingly upscale interior design that will make you question whether it’s competing with non-luxury compacts, or with more upscale luxury models.

One thing’s for sure: You won’t confuse the Mazda3 with a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, as it looks and drives like nothing else on the road.

Read on for a full report on how the 2024 Mazda3 holds up in the compact car segment.

In the compact crossover category, Mazda decided back in 2023 they liked it so much, they’d enter it twice.

On top of their long-running success with the CX-5 crossover, they launched the CX-50 model, which features new design language and offers a more rugged look and better off-road credentials than the CX-5 — while maintaining Mazda’s reputation as a brand for drivers who like some power and agility in their SUV.

After a successful launch, the CX-50 is back in 2024 with minimal changes, and still sits in showrooms alongside the CX-5.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2024 Mazda CX-50 (Meridian trim), which delivers impressive performance from its turbo engine and sharp design quality. Read on to hear about how well it holds up in the extremely competitive compact SUV segment.

Mazda has slowly been revamping the design language of its SUV lineup for the past several years, and those changes have now reached the top of the ladder and its largest offering.

Their previous three-row SUV was the CX-9, but now it’s been replaced for the 2024 model year by a brand new entry called the CX-90 — a three-row SUV that seats 6 to 8 passengers depending on configuration, and comes standard with all-wheel drive.

Competing with category heavyweights such as the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Grand Highlander, it’s got a tough array of opponents.

But for drivers who love to drive and want a ride that’s both family-friendly plus sporty and fun to drive, Mazda has long been a leader in this segment, and the CX-90 holds up tremendously well even in this tough atmosphere.

Mazda also has the benefit of offering some of the more luxurious vehicles you’ll find from a non-luxury brand.

I tested the 2024 Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus model, and I’m back with a full report on how this new offering measures up in the SUV landscape.

As Mazda continues to redefine its SUV lineup with newer vehicles like the CX-30, CX-50 and CX-90, there is one holdover from its past SUV lineups that keeps going strong.

The CX-5, a compact SUV, remains the brand’s biggest seller, and for good reasons. Between the sporty drive quality, exquisite interior, strong tech and attractive exterior design, there’s a lot to like. 

I recently spent time beyond the wheel of a 2023 CX-5 Turbo Signature model — and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up in the current SUV landscape.

Good things can come in small packages, and at the small end of Mazda’s SUV lineup is a vehicle that definitely fits that bill.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 features a sharp design, high-quality interior, and a sporty turbo engine option. Its interior is especially impressive, giving off a nearly luxury-level vibe.

The CX-30 has many opponents to battle, as there are tons of competitors in the compact SUV segment — including the Volkswagen Taos, Chevy Trailblazer, Hyundai Kona, Kia Soul, Buick Encore, Hyundai Venue, Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Nissan Kicks, Jeep Renegade, Nissan Rogue and Mitsubishi Outlander.

Read on to learn more about how the CX-30 compares to this bevy of mini-utes, and who will want to take one home.